Music Education Initial Certification

Hi all, my son is a rising freshman in viola performance at University of Michigan starting this fall. He has been considering whether he wants to go for the dual degree with music ed, however he also has interest in going for a minor in Spanish and/or performing arts management.

What programs do you know of that he’d be able to obtain initial certification for music ed AFTER he completes his bachelor degree?

*I’ve read the dual degree dilemma
*He has his advising appointment this Thursday, but we are trying to get some info in advance to be prepared for the appointment.

The University of Minnesota has a post-bacc music education program but it requires quite a few credits.

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Does he hope to teach in Michigan? If so, his advisor should be able to work with him to get the education requirements done. It might take him five years instead of four. Music education majors are required to do student teaching and this takes time away from mandatory ensemble performances.

He should ask the advisor about maybe getting a master degree to fulfill the teaching requirements.

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Lots of questions up in the air… with his major, he already is quite sure that he will continue on to a masters program, so even then it would end up being a double/dual masters.

He needs to discuss this with his advisor…only they can tell him what is possible at Michigan.

My music performance major really didn’t have any extra time in the schedule for a second major. Music performance kids have a lot of 1 and 2 credit courses that take many many hours per week…not just one or two.

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Thank you, that’s exactly why this question is coming up for him. Thank you for your advice. Now that I figured out how to google what I wanted I am finding the programs I was looking for. The programs are there. One that I found in the state we live in (who knows if he will live here then……) is another 2 year program that leads to certification. This is definitely one of the most important questions he has on the list for the advising appointment.

Yes…in my opinion, certification requirements are best satisfied in the state in which you plan to teach.

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Absolutely! I’m a gen ed teacher, and I do think that’s important! If he was for sure going to be in one state or another, getting the certification there would be ideal.

It depends on the state where he wants to teach. If he’s sure he wants a music Ed degree and plans to teach, I’d recommend just doing the bachelor’s degree. A music Education degree has a ton of requirements (many do overlap with performance, it just adds a bunch of extra) and it’s not something to do if you’re not sure. He can find a degree plan as a google doc in silent advisor and compare what he would be taking as a performance major vs music Ed, and ask the advisor how things are sequenced in the dual degree program and whether there’s room for any electives at all. Does he have any AP of dual enrollment credit? That can free up from for outside coursework for a music student.

There are plenty of post baccalaureate teacher certification programs. It does vary state by state, and the next question is, if he gets certified in a different state than the one where he plans to teach, is reciprocity offered for the teaching credential he receives, to the state where he plans to teach. Lots of variables.

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LOVE the silent advisors for SMTD. He will come in with some AP credits, but I don’t think it’s enough to make the dual doable in 4 years, and Michigan OOS is expensive even with the generous scholarship and grant money he’s been offered. I think I personally will be advising him to see what he can do with the minors instead, which may also lead to a new passion. As a performance major, I think the performing arts management minor would be SO useful. Honestly, I wish these kid adults didn’t have to choose so young!

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