The purpose of the four-year professional program leading to the bachelor of music education (BME) degree is to prepare students to teach music in elementary and secondary schools. Students completing this degree program qualify for a Colorado K–12 music teaching license. Students also may apply for teaching licenses in other states that have reciprocity agreements with Colorado.
Because of the varying challenges and opportunities associated with teaching music in K–12 school contexts, the undergraduate music education curriculum strikes a balance between specialization and generalization. BME students must demonstrate a sufficiently broad knowledge of the entire music program/curriculum, but also possess the specialized skills necessary to be a successful general music, choir, orchestra, or band instructor.
Four basic curricular options are provided for students pursuing the bachelor of music education degree: choral, choral-general, instrumental, and instrumental-general emphases. The choral-general and instrumental-general emphases include a larger concentration of course work and field experiences related to elementary general music teaching, while the choral and instrumental emphases involve more specialized course work and field experiences related to the teaching of choir, orchestra, or band classes at the secondary level. Within each degree emphasis, students have a limited number of elective credits that may be used to further customize degree work according to their interests and needs.
As first-year students, BME students complete core studies in music and liberal arts. The first music education courses and early field experiences are completed during the sophomore year. During the junior year, students enroll in capstone methods courses and specialized electives that allow for more detailed and sustained study of curricular models, instructional materials, and teaching methods. Internships and full-time student teaching provide culminating experiences during the senior year, as students work in partnership with experienced public school teachers and assume the role and responsibilities of a professional music educator. Internship and student teaching placements are chosen in consultation with faculty advisors and the music education chair.
A minimum of 126 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 must be earned for the BME degree, with no grade below C- in a course. In addition to 40 semester hours of teacher education course work and 150 clock hours of early field experience, music education majors complete 24 semester hours in liberal arts disciplines (English composition, literature and arts, mathematics, social sciences, natural sciences) and 62 hours in music (music theory and aural skills, musicology and ethnomusicology, applied study, ensemble, keyboard and voice, and conducting). Core requirements in liberal arts and music are designated by the College of Music curriculum committee.
Teacher education is a campuswide function at the University of Colorado. Admission to the music education program in the College of Music does not constitute admission to the teacher education program. Students must apply to the School of Education through the music education chair no later than the second semester of the junior year or by the time 65 credits have been completed toward the BME degree (including approved transfer credits). Students may not register for certain education courses and student teaching until they are admitted to the teacher education program.
Requirements for recommended admission to the teacher education program are:
For further information, please refer to the Handbook for Undergraduate Studies in Music Education, which can be obtained at the music education website at music.colorado.edu/departments/music-education.
Students wishing to receive a student teaching assignment must complete an application and submit it to the School of Education through the chair of the music education faculty early in the semester preceding the student teaching semester. Prerequisites for student teaching are:
Students must take keyboard or voice as the primary applied area, or petition the music education faculty for an exception. A minimum of five of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted choral ensemble (University Singers, University Choir, Collegiate Chorale, or Women’s Chorus). For keyboard majors, two semesters of independent accompanying may be applied to the ensemble requirement. Students must be enrolled in a conducted choral ensemble when concurrently enrolled for Conducting.
Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
Students must take keyboard or voice as the primary applied area, or petition the music education faculty for an exception. A minimum of six of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted choral ensemble (University Singers, University Choir, Collegiate Chorale, or Women’s Chorus), and one semester must be in a world music ensemble. For keyboard majors, one semester of independent accompanying may be applied to the ensemble requirement. Students must be enrolled in a conducted choral ensemble when concurrently enrolled for Conducting.
Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
Students must take wind/brass/percussion as the primary applied area, or petition the music education faculty for an exception. A minimum of five of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted instrumental ensemble (Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, or Concert Band), and one semester must be in marching band. Freshmen are strongly encouraged to be in marching band (EMUS 1287) their first semester. Students must be enrolled in a conducted instrumental ensemble when concurrently enrolled for Conducting.
Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
Students must take strings as the primary applied area, or petition the music education faculty for an exception. A minimum of five of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted instrumental ensemble (Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, or Campus Orchestra). Students must be enrolled in a conducted instrumental ensemble when concurrently enrolled for Conducting.
Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
Students must take keyboard, strings, or wind/brass/percussion as the primary applied area, or petition the music education faculty for an exception. For keyboard majors, a minimum of four of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted instrumental ensemble (Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, or Campus Band), one semester must be in a conducted choral ensemble, and one semester must be in a world music ensemble. One semester of independent accompanying may be applied to the ensemble requirement. For string majors, a minimum of five of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted instrumental ensemble, one semester must be in a conducted choral ensemble, and one semester must be in a world music ensemble. For woodwind, brass, and percussion majors, a minimum of four of the seven semesters of required ensemble participation must be in a conducted instrumental ensemble, one semester must be in marching band, one semester must be in a conducted choral ensemble, and one semester must be in a world music ensemble. Freshmen are strongly encouraged to be in marching band (EMUS 1287) their first semester. Students must be enrolled in a conducted instrumental ensemble when concurrently enrolled for Conducting.
Required Courses and Semester Credit Hours
Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
The master of music education (MME) program addresses the professional development needs of music teachers in the field. Master of music education students are challenged to develop a greater understanding and mastery of music teaching-learning processes, to improve personal musicianship, and to become committed leaders within the music education profession.
Prerequisites. Applicants are expected to provide evidence of undergraduate preparation equivalent to that required for the bachelor of music education degree at this university. Applicants also must possess a music teaching certificate/license or agree to work toward a Colorado music teaching license. GRE scores are not required for admission, but can be helpful in determining merit-based financial aid. Individuals who wish to pursue music performance or conducting as their minor field must demonstrate at least senior-level proficiency on their particular medium, through an audition.
Program of Study. Students earning the MMusEd degree must complete a minimum of 30 hours of course work, including 12 hours in music education, 12 hours in music, and 6 hours of electives in a specialization area or other areas of interest. Of the 12 hours in music, a two-hour course in bibliography and research is required as well as six hours of study in a minor area, which includes musicology, music theory, or performance (including conducting and jazz studies).
The music component of the degree should assist students in developing their musical knowledge and skills. One member of the student’s graduate advisory committee should be from the minor area, and it is assumed that at least some part of the student’s study is with that faculty member. All music studies must be at the 5000-level or above. Under special circumstances, up to 6 credit hours at the 4000-level may be applied to the open electives portion of the degree.
As a master of music education degree candidate, each student must produce a culminating paper that focuses on a topic of vital interest or importance. This paper may be developed as part of the requirements for a music education course or may take the form of a master’s thesis. Culminating papers or theses are defended during final oral examinations.
Students typically complete the degree in two academic years, or one academic year plus two summers. Degree work must be completed within four years of the semester in which the student is accepted into a degree program and begins studies. Because most master’s-level music education courses are offered in late afternoons, students who live within commuting distance can earn a significant portion of credit toward the degree while continuing to work full time.
The doctor of philosophy degree in music, with music education as a field of specialization, is offered through the Graduate School for students who demonstrate both superior commitment to the music education profession as well as scholarly potential. This degree program requires that individuals think abstractly, generalize knowledge, apply research results to areas of specialization, and communicate effectively in both oral and written forms. Course work emphasizes the study of historical, philosophical, psychological, and sociological foundations of music education; the theoretical and pedagogical principles of music teaching and learning; curriculum development; testing and assessment; and research techniques. Graduates typically pursue careers in music education at the college level or supervisory positions in elementary and secondary schools.
Course Work. A minimum of 45 semester hours of courses numbered 5000-level or above (15 of which may be transferred from the master’s degree) and a minimum of 30 hours of doctoral dissertation credit are required for the PhD degree.
Dissertation Requirements. A dissertation based on original investigation, demonstrating mature scholarship, must be completed by each candidate. Following the successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the student designates a dissertation committee, develops a dissertation prospectus, and presents it to the committee for approval. After the dissertation has been accepted, a final oral examination on the dissertation and related topics is conducted by the student’s dissertation committee.
Qualified music majors who have been approved by the relevant major departments may elect to complete a dual major in music performance (woodwinds, brass and percussion, strings, voice, or jazz emphasis) and music education (instrumental or choral tracks). Requirements for these dual degreem programs range from 144 to 148 credit hours, and a minimum of 10 semesters of study (including one semester of full-time student teaching) is typically necessary to complete all requirements.