Music Education

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Graduates of the BME degree program, upon recommendation of the Director of Music Education and the Director of Student Teaching, are certified by the State of Florida Department of Education to teach instrumental, vocal, and general music to grades K-12 in the public schools of Florida.

The Music Education curriculum at Stetson includes courses in the arts and sciences, professional education, music, and music education. Music education majors are required to present a senior recital. Entering first-year and transfer students are required to take MUED 265, Principles and Methods for Diverse Learners. All music education students are required to join the Collegiate National Association for Music Education (CNAfME) and become immediate and active participants in the profession.

Elementary and secondary music education methods courses at Stetson provide for pre-student teaching field experiences. The Community School of Music also provides opportunities for teaching in applied areas and for assistance in Orff programs, Young Singers, and Youth Strings. All proficiencies and the senior recital must be completed before internship. All coursework should be completed prior to internship.

During the sophomore year, music education majors should apply in the Department of Education at Stetson for admission to teacher education. All students who apply for admission to the Approved Program must meet the requirements listed below.

All students in the Music Education major will register for and attend a weekly meeting with the music education faculty designated MUED 350 - Music Education Professional Development (MEPD) hour. This meeting is every Friday at 2:30 p.m. Those with a Stetson course conflicting with this weekly meeting must request a waiver form the Director of Music Education.

Teacher Education Course Sequence

In the first semester at Stetson:

  • Join CNAfME and maintain active membership throughout Stetson career.
  • Take the General Knowledge (GK) portion of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam. This test is offered at various times throughout the year, and it is the student’s obligation to sign up for and post a passing score for this exam during the first year at Stetson.
  • Become familiar with the requirements for admission to the Approved Teacher Education program (requirements listed in the University catalog).

In the second year at Stetson:

  • Students must be approved for the Teacher Education program before they enroll in MUED 325. Since this course is normally taken in the second-year spring, students must meet all necessary requirements before then. Students take responsibility for becoming familiar with these requirements, which are listed in the Catalog.

Students needing more time to be admitted into the approved teacher education program may apply to the Undergraduate Council for entrance into the Bachelor of Music with Elective Studies in a Specific Outside Field, with that outside field being Education, with the understanding that they may continue to take classes required for the Music Education degree.  In rare circumstances, students may be allowed to graduate in that degree, but it is not a state-certified music education degree and an internship is not guaranteed in that degree.  Upon meeting the admission requirements, students may again apply to the Undergraduate Council to be placed again in the Music Education degree.

In the third year at Stetson:

  • Students must have been approved for the Teacher Education program at Stetson in order to proceed in 300-level music education courses.
  • Take the Professional Education and Subject Area portions of the Florida Teacher Certification Exams. Like the GK test, these are offered at various times throughout the year, they require significant advance registration, and it is the student obligation to post a passing score.
  • Become familiar with the requirements needed for admission to student teaching (listed below).

Preparing for Your Internship

  1. You must attend two meetings in the Department of Education prior to your internship. At the first required meeting, your student teaching application will be discussed. At the second required meeting, you will receive important internship information.
  2. If you plan to intern in the fall semester, the first meeting will be in November of the previous fall semester, and the second meeting will be in April of the previous spring semester. This meeting occurs during MEPD and will be clearly indicated in the MUED 350 course calendar.
  3. If you plan to intern in the spring semester, the first meeting will be in April of the previous spring semester, and the second meeting will be in November of the previous fall semester. This meeting occurs during MEPD and will be clearly indicated in the MUED 350 course calendar.
  4. Student teaching applications are always due the semester prior to student teaching. For example, if you plan to intern in the fall semester, your application is due early in the previous spring semester. If you plan to intern in the spring semester, your application is due early of the previous fall semester.
  5. All requirements for internship listed in the Undergraduate Handbook must be met before you will be permitted to student teach.

The School of Music works closely with Stetson's Department of Education.  The mission of the Department of Education is to educate teachers and administrators to act as competent, effective, and knowledgeable facilitators of learning disposed to using technology and research practices to enhance K-12 education; to create a community of learners responsive to the developmental and social needs of diverse learners; to respond to those needs; and to advocate for change from the local to the global levels. The programs offered by the unit meet University requirements for graduation, as well as the certification requirements of the Florida Department of Education.

The Undergraduate and Graduate Councils of the Stetson Education Department review program requirements, recommend policy and procedures, monitor student progress, and serve as a board of appeals for students seeking exceptions to established policy. Admittance to undergraduate programs is determined by the Undergraduate Council.

Program requirements are subject to change based on Florida Department of Education Mandates.

Requirements for Admission to Approved Teacher Education Program (also called Tier II)

To be considered for admission to the Education program, a student must:

  1. complete an application for admission to a program of study leading to certification;
  2. complete a Candidate Acknowledgement of Professional Expectations;
  3. earn a minimum 2.5 grade point average for all college work taken at Stetson;
  4. earn a passing score on all areas of the General Knowledge (GK) Test;
  5. earn a grade of C or better in all credit-bearing EDUC and MUED courses;
  6. earn a minimum 2.5 grade point average in specialization courses (major field of study);
  7. join the Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA), the state affiliate of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) which includes NAfME membership, and the Collegiate National Association for Music Education (CNAfME) chapter at Stetson;
  8. follow the degree audit planner (ALL students MUST meet with their education advisor every semester);
  9. review the Undergraduate Student Handbook;
  10. purchase a subscription to VIA (Stetson Department of Education student management and assessment system).
  11. Background checks are required prior to any field placements.

Note: At any checkpoint within the student’s program, if there is a concern about the student’s appropriate progress, the student may be required to meet with an education faculty committee before continuing in the program.

Admission Review by the Undergraduate Council

After considering all of these requirements, the Undergraduate Council will determine whether an individual student will be admitted. The Council may choose not to admit a student based on an interview and professional dispositions, even though other requirements have been satisfied. Admission also may be contingent upon availability of space within the program.

Students should apply for admission to Education at the Undergraduate Education Office during the first semester of their first year. Transfer students must apply during the first semester of their residence.

Admission to Student Teaching (also called Tier III)

Eligibility requirements for student teaching include the following:

  1. gain admittance into the Approved Education Program;
  2. achieve satisfactory progress in the Danielson Domains;
  3. meet expectations on Assessment of Professional Expectations;
  4. complete the Student Teaching Application;
  5. provide evidence of a passing score on the Professional Educator exam of the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE);
  6. earn a grade of “C” or better in all credit-bearing EDUC and MUED courses;
  7. earn a grade point average of 2.5 or better in major content area and overall;
  8. obtain a satisfactory behavior recommendation from the Office of Campus Life at Stetson;
  9. pass fingerprinting clearance and drug screening, if required by county school boards.

Exit Requirements

In order to graduate from the University with the Bachelor of Music Education degree (part of the State Approved Program), a student must satisfactorily complete the following requirements:

  1. earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better;
  2. earn a grade of C or better in all credit-bearing EDUC and MUED courses;
  3. earn a grade point average of 2.5 or better in content teaching area;
  4. demonstrate satisfactory performance in Danielson Domains;
  5. demonstrate professional dispositions in all coursework and field experiences as outlined by the program.