The Bachelor of Music (Pre-Music Education Certification) degree is intended for students preparing for a career in public school teaching as a music specialist. The degree emphasizes preparation for secondary education-middle and high-school level instrumental and vocal programs. It includes a core of music academic and performance classes shared by all programs in music, specific music education courses, and the general education preparation required of all undergraduates at the University. The B.M. (Pre-Music Education Certification), instrumental and vocal emphases, are four-year degrees that do not include student teaching or earning a teaching credential.
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing stipulates that fully credentialed status can be achieved only after a teacher has earned thirty or so credits beyond a bachelor’s degree. Professional Education courses, required for teacher certification by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, are offered at Chapman at the graduate level in the Attallah College of Educational Studies at Chapman University (ACES). The normal pattern followed by students pursuing a teaching credential is to first take subject-area preparation leading to a bachelor’s degree (such as the B.M. (Pre-certification music education) degree and then take professional education courses at the graduate level. ACES offers a credential program and a Master of Arts in Teaching that has a teaching credential embedded. After completing the credential coursework on the graduate level, a student will earn a certification for the California State Single Subject Teaching Credential in Music, K-12.
General education requirements for the Bachelor of Music (Pre-Music Education Certification)
Students may take any language to satisfy the GE language requirement, except Ancient Greek and ASL.
Additional degree information
Specific transfer requirements, proficiency requirements, applied music policies, minimum grade policy, retake course policy, are listed at General Information for all Music Programs . Requirements for lessons and studio classes are listed at Applied Music Courses .
Both emphases in the B.M. (Pre-Music Education Certification) degree may be combined with the B.M. Composition degree, both emphases, and with the B.M. Performance degree Instrumental Emphasis (all areas), PCA emphasis, and Vocal Emphasis to satisfy the GE secondary area of study requirement. The B.M. (Pre-Music Education Certification) degree cannot be combined with the B.M. Performance, Conducting Emphasis, or with the General Music minor, but may be combined with the Film Music, Music Technology, and Music Business minors.
Program Learning Outcomes and Educational Effectiveness Evaluation Plans for B.M. in (Pre-Certification, Music Education).
Students pursuing the B.M. (Pre-Music Education Certification) are required to:
- Pass Piano Proficiency Requirement.
- Take jury exams at the end of each semester of applied lessons.
- Earn an overall GPA of 2.000 for all required major courses.
- Complete all courses in the major for a letter grade. The only exceptions are studio classes, recitals and information literacy classes.
- Pass courses with a minimum grade of “C” in all required courses for the B.M. (Pre-Music Education Certification).
- Complete a minimum of 33 credits from upper-division courses in the major.
- Complete the senior capstone requirements MUS 457 , MUS 458 , MUS 459 and for the Vocal Emphasis, MUS 398C , for the Instrumental Emphasis, MUS 398B or MUS 398D .