Music Education

Bachelor of Music Education

Concentrations Offered

Guitar, Instrumental, Keyboard, Vocal

Top 5 Reasons to Study

01

Prepares you to be a licensed K-12 music teacher, inspiring future generations of musicians

02

Provides one-on-one instruction with expert faculty to develop strong technical and musical foundations

03

Holds prestigious All-Steinway School status and housed in a state-of-the-art music facility

04

Equips you with practical strategies for teaching band, choir, orchestra and general music at all grade levels

05

Provides real-world classroom experience as part of the student-teaching internship

Core
Skills

  • Hands-on experience with lesson planning, curriculum design and classroom management
  • Proficiency in conducting techniques, score study and rehearsal planning for large and small ensembles
  • Strong organizational, time management and multitasking skills for balancing teaching, rehearsals and administrative duties

Sample
Jobs

  • Elementary School Music Teacher
  • Middle/High School Band or Choir Director
  • Instructional Coordinator (Arts Curriculum Specialist)
  • Church Music Director/Worship Leader
  • Music Program Administrator

Successful Career Outcomes

MSU music education students have a 100% successful career outcome rate 2023-24 First Destination Survey Report

Top
Employment
Industries

  • Mississippi higher education institutions, K-12 schools (classroom and administration) and churches
  • Southern Pediatric Therapy
  • Mississippi Arts Council

Brag
Points

  • Among an elite group of institutions holding the acclaimed All-Steinway School distinction globally
  • Housed in a $21 million, state-of-the-art building equipped with sound-proof practice rooms, a high-tech recording studio, an acoustically advanced lecture-recital hall, over $3.5 million in Steinway pianos and more

Experiential Learning Opportunities

- Music education partnerships (school and community outreach through workshops and clinics)
- Field-based teaching methods
- Creative composition & arranging 
- Ensembles & recital hours
- Undergraduate colloquia & presentations

Spotlight

A hallmark of the program is the student-teaching internship, which provides real-world classroom experience under the mentorship of certified music educators. During your internship, you will observe, assist and gradually assume full responsibility for classroom instruction.

Music Education

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Bachelor of Music Education

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Alumni
Success

Our music education alumni hold positions throughout the country, and many have been accepted into top graduate schools in music education, performance, church music, composition and conducting.

Student
Testimonial

"My time at the MSU Music Department has opened so many doors for my academic and career paths that I never would have considered before. I have had the opportunity to develop every artistic interest I came across and found support in every endeavor from the faculty. The Music Department has felt like home for the past four years, and I will remember my time here for the rest of my life!"
-Emily Jennings
Music Education | Starkville, Mississippi