A career in music education demands that you be both a good musician and a good teacher. This dual program with the School of Education gives you a solid foundation in basic musical skills as well as the education background necessary to be certified to teach music in schools. The program prepares you to teach music to children of all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds and all levels of ability. Either option leads to the bachelor of music degree and to provisional teaching certification in New York State for grades K-12. The State Education Department is preparing new program guidelines and the University's School of Education has begun program revisions.
Programs emphasize curriculum and instructional development and evaluation.
Applied behavioral analysis is also stressed, with focus on behavior modification techniques in the classroom, task analysis of teacher behaviors, evaluation and assessment of teacher effectiveness, and psychological processes associated with musical perception and learning. The music education faculty has expertise in experimental and descriptive research methods. Historical and philosophical modes of inquiry are also used. Master's students may elect either the M.Mus. or M.S. degree.