Music Education
The Music Education Department at the University of Oregon is a leader in the movement to improve teacher education and is dedicated to providing the public schools with a select group of music education professionals. Recognized as one of the most innovative programs in the western United States, it combines the latest with the best of the traditional.
Teacher Education Program
The University of Oregon offers a five-year program composed of a four-year Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and a one-year licensure program culminating in an Oregon Music Teaching License. The fifth-year program also includes a substantial portion of the course work required for the Master of Music degree.
Acceptance into the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance depends upon a satisfactory academic record in public school and musical proficiency in an audition. During the first two years, music students concentrate on broad liberal arts studies, as well as music theory, history, performance and ensembles.
Major in Music Education
Students who meet the University's high academic standards and achieve the level of musicianship required by the School of Music and Dance are eligible, beginning their junior year, to specialize in music education and to pursue course work leading to the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education after four years.
Get Hands-On Experience
Our program offers a strong component of practical experience in the performance skills of teaching. An innovative feature of the program is the Teaching Laboratory, which coupled with our method classes, provides numerous clinical opportunities for students to practice teaching strategies and rehearsal techniques.
Choose A Specialty
Our undergraduate program has four tracks - band, choral, early childhood/elementary general, and string. Students choose one of these tracks according to their job goals.
Perform
Music education majors perform in the School of Music and Dance's superb ensembles: chamber choir, university singers, women's choir, concert choir, orchestra, wind ensemble, symphonic band, campus band, jazz bands, opera workshop, and gamelan. These groups are recognized as among the finest of their kind in the Northwest.
Study Your Instrument
Study with nationally-recognized teachers who are expert performers on their instruments.
Work With Your Peers
To increase your skills and contacts, join National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Collegiate. 
Get A Job
Our graduates are highly sought-after by public schools in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. For example, over the past decade, 100% of our graduates seeking positions were employed.
Look Us Over
If you would like to spend a day on campus and see our program in action, call (541) 346-5579. One of our students will be happy to take you through a typical day at the School of Music and Dance.
Graduate Program
The School of Music and Dance at the University of Oregon offers graduate programs leading to the degrees Master of Music and Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education.
Graduate study in music education challenges the student to gain a greater depth of knowledge in music pedagogy. Our graduate degrees offer intensive study in practical techniques for teaching, musical materials useful in all levels of education, educational psychology and philosophy, and research practices related to music learning. The master of music degree in music education is recommended for persons who have prior teaching experience and want to refine their professional expertise. The Oregon Standard Teaching Certificate is available to post-baccalaureate students and can be affiliated with the master's degree program. It is available to those interested in certification as teachers in the State of Oregon. The doctor of philosophy degree program offers a comprehensive emphasis on music and pedagogy for advanced students who have successfully taught public school music for a minimum of three years. The doctor of philosophy degree has a primary area in music education and candidates also choose a supporting area, which provides the student with additional advanced skills. A broad spectrum of music studies provide breadth to this research-oriented degree, which culminates with comprehensive examinations and a dissertation.
