Becoming a music education major
To begin course work in the field of music education, you initially need to be admitted to Missouri State. Before completing 75 credit hours, you must also be admitted to a degree program.
Admission requirements
The music education program is offered in partnership with the College of Education. You must meet certain admission and certification requirements to continue in the program.
Music-Instrumental (Comprehensive)
Bachelor of Music Education
(Certifiable grades K-12)
Music-Vocal/Choral (Comprehensive)
Bachelor of Music Education
(Certifiable grades K-12)
Admission and audition requirements
Music degrees are designed to develop the student's abilities for performance, public school certification for teaching, private teaching, or composition. These degrees also prepare students for graduate study in music.
Students desiring to pursue a BA, BMus, BME, or BS music major or minor must first audition for a committee of applied faculty in that student’s desired performance area.* This audition should take place during the semester prior to the first semester of enrollment in applied lessons. All students will be required to demonstrate, through successful completion of a Music Theory Entrance Exam, a rudimentary ability to relate musical sound to notation and terminology before beginning the theory and ear-training sequence.
All music majors must apply for formal admission to the degree program. This typically will occur at the end of the sophomore year, and must be completed before the student has finished 75 hours. In order to be admitted to the degree program, students must pass MUS 298, the piano proficiency exam, and have a combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of at least 2.75 and a combined (Missouri State and transfer) GPA of at least 3.00 in Music courses. Students who have not been formally admitted to the degree program will be unable to enroll in 300-level and above applied study.
*Students pursuing the minor in either Composition or Recording Arts are not required to audition in a performance area.
The admission process
To gain full admittance into the music education program, follow the steps below:
- Declare or change your major to music education by visiting the Academic Advising and Transfer Center, University Hall 109
- Meet with your assigned advisor to discuss admission requirements and to develop a plan of study
- Complete the admission requirements listed above, including the C-BASE exam
- Enroll in SEC 302 to automatically apply for your program
When you declare your major, you will be listed as a pre-major until you satisfy all admission requirements.
Application review
Upon completion of the above requirements, a student’s record is reviewed and submitted to the Educator Preparation Provider Council (EPPC) for admission to Teacher Education. A student’s qualifications for continuance in Teacher Education is subject to review and change by the EPPC at any time while the student is enrolled. Students must consult with their program for specific program requirements.