BA in Music Education

Become a music teacher, help others experience the power of music with a Music Education degree

You love music, and you want others to experience that love as well. The music education degree at SWU prepares you to be the best music teacher you can be, as well as for South Carolina teacher certification. As a music education major, you will learn the techniques to communicate the love of music in the public or private school settings through education coursework and hands-on experience in the classroom.

Musical Expertise and Teaching Excellence

As a music education major, you will apply principles of the Christian faith in different musical and life settings. You will engage in the study of music theory (scales, chords, chord progressions, musical forms, etc.), music history, conducting, keyboard proficiency, ensemble participation, as well as diligent practice in your applied instrument (voice, piano, organ, and wind, percussion or string instruments).You'll get to apply musical concepts using a specialized computer lab. Our highly skilled professors take a personal interest in guiding and inspiring you to achieve the plan God has for your musical, spiritual, and intellectual life. They will help you develop performance techniques and poise to prepare you for the competitive world of musical pedagogy.

In our music education program, students have many opportunities to develop in areas outside the university while a student. They have been marching band, drum line, and auxiliary coaches at high schools as well as Clemson University. They have directed church choirs in the surrounding area as well as led music at local churches. They have been involved in conducting master classes sponsored by the South Carolina American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). Choir and band students have participated in the South Carolina honor ensembles. The opportunities for professional music and music education development while a student is limitless at SWU.

Is the Music Education major right for you?

You might consider a music education major if you are passionate about music, wish to sharpen your skills as a musician, and wish to be skilled at helping others encounter the power of music. You probably have had an excellent music education experience during your middle school and/or high school years. Your music teacher inspired you by enabling you and your fellow students to excel in ways you never thought possible and now you want to be that person who motivates others to discover those same joys. This major is right for you if you understand the music education major is an involved major due to the broad scope of skills necessary to be a superior music teacher: excellence in your own performance, excellence in music knowledge and scholarship, and excellence in interpersonal skills and communication.