Music Education (B.M.)

Departmental Requirements (64 hours)

• MUS 100 - Music Appreciation (C) [SGR #4, HSDC] 3
• MUS 110 - Basic Music Theory I (C) 2
• MUS 110L - Basic Music Theory I Laboratory (C) 2
• MUS 111 - Basic Music Theory II (C) 2
• MUS 111L - Basic Music Theory II Laboratory (C) 2
• MUS 374 - Percussion Methods I 1
• MUS 175 - Public School Strings Methods 2
• MUS 210 - Advanced Music Theory I (C) 2
• MUS 210L - Advanced Music Theory I Laboratory (C) 2
• MUS 211 - Advanced Music Theory II (C) 2
• MUS 211L - Advanced Music Theory II Laboratory (C) 2
• MUS 240 - Music Cultures of the World (C) [SGR #4, HSDC] 3
• MUS 250 - Introduction to Electronic Music 2
• MUS 330 - Music History I 3
• MUS 331 - Music History II 3
• MUS 351 - Elementary School Music Methods (C) 3
• MUS 360 - Conducting (C) 2
• MUS 420 - Orchestration & Arranging (C) 3
• MUS 452 - Teaching Music in the Secondary Schools 2
• MUAP 1X0; 2X0; 3X0; 4X0 - Applied Music Lessons (2 cr/per sem.) 8

• MUAP 1X1; 2X1; 3X1; 4X1 - Applied Music Lessons (2 cr/per sem.) 8

• MUAP 117 - Class Piano I for Music Major Proficiency 0-2 *
• MUAP 118 - Class Piano II for Music Major Proficiency 0-2 *
• MUAP 170 - Recital Laboratory I 0
• MUAP 270 - Recital Laboratory II 0
• MUAP 370 - Recital Laboratory III 0
• MUAP 470 - Recital Laboratory IV 0
• MUAP 483 - Public Recital (C) ** 1
• MUEN 1XX Major Ensemble (2 sem.)*** 2
• MUEN 3XX Major Ensemble (2 sem.)*** 2

Majors must select one of the following groups (11-12 hours)

Students majoring in music education must concentrate in one of the following areas:

Teacher Education Requirements (30 hours)

• EDER 415 - Educational Assessment (C) 2
• EDFN 338 - Foundations of American Education (C) 2
• EDFN 475 - Human Relations (C) 3  
• ELED 488 - K-8 Student Teaching (C) 4
• EPSY 200 - Child/Adolescent Development and Learning 3
• EDFN 440 - Classroom Management (C) 2
• INED 211 - South Dakota American Indian Culture and Education (C) [SGR #3, HSDC] 3
• SEED 296 - Field Experience (C) (Paraprofessional) 1
• SEED 450 - Reading and Content Literacy (C) 3
• SEED 488 - 7-12 Student Teaching (C) 4
• SPED 100 - Introduction to Persons with Exceptionalities (C) 3

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs

USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan. 

• Music Education, B.M. 4-year plan guide  

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be able to systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments, and break down complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
2. Students will design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal.
3. Students will interact with other students and evaluate the effort put into team tasks, interactions with others, and the quantity and quality made to team discussions.
4. Students will engage in purposeful, ongoing learning activities that improve their knowledge, skills and competence in their personal and professional lives.
5. Students will be able to demonstrate cognitive, effective, and behavioral skills that support effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts.
6. Students will comprehensively explore issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion, and combine or synthesize existing ideas, images or expertise in original ways reflecting a high degree of innovation, divergent thinking, and risk taking.
7. Music education majors will demonstrate increased knowledge and skill in the pedagogy of music teaching. (Praxis II: Music Content Knowledge exam Major Field Test: Music Praxis II: Principles of Learning and Teaching exam)
8. Music education majors will demonstrate pedagogical knowledge appropriate specifically to the teaching of K-12 music. (School of Education Standards for Teaching; School of Education Dispositions for Teaching)
9. Music education majors will demonstrate a level of musical performance competency. (Performance Juries)
10. Music education majors will develop increased knowledge of historical musical periods, composers, and genres. (Praxis II: Music Content Knowledge exam Subscores for Music History & Literature Major Field Test: Music exam Subscores for Music History)
11. Music education majors will develop increased theoretical knowledge and skills in analytical techniques applicable to a variety of musical genres. (Praxis II: Music Content Knowledge exam subscores for Music Theory Major Field Test: Music exam subscores for Music Theory)
12. Music education majors will demonstrate a proficient level of performance and musicianship in voice and/or on an instrument as a culmination of their musical performance training. (Senior Pre-Recital Hearing evaluations)

Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification

The University of South Dakota as of July 1, 2020, cannot confirm whether any particular course or program meets educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in states other than South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for licensure/certification in a state other than South Dakota after completion of your program, contact the academic department offering your major or CDE at 605.658.6152 or by email at cde@usd.edu. USD is working to comply with these requirements and will provide up-to-date information as it becomes available.

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference the State Authorization webpage below.

Information about State Authorization & Professional Licensure