Music Education Careers & Outcomes
After Pacific | As a graduate of Pacific University with a Music Education degree, you will be fully prepared for a rewarding career in vocal and instrumental music education.
There are many employment opportunities in Music Education.
- The demand for qualified music teachers in the United States is unfulfilled. The latest study on the status of music education in the United States highlighted the shortage of qualified music teachers in every state (Give a Note, 2017).
- With Pacific’s BME and teaching licensure, students will be able to get a music teaching job in their preferred level of schooling, whether that is elementary, middle or high school.
- This program provides students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed for teaching music in any specialty area (e.g., general music, vocal/choir, instrumental).
Our graduates are private- and public-school music teachers, choir and church music directors, Fulbright Scholars, graduate students and professional musicians.
Learning Outcomes
We aim to develop well-rounded music graduates in three areas: (a) as musicians, (b) as specialists, and (c) as professionals. Following is the list of essential skills and qualities of excellence that our music graduates develop through studies in Department of Music:
As a Musician
- performs at proficient technical level on at least one instrument and/or voice.
- performs at a high level of musicianship in terms of musical and stylistic interpretation.
- demonstrates thorough knowledge of music history.
- demonstrates an advanced level of aural discrimination and sight reading skills.
- demonstrates sufficient keyboard skills needed for their areas of specialty.
As a Specialist
- demonstrates a thorough knowledge of techniques/strategies/pedagogies/materials used in the professional settings of their arias of specialization: performance, music therapy, music education, and general music.
- demonstrates strategies for integrating music with other disciplines.
- demonstrates understanding of the possible impact of their personal conduct and their future professions on socio-economic, ethnic, and diversity makeup of the populations with which they may work.
- demonstrates ability to gather, process, and effectively apply data related to their studies and future professions.
- demonstrates knowledge of technology and its application to learning, research, and work places.
As a Professional
- demonstrates commitment to continuous growth and development as musician and as human being
- demonstrates commitment to active involvement in professional associations and this includes volunteering and leadership positions within these organizations.
Program Purpose
The Department of Music at Pacific University seeks to educate students in the diverse fields of music, including studies focused on performance on varied instruments and voice, music therapy studies, studies in music education, and general music studies. A combination of academic, performance, and professional experiences allows students to experience the breadth and depth of music as the art form within the context of their chosen specialty. Participation in performance opportunities is open to all students on campus regardless of their major or minor in both individual and group (ensemble) instruction. Exploration of literature of a variety of historic periods, cultures and stylistic eras is available through an in depth music history curriculum along with ensemble participation. As music is a shared experience, music making at Pacific also provides opportunities for students to reach out to the community beyond our campus.
Students earning their music degrees learn the theoretical, historical and cultural background behind the creation of music as well as they are provided with extensive and authentic field experiences unique to students’ area of specialties, whether that is music performance, music therapy, or music education. The Department of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).