Bachelor of Music Education

The Bachelor of Music Education Program is a five-year program (150 semester hours) designed to qualify graduates for the teaching of music as specialists in elementary and secondary school music. Upon the completion of this program, a student will qualify for a Prince Edward Island Teaching Certificate 5. Bachelor of Music Education students who wish to specialize in grades K-6 are advised, when choosing non-music electives, to select from a variety of areas. Bachelor of Music Education students who wish to specialize in grades 7-12 are advised, when choosing non-music electives, to elect an area in which they are prepared to continue at least to the 3000 level, to provide them with a second teaching area.

Application Process

At the end of the second year of study, students wishing to complete the Bachelor of Music Education program must submit a letter of application to the Chair of the Music Department outlining why they consider the field of music education to be an appropriate career path, and why they feel they would be good teachers. The music education faculty will interview the applicants to determine their suitability for this program. Students must have an overall average of 70% and a music average of 75% in the second year of study and must maintain those minima in order to continue in the BMusEd program.

Note: Current UPEI students should refer to Student Planning in myUPEI and the UPEI Academic Calendar governing their entry year, and speak to an academic advisor about course requirements. The course structure presented for this program is a recommended, unofficial progression for prospective students.

Note: As per Academic Regulation 1h, all undergraduate degree programs require successful completion of IKE-1040 (new for students beginning or returning after re-application in Fall 2022); one of UPEI-1010, UPEI-1020, or UPEI-1030, and a Writing Intensive Course. 

Year 1

(common to both Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education Programs)

NOTE, ENSEMBLE REQUIREMENTS: All students enrolled in a music program must satisfactorily complete the requirements for participation in a minimum of six full-year ensembles for the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education Degrees as follows:

• Brass/Woodwind/Percussion majors - 2 years Concert Choir, 4 years Wind Symphony
• Piano majors - 4 years Concert Choir, 2 years Collaborative Piano*
• Voice majors - 4 years Concert Choir, 2 years Diction Lab & 2 years chamber Singers
• Jazz & Classical Guitar majors - 2 years Concert Choir, 4 years of another recognized ensemble**
• String majors - 2 years Concert Choir, 4 years of another recognized ensemble**

* Pianists are required to take Collaborative Piano as their ensemble in lieu of large ensembles unless they are performing as pianist in those large ensembles. Placement is at the discretion of faculty.
** Possible ensembles include the UPEI Jazz Ensemble, UPEI Percussion Ensemble, UPEI Wind Symphony; or a community ensemble for which permission must be granted by the Department Chair. The community ensemble will be titled "Recognized Ensemble" on students' transcripts.

Unless the ensemble requirement is fulfilled, graduation will be denied.

Year II

(common to both Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education Programs)

NOTE: Ensembles required (see note at end of Year I).

Year III - Bachelor of Music Education

NOTE: Ensembles required (see note at end of Year I). 

Year IV - Bachelor of Music Education

For Elementary (K-6) and Secondary (7-12) - Year 4

ENGLISH - any THREE of the following 

• Education 4030 Arts and Social Transformation
• Education 4040/4050/4310 as a block (Curriculum Planning/Creating a Climate for learning/Differentiated Instruction
• Education 4110 Learners and Learning
• Education 4150 Inclusive Classroom (Secondary only)
• Education 4660 Teaching English as a Second Language
• Education 4820 Assessment and Evaluation
• Education 5820 Assessment of individual learners

For Elementary (K-6) & Secondary (7-12) - Year 4

FRENCH - any THREE of the following courses (9 semester hours):

• Education 4030 Integration des arts
• Education 4110 Learners and Learning
• Education 4150 Inclusion et differenciation
• Education 4040/4050/4060 as a block (Planification/Gestion de classe/Comprendre la sante sociale)
• Education 4820 Evaluation en salle de classe

NOTE: Ensembles required (see note at end of Year I).

Year V - Bachelor of Music Education

Students are required to take two (3 credits each) Education methods courses. Students may take these courses in English or French and specialize in either Elementary or Secondary using the following guidelines.

For Elementary (ENGLISH): One of the following pairs:  

A. Education 4320/4330 Primary/Elementary Languages and Literacies I & II
B. Education 4230-4280 Primary/Elementary
C. Education 4450 - Primary/Elementary Science (3 semester hours) and one other primary/elementary subject method course (part I only) (3 semester hours)
D. Education 4540 Primary/Elementary Social Studies) and One other primary/elementary subject method course (part 1 only) (3 semester hours)

For Elementary (FRENCH): one of the following pairs:

A. Education 4230-4280 - Primary/Elementary Mathematics I & II (6 semester hours)
B. Education 4450 - Primary/Elementary Science (3 semester hours) and one other primary/elementary subject method course (part 1 only) (3 semester hours)
C. Education 4540 - Primary/Elementary Social Studies (3 semester hours) and one other primary/elementary subject method course (part 1 only) (3 semester hours)
D. Education 4880-4890 Littératie I and II (6 semester hours)

For Secondary (ENGLISH OR FRENCH*) one of the following pairs:

A. Education 4260-4270 Intermediate/Senior Mathematics I & II (6 semester hours)
B. Education 4360-4370 Intermediate/Senior English I & II (6 semester hours)
C. Education 4460-4470 Intermediate/Senior Science I & II (6 semester hours)
D. Education 4560-4570 Intermediate/Senior Social Studies I & II (6 semester hours)
E. Education 4760 French Methods I (3 semester hours) and one other intermediate/senior subject method course (part 1 only) (3 semester hours)
F. Education 4860 Didactique du français langue seconde: Une Introduction (3 semester hours) and one other intermediate/senior subject method course (part 1 only) (3 semester hours)

High School Graduates

Canadian High School Equivalency Chart

Successful completion of Grade 12 examinations in a University Preparatory Program with an overall average of at least 70% (75% for Quebec Secondary V students) in the following subjects:

• English;
• one Social Studies or Language;
• any 3 other academic courses. Grade 12 math recommended.
  Note: Grade 12 Math is a prerequisite for some 1st year Arts courses.

In addition to these entrance requirements, candidates for the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education will demonstrate technical proficiency, musical expression, and learning potential on their instrument or voice.

A personal interview, audition, and diagnostic tests in theory and aural skills will be arranged prior to registration for each student wishing to enter a Music program. An audition is not required for entrance into the BA Program with Major in Music.

Please refer to the UPEI Academic Calendar for complete information.

UPEI's undergraduate tuition is the second-lowest in the Atlantic region, and we offer millions of dollars in scholarships and awards.

Tuition

$7,170 per year, based on 30 credit hours ($717 per 3 credit course).
International students pay $8,410 per year in addition to full-time student tuition.

For a complete breakdown of part-time or full-time study as a student in the Faculty of Arts, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

Scholarships and Awards

UPEI supports you and your educational goals. We administer millions of dollars in scholarships and awards to our undergraduate and graduate students every year. Depending on your faculty or program, and year of study, you may be eligible for available awards.

Search the complete list of scholarships for information and application forms.  

Celebrating Student Achievement

Including Guaranteed Entrance Scholarships and Academic Excellence Awards, these awards recognize the academic achievements of all students who meet the eligibility criteria while studying towards their first undergraduate degree.

Visit the Scholarships site for complete information.

UPEI has about 250 faculty—exceptional scholars, teachers, and mentors, with more being hired each year as we open new, progressive, and unique programs. But the story isn’t just in the numbers. It’s in the quality of our people. Award-winning faculty from around the globe have made UPEI home. Here, you’ll learn directly from these world-class professors and researchers in small classes where you’ll have easy access to them.

Karen Axworthy - violin / viola
Stephen Bouey - voice / diction
Krista Bryson - percussion
Richard Covey - composition / aural skills
Adam Hill - double bass
Rob Reid - classical guitar
Morgan Saulnier - flute / aural skills
Sung Ha Shin-Bouey - voice / choir
Amy Simon - clarinet
Dale Sorensen - brass (trumpet / horn / trombone / euphonium / tuba) / Wind Symphony
Nicole Strum - saxophone / theory
Magdalena von Eccher - piano
Natalie Williams Calhoun - cello
Andrew Zinck - musicology

Questions?
Contact:
Marlee Saulnier
Department of Music
music@upei.ca
902-566-0507