Music Pre-K - 12 - BA/MA

The BA/MA program in PreK-12 Music Education leads to initial certification as a teacher in New York State.

This bachelor’s / master’s program in PreK-12 education is designed to prepare prospective teachers to serve as high-quality educators for students in urban secondary schools. Teacher candidates will take a specified sequence of education courses in addition to fulfilling of the CUNY Common Core Requirement and the requirements of their aligned liberal arts or sciences major. Courses for this program are taken at both the undergradaute and gradaute levels. This program includes fieldwork in New York City Public schools

Declaring the Major

Before you can declare a School of Education major as part of your bachelor’s degree, you must complete a group interview with faculty. Signing up for an interview can be done through the School of Education website. Current Hunter students can request an interview throughout the year.

Students interested in an Education program should interview as early as is possible in the semester prior to the one in which they plan to enroll. Transfer students should seek advisement about declaring a School of Education major as soon as they have been admitted to Hunter.

The School of Education does not accept non-degree or second-degree students. Meeting minimum admission requirements does not guarantee entry into the program.

Requirements to Declare the Major

Minimum of at least 60 credits but no more than 90 credits completed by the first semester in the education program.
A Hunter College Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or better.
Evidence of advanced writing ability through a review of English composition and writing intensive coursework.
Formal declaration of a major in Music.
Participation in a group interview.

Undergraduate Academic Progress Standards

Students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0.
Any student who receives a grade of B-, C+, C or D in a course with fieldwork or student teaching must apply to the department chairperson for permission to re-register for that course, which may be repeated only once.
Any student who receives a grade of D in an education course will be required to repeat that course. Students are permitted to repeat a course only once.
Any student who receives a grade of F in any education course will not be permitted to continue in the program.
Take and pass both the Educating All Students test (EAS) and the appropriate Content Specialty Test (CST) of the New York State Teacher Certification Exams prior to student teaching.

Hunter Core Requirement

Several courses within this major may fulfill parts of the Hunter Core Requirement (CUNY Common Core Requirement [CCCR], Concurrent Requirements). When selecting courses, it may be to a student’s advantage to choose courses that count toward the Hunter Core Requirement and also advance the student on the path to the major. Details on the Hunter Core Requirement can be found here: General Education - Effective Fall 2019 .

Course of Study

Academic Plan: MUSCT-BAMA

Credits: 82 - 89

Music Requirements (57-63 credits)

Piano Proficiency Requirement: All music majors must demonstrate elementary proficiency at the piano. Students should plan to fulfill this requirement during their first year of study. A passing grade on the piano proficiency examination is a prerequisite for the third semester of study in music theory (MUSTH 32000). Students entering Hunter with limited keyboard background may take MUSPF 21300-MUSPF 21400 (Piano I and II) for elective credit; a passing grade of C or better in MUSPF 21400 satisfies the piano proficiency requirement in lieu of the examination.

Please note that students admitted to the program must take a proficiency examination during the first two semesters of matriculation in order to remain in the program. This examination will test competence in music theory, music history and literature, and applied skills. Deficiencies revealed by the proficiency examination must be made up by studying the relevant subject matter and passing a reexamination. The proficiency examination requirement must be fulfilled before a student may proceed beyond 18 credits.

As a culminating project, Music TEP students are required to prepare a portfolio containing examples of their work. These can include papers which have been graded and commented on by professors, lesson plans, and student reflections on their own growth and experiences throughout the program. It is important that you save all of your work from all of your classes. During the semester in which you student teach, you will be guided in the preparation of your portfolio.

4. Electives (4 credits)

4 credits in music courses above the 100-level

5. Graduate Music Courses (15-21 credits)

For course descriptions please see the graduate catalog.

* Students who have studied these subjects at the undergraduate level may be exempted from these requirements.

MUS 64100 – Strings*
MUS 64300 – Woodwinds*
MUS 64500 - Brass*
MUS 64700 - Percussion Skills*
MUS 64900 - Piano Skills for Music Teachers*
MUS 65100 – Conducting*
MUS 72400 - Advanced Studies in Music Theory 1
MUS 75100 - Advanced Studies in Music History 1
MUS 75200 - Advanced Studies in Music History 2
MUS 77900 - World Music Education
Music electives: Courses chosen in consultation with graduate adviser (3 credits)

Education Requirements (25-26 credits)

For course descriptions please see the graduate catalog.

SEDF 70300 - Social Foundations of Adolescent Education
SEDF 70400 - Adolescent Development, Grades 7–12
SEDF 70500 - Educational Psychology: Applications to Adolescent Education
SEDF 70600 - Assessment of Teaching and Learning in Adolescent Education
SPED 70800 - Teaching Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Settings
SEDC 71000 - Building the Foundations of Literacy in Adolescent Education
SEDC 72000 - Adolescent Health and Safety
MUSED 67700 - Methods of Teaching Instrumental Music in Grades Pre-K-12
MUSED 67800 - Methods of Teaching Vocal and General Music in Grades Pre-K-12

- Take either -

SEDC 75600 - Student Teaching in Music, Pre-K–12

- or -

SEDC 77610 - Practicum in Music, Grades Pre-K–6

- Plus -

SEDC 77620 - Practicum in Music, Grades 7–12

School of Education Exit Standards

Students must meet the following criteria in order to graduate with a School of Education major or minor:

Have an overall GPA of at least 3.0
Complete the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) anti-bullying workshop. The DASA workshop is required for all students in a NYS certification program at the School of Education. The workshop requires six clock hours of coursework or training.