Program type:

Major
Teaching Certification
Format:

On Campus
Est. time to complete:

4 years
Credit Hours:

128
Share your love of music to help future generations discover their own passion.
By choosing Music Education as your major, you'll be prepared for a career as a professional music teacher. UNT's music education degree program leads to Texas teacher certification in all-level music, opening an array of employment options.

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Why earn a degree in Music Education?

The Division of Music Education develops professional educators through an innovative and cutting-edge curriculum. You'll be prepared to achieve an all-level music teaching certification and explore a wide array of career options.

You can choose from six degree specialization options to help you pursue your passion, including:

In addition to traditional classroom learning, your education is enhanced by observing and working in actual school settings or assisting in one of our outreach programs. Few music education programs offer these unique and varied opportunities for students.

Marketable Skills
  • Understand age-specific pedagogical practices
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Knowledge of current trends in music education
  • High level of musicianship
  • Oral and written communication

Music Education Degree with Teacher Certification Highlights

Our faculty members are dedicated teachers as well as nationally and internationally known performers, clinicians, conductors, writers and researchers who have performed in internationally acclaimed venues, given presentations around the world and published research in prestigious journals in the field.
A Living-Learning Community brings together music education students who live on campus to enhance academic and social experiences.
You'll have access to one of the nation's largest music libraries while you discover your potential in classes with an average 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
You'll get to perfect your instrumental or voice techniques in one of our 300 practice rooms and perform in state-of-the-art performance halls with exceptional acoustics.
The College of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, which means the college meets or exceeds the association's strict academic standards for excellence in education.
Outreach programs Music Educations may participate in include the Denton New Horizons Senior Band, the Start Up The Band Program, the UNT Early Childhood Music Program and the UNT String Project.

What Can You Do With A Degree in Music Education?

As a Texas certified music educator, you may teach instrumental or vocal music at the elementary or secondary level.

Employment options include:

  • Director of a middle school or high school band, choir or orchestra
  • Elementary school music specialist
  • Private instructor
  • Administrator of church education or early childhood education programs

After obtaining teaching experience, many music educators pursue a master's degree to specialize in an area of interest. Our alumni include more than 1,600 K-12 music teachers.

Music Education Degree with Teacher Certification Courses You Could Take

Aural Skills I (1 hr)
Reinforcement of theoretical concepts presented in Theory I via singing, ear training and conducting experiences.
Musicianship for Teaching I (2 hrs)
Overview of foundational principles in music education. Explores these principles in terms of the skills, characteristics and attributes of the musician teacher.
Music Cultures of the World (3 hrs)
Survey of music cultures of Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania. Music traditions are studied from a perspective that emphasizes music as an integral part of society and culture.
American Music (3 hrs)
Music of American composers from colonial times to the present.
Music as Communication (3 hrs)
Introduction to issues of music seen as a form of human communication with emphasis on developing listening skills and critical thinking. Includes discussion of Western and non-Western music based on case studies.
Theory I (2 hrs)
Large-lecture format. Introduction to analysis, part writing, figured bass realization, and harmonization beginning with melody and two-part exercises.

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