Student Teaching

In addition to the successful completion and maintenance of all entrance requirements, Music Education majors must satisfy the following requirements prior to Student Teaching admission.

1. Pass the Piano Proficiency Exam (For students who enrolled in MUE prior to Fall 2016)
A. Students must attempt the Piano Proficiency Examination no later than the first semester of enrollment as an Upper Division Music Education major. Students may elect to take the Piano Proficiency Examination prior to acceptance to the Upper Division Music Education program.

B. Should the first attempt fail, students must repeat the Piano Proficiency Examination in every subsequent semester while enrolled as an Upper Division Music Education Major, for a maximum of three total attempts.

C. Students have three attempts to pass all five sections. If any section is failed, the committee maintains the right to compel the student to retake any or all sections of the examination. Any retake will consist of different musical examples. Failure to complete all sections on the third attempt will result in program dismissal.

2. Pass the Comprehensive Musicianship Exam (For students enrolled in MUE Fall 2016 or later)
Pass: Pass all five sections.

Conditional Pass: Pass at least three sections. May be admitted to Upper Division pending results of other Upper Division admission requirements. If admitted to Upper Division, the student must retake failed sections at the end of first semester of Upper Division. Failure of retaken sections will result in removal from the Music Education degree.

Fail: Fail three sections or more. Must retake the entire exam.

3. Complete all required and elective coursework, recital requirements, and pass the MUS 471 applied jury.
 
4. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in music and 3.0 overall.
Upper Division students who do not maintain the required GPA must make satisfactory progress toward attaining a 3.0 in music and a 3.0 overall prior to Student Teaching.  Satisfactory progress will be determined by the Music Education Coordinator and Music Department Chair. Failure to make satisfactory progress will result in dismissal from the Music Education program. Students who do not have a GPA of 3.0 in music and 3.0 overall will not be allowed to student teach.
 
5. Maintain a satisfactory teaching disposition as assessed by the PDR.
Failure to maintain a satisfactory teaching disposition may result in program dismissal.
 
6. Maintain an electronic teaching portfolio according to stated criteria (see electronic teaching portfolio).
 
7. Complete 100 hours of observation with documentation on file.

Once a student has successfully satisfied the above-stated six requirements, they may begin the student teaching application process. In order to initiate a student teaching placement, all candidates must complete or satisfy the following requirements. Please note: all elementary and secondary student teaching placements are at the sole discretion of the music education coordinator.

Applications

Student Teaching applications are due no later than the 8th week of classes in the semester prior to which a student intends to student teach. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Applications are available online 

Upon receipt of the application, the music education coordinator will contact candidates to schedule a student teaching review. In the review, candidates will be asked to respond to a series of questions regarding his/her student teaching preparation. In addition, candidates will be asked to present his/her updated teaching portfolio in accordance with stated criteria (see electronic portfolios) providing evidence of readiness to student teach. Student teaching reviews are assessed pass/fail.

Completion of your Application

Upon successful completion of the student teaching application, student teaching review, and adherence to requirements prior to student teaching, arrangements will be made for a student teaching placement. Those who do not successfully complete the student teaching review may attempt only one retake, which must occur in the semester immediately following the initial student teaching review attempt. Students who do not attempt and pass the student teaching review in the semester following the initial attempt will be dismissed from the Music Education program.

In the semester of student teaching, students must register for MUS 457 (Elementary Placement), MUS 458 (Secondary Placement), and MUS 460 (Student Teaching Seminar) concurrently. These courses are considered a full-time load. No other courses may be taken during this semester. Student teachers are required to attend all college student teaching meetings prior to the first day of the placement. Dates are provided in the student teaching packet.

Initial Certification

To receive initial certification in the state of New York, several other requirements must be met beyond BSC coursework. It is the student’s responsibility to complete these requirements. A list of these requirements may be obtained from the music education coordinator, BSC Office of Teacher Certification or online at highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate.

Student teachers may register online for certification exams at nystce.nesinc.com.

It is strongly suggested that Upper Division Music Education Majors begin completion of the New York State Teacher Certification requirements beyond BSC coursework before student teaching. To facilitate this process, a suggested sequence of Teacher Certification seminars and exams has been paired with an appropriate Upper Division methods course in the table below. Upper Division Music Education majors are encouraged to adhere to this sequence to avoid being financially and academically responsible for all seminars and exams while student teaching.

Seminars suggested while taking Elementary Methods

  • S.A.V.E (School Anti-Violence Education Workshop)
  • Child Abuse Identification Workshop
  • Fire and Arson Safety Seminar
  • Dignity for All Students Act Workshop (DASA)

Seminars and exams suggested while taking Choral Methods

  • Drug and Alcohol Awareness Seminar
  • Academic Literacy Skills Test (ALST)

Exams suggested while taking Instrumental Methods

  • Educating All Student (EAS)
  • Content Specialty Test (CST) – to be taken intersemester before student teaching

Exam suggested during Student Teaching Seminar

  • edTPA
  • Student Teachers are expected to exhibit and maintain the highest standard of professional, ethical, and pedagogical behavior.
  • Withdrawal, failure to complete, or a failing grade in one or both Student Teaching placements may result in program dismissal at the discretion of the Music Department Chair. In extraordinary circumstances, the student teacher may petition the Chair for program continuance.
  • Student teachers will be observed and assessed by BSC Music Faculty, the cooperating teacher with whom the student teacher is placed, and cooperating administrators. All communication and assessment information shared between the cooperating teacher/cooperating administrators and BSC Music Department Faculty is considered confidential.

? Electronic Portfolio Requirements 

? Observation Form - Music Ed

? Student Teaching Online Application

? Master's Project/Thesis Proposal