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Music Education

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Why pursue a music education degree at North Central College?

You’ll combine your performing arts training with classroom teaching experience as early as your first year. And even with new licensure and teaching requirements, it is still possible to complete your music teacher education bachelor's degree within a four-year time frame (comparable programs require five).

As a music education major, you’ll also enjoy more face time teaching music in front of students—at least 180 field-experience hours—than typically required. Why? Because we know the additional teaching and conducting experience will hone your educator skills, boost your confidence and help lead to competitive full-time teaching positions. Graduates of North Central’s music education program have enjoyed a nearly 100 percent job placement rate in the past several years.

As prospective music teachers, you will graduate having developed and mastered the skill-levels needed to enter the workforce. From building relationships with schools in the local Chicago area, to maturing your music performance and style. Earning a music education degree can allow you to have various rewarding jobs! From working in special education programs employing the use of music therapy, to teaching young aspiring musicians in high school.

You can also:

  • Perform in a variety of campus venues and ensembles—our more than 20 student groups range from small to large instrumental and choral ensembles.
  • Be awarded vocal, instrumental or jazz performance scholarships as well as a music education scholarship, renewable for four years.
  • Student-teach in Naperville-area, high-performing school districts; you’ll use new technologies, learn from their great teachers, and make valuable connections with their administrators.
  • Learn to teach in high-need areas through our partnerships with schools in Aurora and Chicago (scholarships and incentives are often available).
  • Attend the Chicago Symphony Orchestra or Lyric Opera every week, as some students have done—Chicago is just a short train ride away.
  • Apply to graduate school, take your teaching education to a graduate level, and learn more about education leadership.

More Department information

Music Education, Instrumental Track, B.M.E

Music Education is the largest music degree program at North Central College, with approximately 60 majors. Students in Music Education complete core music requirements in theory/musicianship, music literature/history, conducting, methods/pedagogy and private study/ensembles, along with a comprehensive set of courses and clinical experiences in education. Music Education majors also have numerous opportunities for leadership through the student chapter of NAfME (the field's leading professional organization) and in ensembles, productions and special programs.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Music.

Core Music Courses

Music Education Courses

Education Courses

Instrumental Courses

Piano Proficiency

Students are required to complete eight credit hours through class piano or through proficiency.

Additional Requirements

  • Students are required to register for MUEN 113 or MUEN 114 each semester. Students must register for credit. 
  • Students are required to register for one semester of MUEN 108 and one semeter of the following: MUEN 120, MUEN 121, MUEN 123 or MUEN 124. Students must register for credit.
  • Students are required to register for applied lessons on their primary instrument for credit.  First-year students must register for at least a 0.5 credit each semester. Beginning in sophomore year, students must register for at least 1 credit each semester.
  • Complete junior recital
  • Successful completion of the Comprehensive Musicianship Exam
  • Completion of requisite number of concert attendance. Six concerts per semester while enrolled as a music major, unless student teaching or studying abroad. See department guidebook for additional details.

   * See department guidebook for additional details and recital guidelines.

The Department of Education has established the following Progression Points as ways for department faculty to ensure students are undertaking experiences needed to prepare them for the profession of teaching. Each checklist is designed to be met by teacher candidates at important points along their journey to becoming a teacher. Once all experiences of a Progression Point are met, a teacher candidate is ready to move forward in the program.

Progression Point 1: Admission to the Teacher Education Program

Course Requirements:

  • Complete MUED 201 and MUED 351 with a grade of C- or above
  • Complete EDUC 291 with a grade of P

GPA Requirements: 

For full admission to the Teacher Education Program:

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.75 or better in Music Ed/Professional Ed (MUED/EDUC) coursework taken for and transferred to NCC
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.50 or better in Music (MUSI) coursework taken for and transferred in to NCC (min. 16 credit hours)

For conditional admission to the Teacher Education Program:

Conditional Admission to the Teacher Education Program allows candidates to progress in their plan of study while taking advantage of systems of support provided by the department to help ensure academic success in the Teacher Education Program.

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.25-2.749 in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.25-2.749 in Music Ed/Professional Ed (MUED/EDUC) coursework taken for and transferred in to NCC
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.00-2.50 in Music (MUSI) coursework taken for and transferred in to NCC (min. 16 credit hours)

Evaluation Requirements:

Dispositions:

  • Dispositions survey from candidate's MUED 201 instructor
  • Dispositions survey from full-time music education faculty member (or MUED 351 faculty if no full-time MUED faculty is able to complete the survey)
  • Self-assessment of dispositions at time of application to TEP

Field Experiences:

  • Field Experience Recommendation from MUED 201
  • Mentor Teacher Recommendation from EDUC 291
  • Supervisor Recommendation from EDUC 291

Note: Teacher candidates must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) to take EDUC courses at the 300- or 400-level.

Progression Point 2: Progression to Student Teaching Residency

Course Requirements:

  • Completion of all music education (MUED and MUSI) and professional education (EDUC) courses for the Music Education major with a grade of C- or better with the exception of EDUC 494 and 496, the Student Teaching Residency course package

GPA Requirements:

For full admission to Student Teaching Residency:

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 3.00 or better in all MUED and EDUC coursework taken for and transferred in to the Music Education major
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.50 or better in all MUSI coursework taken for and transferred in to the Music Education major

For conditional admission to Student Teaching Residency:

Conditional Admission to Student Teaching allows candidates to progress to student teaching while taking advantage of systems of support provided by the department to help ensure success.

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.25-2.749 in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.50-2.999 in Music Ed/Professional Ed (MUED/EDUC) coursework taken for and transferred in to NCC
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.00-2.499 in Music (MUSI) coursework taken for and transferred in to NCC (min. 16 credit hours)

Recommendation Requirements:

  • Mentor Teacher Recommendations from EDUC 390 and 490
  • Supervisor Recommendations from EDUC 390 and 490
  • Practitioner Interview Recommendation, if assigned
  • Receive a recommendation from the Department of Education for Student Teaching Residency

Additional Requirements:

  • Pass the Music Department's Comprehensive Musicianship Exam (CME).
  • Complete the practice edTPA as required for MUED 453 Performance Music Methods and EDUC 403 HS/MS Assessment of Learning
  • *Earn a passing Score on the appropriate ILTS content test, MUSIC 212

Progression Point 3: Licensure

  • *Pass EDUC 494 Student Teaching Residency Seminar and EDUC 496 Student Teaching Residency with a grade of C- or better
  • *Earn a passing Score on the edTPA teacher performance assessment
  • *Complete all other necessary requirements to earn a bachelor's degree

* Illinois State Board of Education requirement enforced by North Central College

Music Education, Choral Track, B.M.E.

Music Education is the largest music degree program at North Central College, with approximately 60 majors. Students in Music Education complete core music requirements in theory/musicianship, music literature/history, conducting, methods/pedagogy and private study/ensembles, along with a comprehensive set of courses and clinical experiences in education. Music Education majors also have numerous opportunities for leadership through the student chapter of NAfME (the field's leading professional organization) and in ensembles, productions and special programs.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Music.

Core Music Courses

Music Education Courses

Education Courses

Choral Courses

Piano Proficiency

Students are required to complete eight credit hours through class piano or through proficiency.

Additional Requirements

  • Participation in MUEN 101 or MUEN 102 is required each semester. Students must register for credit.
  • Students are required to register for applied voice lessons for credit each semester.  First-year students must register for at least a 0.5 credit each semester. Beginning in sophomore year, students must register for at least 1 credit each semester.
  • Complete junior recital
  • Successful completion of the Comprehensive Musicianship Exam
  • Completion of requisite number of concert attendance. Six concerts per semester while enrolled as a music major, unless student teaching or studying abroad. See department guidebook for additional details.

   *See department guidebook for additinal details and recital guidelines.

The Department of Education has established the following Progression Points as ways for department faculty to ensure students are undertaking experiences needed to prepare them for the profession of teaching. Each checklist is designed to be met by teacher candidates at important points along their journey to becoming a teacher. Once all experiences of a Progression Point are met, a teacher candidate is ready to move forward in the program.

Progression Point 1: Admission to the Teacher Education Program

Course Requirements:

  • Complete MUED 201 and MUED 351 with a grade of C- or above
  • Complete EDUC 291 with a grade of P

GPA Requirements: 

For full admission to the Teacher Education Program:

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.75 or better in Music Ed/Professional Ed (MUED/EDUC) coursework taken for and transferred to NCC
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.50 or better in Music (MUSI) coursework taken for and transferred in to NCC (min. 16 credit hours)

For conditional admission to the Teacher Education Program:

Conditional Admission to the Teacher Education Program allows candidates to progress in their plan of study while taking advantage of systems of support provided by the department to help ensure academic success in the Teacher Education Program.

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.25-2.749 in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.25-2.749 in Music Ed/Professional Ed (MUED/EDUC) coursework taken for and transferred in to NCC
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.00-2.50 in Music (MUSI) coursework taken for and transferred in to NCC (min. 16 credit hours)

Evaluation Requirements:

Dispositions:

  • Dispositions survey from candidate's MUED 201 instructor
  • Dispositions survey from full-time music education faculty member (or MUED 351 faculty if no full-time MUED faculty is able to complete the survey)
  • Self-assessment of dispositions at time of application to TEP

Field Experiences:

  • Field Experience Recommendation from MUED 201
  • Mentor Teacher Recommendation from EDUC 291
  • Supervisor Recommendation from EDUC 291

Note: Teacher candidates must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program (TEP) to take EDUC courses at the 300- or 400-level.

Progression Point 2: Progression to Student Teaching Residency

Course Requirements:

  • Completion of all music education (MUED and MUSI) and professional education (EDUC) courses for the Music Education major with a grade of C- or better with the exception of EDUC 494 and 496, the Student Teaching Residency course package

GPA Requirements:

For full admission to Student Teaching Residency:

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or greater in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 3.00 or better in all MUED and EDUC coursework taken for and transferred in to the Music Education major
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.50 or better in all MUSI coursework taken for and transferred in to the Music Education major

For conditional admission to Student Teaching Residency:

Conditional Admission to Student Teaching allows candidates to progress to student teaching while taking advantage of systems of support provided by the department to help ensure success.

  • Have earned an overall cumulative GPA of 2.25-2.749 in all coursework taken at and transferred to North Central College
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.50-2.999 in Music Ed/Professional Ed (MUED/EDUC) coursework taken for and transferred in to NCC
  • Have earned a GPA of 2.00-2.499 in Music (MUSI) coursework taken for and transferred in to NCC (min. 16 credit hours)

Recommendation Requirements:

  • Mentor Teacher Recommendations from EDUC 390 and 490
  • Supervisor Recommendations from EDUC 390 and 490
  • Practitioner Interview Recommendation, if assigned
  • Receive a recommendation from the Department of Education for Student Teaching Residency

Additional Requirements:

  • Pass the Music Department's Comprehensive Muscianship Exam (CME).
  • Complete the practice edTPA as required for MUED 453 Performance Music Methods and EDUC 403 HS/MS Assessment of Learning
  • *Earn a passing Score on the appropriate ILTS content test, MUSIC 212

Progression Point 3: Licensure

  • *Pass EDUC 494 Student Teaching Residency Seminar and EDUC 496 Student Teaching Residency with a grade of C- or better
  • *Earn a passing Score on the edTPA teacher performance assessment
  • *Complete all other necessary requirements to earn a bachelor's degree

* Illinois State Board of Education requirement enforced by North Central College

Music Education Student Internships and Jobs

A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our faculty encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge in an interconnected world. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve problems and lead.

Careers

Music education graduates have found positions with:

  • Naperville/Aurora school districts 203 and 204, which includes Grammy Signature Schools (Gold Status)
  • Central Illinois districts such as Paxton and Gibson City
  • Plainfield, Aurora, Downers Grove and St. Charles schools
  • Community schools, churches and organizations such as The Young Naperville Singers, Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus (now Anima), Music Makers of Western Springs, Our Saviour’s Lutheran of Naperville and Visitation Church of Elmhurst
     

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Merit scholarships, grants, loans, campus employment - these are just some of the resources available to you. Over 95 percent of students and 100 percent of all eligible students receive aid. Let our team partner with you in finding the best value for your education.

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Music Education Alumni Profile

Diego Mateo '23

Diego Mateo's time at North Central College epitomized resilience and dedication. As a first-generation Latinx student majoring in music education, he embraced challenges, utilizing resources like the Golden Apple scholarship and the Teach First program. Diego's accomplishments include winning a national championship in forensics and serving as the student speaker at Commencement. Now pursuing a master’s degree in education while working as a graduate assistant, Diego is shaping the future of education with passion and purpose.

Diego Mateo