Music Education

Bachelor's Degree Program

Prepare for rewarding careers teaching music to K-12 students. The bachelor’s degree in music education offers comprehensive, personalized music training within the vibrant arts community of Fairbanks, Alaska. The program also features extensive field-based teacher training, including a semester-long internship in a school setting.

Our music education program includes teacher certification and licensure within the five-year curriculum. When you graduate, you won’t need to take additional certification courses—you’ll be ready to start your career as a licensed public school teacher in the state of Alaska.

What Is Music Education?

Music education combines lessons and hands-on training in music theory, performance and pedagogy to prepare you to teach music in schools. The degree in music education at UAF readies teachers who are certified and licensed to teach grades K-12.

Music teachers instruct students in different aspects of music such as playing instruments, exploring music history and analyzing musical works. Music teachers also plan lessons and often organize school concerts and direct student choirs, bands and orchestras.

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Quick Facts

Degree type:

  • Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

Availability:

  • UAF’s main campus in Fairbanks, Alaska

 

Why Study Music Education at UAF?

Our degree in music education offers training by top music instructors and extensive field-based opportunities to prepare you for careers in teaching music. Read on to learn more about what makes UAF one of the best colleges for music education majors.

Connect with the diverse music and arts community of Fairbanks

  • When you major in music education at UAF, your experience is enriched by the vibrant and diverse culture of Alaska. Many of our students find unique opportunities to participate in cooperative arts groups such as the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Chorus, Opera Fairbanks, Summer Arts Festival, Summer Music Academy, Fairbanks Light Opera Theater and more.

Start your teaching career when you graduate

  • Because our music education program includes teacher certification and initial licensure as part of the five-year degree, you’ll be ready to start teaching music immediately after you graduate.

Learn from experienced performing artists and researchers

  • Our music faculty are not only professors and educators, but have also performed and published at national and international levels. Our performance faculty frequently serve as guest artists, clinicians and conductors at venues around the world.

Get extensive hands-on training

  • Our music education major includes a yearlong teaching internship and other field-based experiences, including opportunities to work with a classroom of young children teaching songs, rhythmic movements and how to play simple instruments. There is also a fun, informal concert program attended by parents, families and teachers.

Participate in music education clubs and events

  • Music education majors are encouraged to join the UAF chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), which includes a variety of different activities and events throughout the year related to music education, including travel to regional NAfME conferences.

 

A quick look at the Music Department at UAF

 

What Can You Do With a Music Education Degree?

Most of our music education majors go on to careers as public school music teachers in Alaska. Our placement is about 75% in the first year after graduation. Some of our students find teaching positions outside of Alaska or continue on to graduate study in music education or music therapy.

Each state has its own unique requirements for authorization. If you are planning to seek a professional license or certificate in a state other than Alaska, please see the state listings website.

Jobs in music education

Music teachers work in a variety of settings including:

  • Elementary and middle schools
  • High schools
  • Colleges and universities
  • Private music schools
  • Home or other locations (private music lessons)

Music education salary

To give you an idea of how much music teachers make, here are average salaries of teachers at different grade levels in Alaska:

  • Elementary school teacher: $74,070
  • Middle school teachers: $75,770
  • High school teachers: $77,920

 

Music Education Degree Requirements

The bachelor’s degree in music education provides comprehensive teacher preparation as well as training to develop excellence in performance areas. Music theory, piano performance, conducting and Alaska Native music are just a few of the topics you’ll get to explore in this program.

View all required classes for the degree in music education

 

Get Started on Your Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education

Take the next step toward earning your bachelor’s degree. We have the resources to help you get started.

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Have questions? Our expert advisors are here to guide you every step of the way. Let us know how we can help.

Transfer to UAF

Transferring to UAF? We can walk you through the process and help make sure you get the most out of the credits you’ve earned.

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Earn your bachelor’s degree in Music Education at UAF. Submit your application online today.