Bachelor of Arts in K-12 Music Education

Help build a firm foundation for the next generation

As a K-12 Education student, your studies will prepare you to become certified by the State of Michigan to teach grades K-12 in music. Upon completion, you will also be eligible to apply for a secondary education certificate in additional majors or minors of your choice.

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Financial Aid

The average undergraduate student award is $16,603.

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Program Overview

A degree in K-12 Education at CUAA offers you field experiences in both elementary and secondary schools. You will obtain a strong liberal arts education in a Christian setting as you prepare to apply for K-12 teaching positions in the church and community.

What to Expect

As a graduate of the K-12 Education program, you will step into the classroom with the knowledge needed to provide teaching that inspires students to learn. You will be able to evaluate and respond to different classroom, school, and community cultures and employ best practices accordingly.

As a music education major, you have the unique opportunity not only to take education courses, but also take intensive music instruction courses in theory and application. You will work closely with the Department of Music to fulfill those requirements.

Concentrations / Specializations

Music

Locations

Ann Arbor

State of Michigan Teaching Certificate

To obtain an initial teaching certification through the State of Michigan, the following requirements must be met:

Passing scores on the Michigan Tests for Teacher Certification
Documentation of achievement of program outcomes
Training in first aid and CPR
Professional conference attendance
Completion of surveys
Academic portfolio

Please see our course catalog for details.

Deadline for Program Completion

All requirements for program completion must be completed within two years of withdrawal from the university. Following that deadline, a candidate wishing to return and complete certification requirements must meet any new or changed program requirements.

MOECS

In order to receive certification in the State of Michigan, applicants must apply for certification on the new Michigan Online Educator Certification System. Forms and resources are available on the MOECS site.

Steps to Secure a State Teaching Certificate

Complete all program requirements
Submit a Request for Initial Teacher Certification to the School of Education's certification officer
Apply for certification through MOECS
The state sends the application to the certification officer to be verified
When program completion and fulfillment of all requirements have been verified, the certification officer submits the university’s recommendation to the State Department of Education via MOECS
The state sends the candidate an email that includes a link to pay the certification fee
Create a Michigan Education Information System (MEIS) Account in the MOECS system

In keeping with Michigan’s Rule 101.1, if a candidate reports conviction for certain misdemeanors or felonies, details must be noted in the submitted recommendation for certification. Failure to accurately or honestly report convictions or current charges may serve as the basis for a denial of certification.

Deadline for Requesting Certification

Michigan stipulates a five-year window for submitting a recommendation for certification upon program completion. After that deadline, Concordia requires evidence of a minimum of ten additional credits of coursework directly related to the requested area(s) of certification. Ten or more years after program completion, a minimum of eighteen additional credits and evidence of 50 hours of appropriate clinical experiences are required.

Certification in Other States

Certification processes and requirements vary by state. Concordia strongly encourages all graduates to begin by securing a Michigan certificate, even if they do not intend to find a teaching job within the state.

Certification Renewal

Forms and resources are available on the MOECS site.

How to Apply

Undergraduate Application Steps

It’s time to help you become a Cardinal! Just follow these simple steps to complete your application.

For first-time freshman:

Submit your online application
Have your school send your official high school transcripts. Transcripts may be mailed or sent via a transcript processing service to:
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Admissions Office
4090 Geddes Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Send your official ACT or SAT scores.

Scores on your high school transcript will be considered official. If your school does not put scores on transcripts, please contact ACT or College Board.

For transfer students:

Submit your online application
Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended

*Transfer students with less than 60 college credits completed will also submit official high school transcripts. Students who have less than 30 college credits also need to submit official ACT or SAT scores. Scores on your high school transcript will be considered official.

Minimum Requirements

A minimum GPA of a 2.5/4.0 (C average) or higher
ACT composite of 18 or above
SAT equivalent of 940 or higher for combined math and evidence-based reading and writing (for tests taken after March 2016).

*If your GPA or ACT score falls below the minimum for acceptance, your admissions counselor may ask you to retake the test or supply additional documents, such as an essay or letters of recommendation, to complete the application.

Required Academic Coursework in High School

A minimum of 16 units of high school (secondary school) work is required, of which at least 11 should be in basic liberal arts areas. Units should be distributed as follows:

English: At least three units, but four are strongly recommended.
Mathematics: Two units of college-prep math, preferably one each in Algebra and Geometry.
Natural Science: Two units, preferably one each in Biology, Physics or Chemistry.
Social Studies: Two units, preferably one each in world history and American history.
Liberal Arts: Two units of the same foreign language or additional units in one or more of the other listed subjects or in fine arts.
Other Electives: Five units from any area of academic study, but ideally from the areas listed above.
German or Latin is recommended for pre-seminary students.

Curriculum

The core of K-12 Music Education embraces six themes central to student intellectual inquiry and growth. You have flexibility to maximize your interests and learning goals by selecting courses that have a direct impact on your professional program or planned career major.

Take a look at the curriculum designed for a K-12 Music Education Major:

K-12 Music Education Curriculum

Lutheran Teaching Diploma

Do you feel called to educate, influence, and prepare the next generation of the LCMS church? Our Lutheran Teaching Diploma is designed to prepare you to teach specifically in Lutheran schools. Learn more about the Lutheran Teaching Diploma here.

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