Degree Requirements

Music Studies at Susquehanna

Music Opportunities for Non–Music Majors. The department provides a variety of music opportunities for all students, regardless of their majors and career goals. Non-majors may take upper-level music courses with permission of the instructor. They may apply up to 16 semester hours of music credit toward their degree programs. The department also welcomes non-majors in performing groups and private study upon a successful audition or permission from the instructor.

Career and Graduate Study Options and Outcomes. Graduates of the bachelor of music programs typically teach music within the northeastern region of the country or choose to pursue graduate study at major public and private universities. Graduates with the bachelor of arts degree either pursue graduate study or find employment in a broad range of music-related fields, such as arts management, theatre, music composition/arranging, business, sound and recording industry, public relations, newspapers, magazines, radio and television, sales and consulting.

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. Candidates in the bachelor of music in music education degree complete the university Central Curriculum requirements plus the following courses with a minimum GPA of 3.0. 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. Regardless of the emphasis selected, all piano and organ concentrates are required to take MUSC:039 Voice Class.

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 head of the Department of Education and/or Teacher Education Committee. 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 second 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

  3 semester hours of English composition,

  3 semester hours of English/American literature,

  6 semester hours of college-level mathematics;

• a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or a cumulative GPA of 2.8 and successful completion of Praxis I examinations;
• completion of one 40-hour externship (see below), with completed forms returned to Center for Career Services;
• current Act 34 and Act 151 clearances and fingerprinting;
• two letters of reference from university faculty; and
• submission of a completed Department of Education application form.

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.

The Department of Music faculty, in consultation with the head of the Department of Education, reserve the right to make a judgment on the suitability of students for professional teaching practice. Practicum students and student teachers must follow the policies of the host school district. Practicum students and student teachers will be removed from a school site by a building administrator who gives as reason, therefore, one of the following: unsatisfactory teaching performance; immorality; incompetence; intemperance; cruelty; persistent negligence in the performance of duties; willful neglect of duties; physical or mental disability as documented by competent medical evidence, which after reasonable accommodation of such disability as required by law substantially interferes with the student teacher's ability to perform essential functions of student teaching; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor; persistent and willful violation of or failure to comply with the school laws of this Commonwealth including official directives and established policy of the board of directors. A student asked to leave a school site will be assigned a grade by the faculty based on the work completed and evaluations from the host district.

The following courses must be completed with a minimum of C- or better.

semester hours

Bachelor of Music in Performance. Music students who desire a specialized emphasis in performance may choose this degree option. Accepted majors possess superior skill in the given performance area and demonstrate that skill at forums and recitals. Students who complete this program typically continue study at the graduate level and/or teach in a private studio. Candidates complete the university Central Curriculum requirements plus the following courses with a minimum grade average of C. All courses below must be completed with a minimum grade of C- or better.

semester hours

Plus the following courses determined by student's specialization and prescribed by the major advisor:

Bachelor of Arts in Music. Students interested in combining a solid foundation in music with the opportunity to pursue in-depth study in another area may choose this degree. Students complete university Central Curriculum requirements plus the following 45 semester hours with a grade of C- or better in all courses.

semester hours

Minors in Music. The Department of Music offers three minors: the minor in music theory/literature, the minor in music performance, and the minor in music technology.

Minor in Music Theory/Literature. Students must complete, with a grade of a C- or better, 20 semester hours of course work: either MUSC:152 World Music Perspectives OR MUSC:101 Introduction to Music; MUSC:161 Theory I; MUSC:162 Theory II; MUSC:163 Ear Training I; and 10 or 12 semester hours of music electives from 200-level courses or higher chosen with the guidance of a member of the Department of Music. Elective credit in applied music and performing groups is limited to two semester hours of applied study and two semester hours of performing groups.

Minor in Music Performance. Students must complete, with a grade of a C- or better, 20 semester hours of course work: either MUSC:152 World Music Perspectives OR MUSC:101 Introduction to Music; MUSC:161 Theory I; MUSC:163 Ear Training I; four semesters of half-hour applied lessons; four semesters of a performance ensemble; four semester hours chosen from MUSC:102 A Study of Jazz, MUSC:193 Women in Music, MUSC:245 The Music of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Eras, and MUSC:380 Choral Masterworks.

Minor in Music Technology. Students must complete, with a grade of a C- or better, 20 semester hours of course work: MUSC:170 Introduction to Music Technology; MUSC:355 Audio Engineering Fundamentals; MUSC:356 Music Production in the Recording Studio; MUSC:367 Computer Music Composition; MUSC:368 Computer Music Performance; and three semester hours in an internship or music electives.