Admission Process
For admission into the Music Program, an audition is required. For more information, please visit westliberty.edu/music/.
See the Teacher Education Student Policy Manual for each admission point requirement. Each admission point is a formal admittance using an electronic application located on the Teacher Education website.
1. Admission Point 1: Admission to the Teacher Education Program
2. Admission Point 2: Admission to Residency Semester
3. Admission Point 3: Admission to Residency Semester 2 (Professional Semester)
4. Admission Point 4: Graduation and Certification
Teaching Certification
To qualify for West Virginia teaching certification, each graduate must also pass all of the required Praxis II tests for the subject area that he or she intends to teach. A list of the required Praxis II tests, along with the required passing scores, is available at the ETS website (http://www.ets.org/praxis) or the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) web site.
Graduates may obtain certification packets at the dean’s office or by requesting a packet from WVDE. Fingerprinting must be completed at a WVDE approved location.
Required Courses and Professional Components
Pre-Professional Skills Component
All education students must pass state-required pre-professional skills tests (Praxis I). Also, they must demonstrate speaking skills competency by achieving a letter grade of “C” or better in COM 101, ENG 101 and ENG 102.
Professional Education Component
| EDUC 100 | Introduction to Professional Education | 1 |
| EDUC 207 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDUC 301 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| MUS 246 | Introduction to Music Technology | 3 |
| MUS 451 | Music in Elementary School: Content & Standards | 3 |
| MUS 452 | Music in Middle School | 2 |
| SPED 241 | Introduction to Exceptionalities | 3 |
Residency Semester I
These courses must be scheduled together during the semester prior to the Residency Semester 2 (professional semester). Teacher candidates must be admitted to Admission Point 1 and Admission Point 2 before enrolling in the Secondary Education Residency I semester.
| EDUC 293 | Instructional Design Assessment for Middle/Secondary Teachers | 3 |
| EDUC 309 | Residency I | 0 |
| READ 302 | Reading for Content Area Instruction | 3 |
| SPED 320 | Collaborative Techniques for Secondary Students with Exceptionalities | 3 |
Residency Semester II
Music Core Courses
Choral Emphasis
The Music Education Degree Program has two emphases: Choral and Instrumental.
"Choral" for future Choir Directors.
"Instrumental" for future Band Directors.
| MUS 251 | Fundamentals of Instrumental Techniques | 1 |
| MUS 356 | Fundamentals of Lyric Diction | 1-2 |
| MUS 357 | French and German Diction | 2 |
| MUS 440 | Choral Techniques-Literature | 3 |
Instrumental Emphasis
The Music Education Degree Program has two emphases: Choral and Instrumental.
"Choral" for future Choir Directors.
"Instrumental" for future Band Directors.
| MUS 252 | Fundamentals of Brass Instruments | 1 |
| MUS 253 | Fundamentals of Percussion Instruments | 1 |
| MUS 255 | Fundamentals of Woodwinds | 1 |
| MUS 441 | Instrumental Techniques & Literature | 3 |
Applied Lessons
All Music Education Majors are required to take 12 credits (2 credits per semester for at least 6 semesters) of MUS 400 Applied Music Instruction and complete Internal Level 8.
All Music Majors must pass "Upper Division Qualification" in their sophomore or junior year.
See the Music Student Handbook for details.
Ensemble Requirement
Music Education Majors must take at least 6 (six) credits of ensembles as assigned by the Music Faculty and/or Music Department Chair.
Ensemble participation may be required to fulfill scholarship requirements.
Ensembles include but are not limited to MUS 261, 263, 264, 265, 364, 365, 366, and 367.