When you enroll at Susquehanna, you’ll be paired with an advisor and application tool to guide you in your course planning and scheduling. The following is an excerpt from the complete course catalog. Enrolled students follow the requirements of the course catalog for the academic year in which they declare each major and/or minor, consult with their advisor(s) and the Academic Planning Tool.
Learning Goals
- Performance—Students integrate technical skills and knowledge to be able to complete a successful performance in a particular area of concentration.
- Aural skills and analysis.
- Music history—Students can place music in historical, cultural and stylistic contexts.
- Composition and improvisation.
- Technology—Students identify and employ appropriate technology applicable to their area of specialization.
- Synthesis—Students integrate their music studies through a means appropriate to their curriculum.
Students in the music department may, with department head approval, complete a music technology minor in addition to a major in music.
Double-counting restriction
Students pursuing a major in the music department may double-count a maximum of 8 semester hours toward another major or minor.
Music Opportunities for Non-Music Majors
The department provides a variety of music opportunities for all students, regardless of their majors and career goals. Nonmajors may take upper-level music courses with permission of the instructor. The department also welcomes nonmajors in performing groups and private study upon a successful audition or permission from the instructor.
Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Susquehanna University believes that educators need to demonstrate professional knowledge and skills in the following four domains of teaching: (1) preparation and planning, (2) instruction and assessment, (3) creating a classroom environment of respect and rapport, and (4) professional responsibility. Collaborative programs between the university and area schools afford a variety of opportunities to develop and demonstrate professional knowledge and teaching skills. Successful completion of the Bachelor of Music in music education degree requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. Piano and organ concentrates must choose to follow the vocal emphasis or instrumental emphasis requirements. The major lesson is in piano or organ, with the major ensemble corresponding to the emphasis selected.
Application to the Teacher Education Program
Students seeking admission to Susquehanna University’s teacher education program must meet requirements of both the teacher education program and the Pennsylvania Department of Education and formally apply to the university’s Department of Education. Application forms are available in the university’s Department of Education office. Acceptance into the program is determined by the teacher education program. The Department of Education reserves the right to determine eligibility on a case-by- case basis. Students may apply for admission to the teacher education program as early as the spring semester of their sophomore year. Students must apply and be admitted no later than the first semester of their junior year.
Requirements for admission to the teacher education program include the following:
- Completion of at least 48 semester hours of coursework, including:
- Three semester hours of English composition
- Three semester hours of English/American literature
- Six semester hours of college-level mathematics;
- Successful completion of MUED-200 Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Music Education;
- A cumulative GPA of 3.00;
- Passing PAPA or CORE examinations scores or being exempt through sufficient SAT or ACT scores;
- Completion of one 40-hour externship (see below), with completed forms returned to the Department of Education;
- Current Act 24, Act 34, Act 114, Act 126, and Act 151 clearances, and negative Tuberculosis (TB) results;
- Two letters of reference from university faculty; and
- Submission of a completed Department of Education application form.
Externship
An externship consists of 40 hours in a school for observing and aiding in classrooms and other areas of the school, conducting staff interviews, etc. Applicants must complete an externship prior to admission to the education program. Externship information and forms can be obtained from the education department office or the education department website http://www.susqu.edu/education/.
Students who have not been formally admitted into the teacher education program may not take more than 12 semester hours of education courses (including music education courses) without written permission from the coordinator of music education. Transfer students who wish to enter the program are evaluated on an individual basis by the coordinator of music education in consultation with the music education committee and the head of the department.
Professional Conduct
The Department of Music faculty, in consultation with faculty of the Department of Education, reserves the right to make a judgment on the suitability of students for professional teaching practice. Practicum students (those in the schools observing and/or aiding a teacher) and student teachers must follow the policies of the host school district. Practicum students and student teachers are held to a professional standard of behavior as specified by the Pennsylvania Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators and will be removed from a school site by a building administrator for unprofessional conduct. A student asked to leave a school site may be assigned academic work outside of student teaching to complete the credits needed for graduation. Grades will be assigned by the education department faculty based on the work completed and evaluations from Susquehanna faculty and the cooperating teachers.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Music in Music Education
Each course below must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.
12 Music Literature
2 MUSC-152 Survey of World Music
4 MUSC-245 The Music of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Eras
4 MUSC-250 The Music of the Classic and Romantic Eras
2 MUSC-350 20th-Century Music
14 Music Theory
2 MUSC-161 Theory I: Diatonic Harmony
2 MUSC-162 Theory II: Chromatic Harmony
2 MUSC-163 Ear Training I
2 MUSC-164 Ear Training II
2 MUSC-261 Theory III: Advanced Harmony
2 MUSC-262 Theory IV: Form and Analysis
2 MUSC-263 Ear Training III
40 Education
4 EDUC-250 Educational Psychology
4 EDUC-350 English Language Learners: Theory and Instruction
2 MUED-200 Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Public School Education and Music Education
4 MUED-339 General Music Education Methods and Practicum
4 MUED-345 Instrumental Music Education Methods and Practicum
4 MUED-351 Choral Music Education Methods and Practicum
4 MUED-355 Music for Exceptional Children and Practicum
0* MUED-400:01 Student Teaching
4* MUED-400:02 Classroom Performance
4* MUED-400:03 Classroom Management
4* MUED-400:04 Preparation and Planning
2* MUED-405 Student Teaching Seminar
(*indicates capstone)
4 Conducting
2 MUSC-369 Beginning Conducting
2 MUSC-371 Instrumental Conducting (instrumental emphasis)
2 MUSC-372 Choral Conducting (vocal emphasis)
31-32 Applied Music and Other Courses
Vocal emphasis 31 SH; Instrumental emphasis 32 SH; Keyboard-Vocal Emphasis 32, Keyboard-Instrumental Emphasis 34
14 Major Lesson (seven semesters)
1 MUSC-034 Piano Class I (not required of keyboard concentrates)
1 MUSC-035 Piano Class II (not required of keyboard concentrates)
1 MUSC-037 Piano Class III
1 MUSC-038 Piano Technique (for piano concentrates only)
1 MUSC-082 University Choir OR MUSC-083 University Chorale (instrumental emphasis)
1 MUED-039 Classroom Instruments
1 MUED-040 Brass Class I
1 MUED-041 Woodwind Class I
1 MUED-042 String Class I
1 MUED-043 Percussion Class
1 MUED-046 Brass Class II (instrumental emphasis)
1 MUED-047 Woodwind Class II (instrumental emphasis)
1 MUED-048 String Class II (instrumental emphasis)
1 MUSC-049 Piano Class IV (vocal emphasis)
2-3 MUSC-066 Collaborative Piano (keyboard concentrates only) (third semester for keyboard concentrates who are exempt from MUSC-037)
1 MUSC-077 Training Ensemble
1 MUSC-084 Diction I (vocal emphasis)
7 Large Ensemble (seven semesters)
0 MUSC-503 Half Recital
0 MUSC-555 Forum (seven semesters)
Applied Music Lessons
Lessons carry one or two semester hours of credit. Students earn credit of one semester hour for a weekly half-hour lesson. Bachelor of Arts majors take a one-semester-hour lesson on their major instrument. Music education majors and performance majors take a weekly one-hour lesson on their major instrument and receive two semester hours of credit.
A fee is charged per semester for individual lessons that are not stated specifically as curricular requirements (nonmajors or extra lessons for majors). Such lessons are contingent upon faculty availability within the normal teaching load.
