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Music Education

Bachelor of Music Education

One of the largest music education programs among private colleges and universities in the Southeast

Overview

Whether you desire to teach music in a school or a studio, in the United States or overseas, the music education program at Bob Jones University will prepare you to be an effective, innovative and Christ-centered musician-educator.

Our program is approved by the South Carolina Department of Education, and leads to initial South Carolina state licensure (certified to teach K-12 in a public school setting). Graduates from BJU’s music education program have been accepted into leading graduate schools and are teaching in the United States and around the world.

young violinists

Program

Through classes such as Introduction to Music Education and the examples of your professors, you’ll begin to learn what it means to be a Christian musician-educator and how teaching music fits into the broader education profession. You’ll learn from historical influences and current trends in music education and develop your own philosophy of music education based on a Christian worldview.

You will choose voice, keyboard (piano or organ), guitar or one of the standard orchestral instruments as your principal proficiency. In addition to classes for your principal, you’ll take a variety of instrumental classes to prepare you to competently teach various musical instruments. You’ll study music theory, conducting and teaching methods, exposing you to diverse instructional methods and familiarizing you with up-to-date educational technology. You’ll also create standards-based lesson plans with integrated technology, accommodations for exceptional learners, appropriate assessment and much more.

Throughout your years at BJU, you’ll gain real-life experience in the classroom, culminating in a semester of clinical practice your senior year. You’ll have the opportunity to work with a teacher in a local public school and receive timely feedback in weekly meetings with a BJU professor. Education classes, a semester of clinical practice in a local public school, passing scores in the PRAXIS II exam and a favorable recommendation lead to South Carolina state teacher licensure for K-12.

Licensure Disclosure

BJU Core

BJU’s liberal arts core, including classes such as economics, philosophy and speech, will challenge you to see life from a broader perspective. These subjects will also help you to develop essential life skills like critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and effective communication—skills necessary for flexibility in an ever-changing job market.

Electives

Because of the highly specialized nature of the music education program, most electives are part of program requirements, such as the instrument class electives.

Conducting lab

Success

Your Future

Jobs

The Music Education program at BJU opens the door to many career possibilities, from teaching music in a public or private school to giving one-on-one lessons in a home or studio.

  • K-12 music teacher
  • Band/choir/orchestra director in a private school or a public school
  • Music studio teacher
  • Church musician

Graduate Schools

Our Music Education graduates have been accepted into leading graduate schools including:

  • Cincinnati College—Conservatory of Music
  • University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
  • Florida State University
  • Michigan State University
  • Indiana University
  • Northwestern University
  • Boston University
  • University of North Carolina—Greensboro
  • University of South Carolina
  • University of Kansas
  • University of Oklahoma
  • Auburn University
  • Louisiana State University
  • University of Colorado at Boulder
  • North Carolina School of the Arts

Graduate Experience

Music Education graduates excel in a wide range of settings:

  • Christian school music teacher, Guam
  • Flute teacher, Musical Innovations, Greenville, S.C.
  • ABA therapist for children with autism, Ariz.
  • Director of Music Studies, Bob Jones Memorial Bible College, Manila, Philippines
  • Public school principal, Greenville, S.C.
  • Charter school music teacher, Ariz.
  • Public school music teacher, Maine

children's choir

Career Support

BJU’s Career Services Office helps both students and alumni through career advising, resume preparation, job search assistance, recruitment conferences and more.

At the annual Christian School Recruitment Conference, representatives from approximately 60 Christian schools—across the United States and overseas—visit our campus to present their ministries, network with students and conduct interviews with prospective graduates.

Learning Experience

Clinical Practice

Your teaching preparation moves gently from classroom observations to after-school tutoring to practicum two mornings a week. Meanwhile, your methods classes will give you plenty of practice in lesson planning. By the time you begin your clinical practice your senior year, you will be well-prepared with numerous lesson plans under your belt and at least 100 hours of classroom experience. Clinical practice, the capstone experience of your teaching preparation, gives you the opportunity to work with a mentor teacher in a local public school and receive timely feedback in weekly meetings with a BJU professor. This semester of clinical practice, along with completion of required classes, passing scores in the PRAXIS II exam and a favorable recommendation, leads to South Carolina state teacher licensure for K-12.

Music Groups

Membership in the University’s bands, orchestras, or choirs will provide you with unparalleled opportunities for further development of your musicianship under the direction of our accomplished faculty conductors. You will also be challenged to achieve your best in your chosen principal through private lessons, culminating in a senior recital. You may choose voice, keyboard (piano or organ), guitar or one of the standard orchestral instruments as a principal.

Washington Center Challenge Day

Every fall Bob Jones University hosts the Special Olympics Developmental Games for students from Washington Center, a school for children and young people with severe mental disabilities. Music education majors from BJU assist the student athletes in musical activities and games as the athletes’ families and teachers cheer them on.

University Educators Association

The University Educators Association also provides programs and activities that complement BJU’s teacher preparation program. Membership is $20 per year.

National Association for Music Education, Collegiate Chapter

Our award-winning, student-led NAfME chapter provides opportunities for leadership development and service activities, a series of music education seminars featuring distinguished guest clinicians and lecturers throughout the year, and an annual trip to the South Carolina Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference.

Faculty

Pattye Casarow
Program Coordinator
Photo of Pattye Casarow

Contact Me

View Music Faculty

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Music Education faculty members have all earned terminal degrees in their field and average 30 years of teaching experience. Each is active in contributing to the field as a performer, clinician and/or researcher.

So be ready to ask lots of questions—every bit of their experience will be invaluable to you as you grow in your content knowledge and develop your teaching skills.

Courses & Objectives

1st Year

2nd Year

3rd Year

4th Year

  • Program
  • BJU Core
  • Elective

    Program Objectives

    Each student will:

    • Perform with satisfactory technique and artistry as a voice, keyboard (piano or organ), guitar or orchestral instrumental principal.
    • Design effective lesson plans and assessments using appropriate methods, materials and technologies for instrumental, vocal and general music education.
    • Apply one's own musicianship, content knowledge and pedagogical skill to the teaching of music in an effective and engaging manner.

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