The undergraduate Music Education curriculum is planned to develop teachers who are reflective, who acknowledge the connections music has to the child’s world, and who seek to promote an understanding of those connections in a social context.

As a result of a curriculum based on Critical Pedagogy for Music Education they come to know and understand:

1. The central concepts, tools of inquiry and structures of music education as they relate to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for the Visual and Performing Arts, and how to design appropriate learning experiences that connect to the students’ world and help students to broaden their perceptions of the world around them.
2. How children learn and adapt to instruction that meets a diversity of learning styles and special learning needs in a variety of school contexts
3. The importance of teaching that is culturally responsive
4. Instructional planning and curriculum design that promote critical thinking, action and feeling through teaching constructivist and other appropriate strategies
5. How to engage students in problem solving, problem posing and meaningful dialogue
6. The appropriate use of multiple assessments.
7. Sound principles of effective classroom management
8. Effective verbal, nonverbal and written communication techniques and the tools of information literacy
9. The importance of being articulate advocates for music education in the schools
10. The importance of schooling within the context of the community and of learning to build partnerships with parents, families and agencies within the community to support students’ learning and well-being
11. The importance of ongoing professional development. The curriculum includes a state-approved music education program that leads to a letter of certification eligibility for teaching vocal and instrumental music at all levels in New Jersey.

Transfer of Certificates

Transfer of certificates to other states is greatly facilitated by accreditation of the program by the National Council for the Accreditation of teacher Education (NCATE) and by membership of the State of New Jersey in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification program (NASDTEC) and the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC). Students whose general progress is unsatisfactory or whose cumulative grade point average falls below a minimum 2.75 level may be dropped from the Music Education major. If dropped from the major, students may appeal to the department for reinstatement. Decisions regarding retention or appeals will be made in a manner consistent with state and institutional nondiscrimination policies.

Certification

Applications for certification are processed each year on November 15 And April 15 and at no other time.

Notes

1. VC115 and VC116 are required for voice primary students only. Organ and piano primary students may substitute four additional credits of free electives for these two courses.
2. Students must successfully complete a portfolio review at the end of the sophomore year in order to continue as music education majors. Transfer students with sophomore status must successfully complete the portfolio review at the end of the first year of study.
3. Attendance is required of all undergraduate music education majors at weekly Music Education Lab during the semester of enrollment, up to a total of 7 semesters.