Turn your love of music into a classroom of your own. Florida Southern's Bachelor of Music Education pairs serious performance and conducting training with hands-on teaching experience in local K-12 schools, graduating you Florida-certified and ready to lead vocal, instrumental, or general music from day one.
Turn your passion for music into a powerful tool for teaching and transformation.
Florida Southern College's Bachelor of Music Education is a dynamic degree program developed through a partnership between the School of Education and the Department of Music, designed to prepare you for a successful K-12 teaching career in vocal, instrumental, and general music. You will build a strong foundation in music theory, history, conducting, and performance while developing the teaching skills needed to engage and support students across every grade level. Approved by the Florida Department of Education for initial teacher certification in Florida, this degree is your direct path to a music teaching career.
Through a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum that includes conducting, pedagogy, music technology, and extensive field studies, you will learn to structure and apply music for meaningful and effective class and ensemble instruction. Music teachers guide students of all ages toward a lifelong appreciation of music while helping them develop discipline, leadership skills, and creativity.
There is a separate audition requirement to be accepted into the Music Education major. Upon application to and acceptance by the Florida Southern College Office of Admissions, a student may be accepted into the music major program only through an audition in their applied music area. Auditions are offered throughout the school year on an appointment basis.
Learn More About Music Auditions
All freshman applicants to Florida Southern Colleges full-time degree programs must submit the following information:
Applying to Florida Southern as a transfer student is easy. Submit:
If transferring fewer than 24 credits, also include your official high school transcript and SAT/ACT scores.
Learn More about transfer admissionsFSC's Bachelor of Music Education curriculum combines rigorous musical training with professional education coursework, preparing graduates for the full range of responsibilities a K-12 music educator faces.
Coursework covers music theory, history, orchestration, conducting, music technology, and pedagogy, alongside private instrumental or vocal study that continues to refine your performance technique throughout the program. Professional education courses develop your ability to meet the needs of a diverse group of learners across vocal, instrumental, and general music settings.
The program culminates in a semester of student teaching in a public school environment, where you will work under the supervision of a cooperating teacher and a faculty supervisor to demonstrate your competency and complete the requirements for K-12 music certification prescribed by the Florida Department of Education.
Progress Requirements: Students must earn a grade of C or better in all music education, professional education, and conducting courses. All music majors with scholarships must be enrolled in a major ensemble in their applied area throughout their program of study until the internship semester.
Core areas of study include:
Music Education majors continue developing their performance skills through participation in FSC's many instrumental and vocal ensembles. Whether you sing or play string, wind, or percussion instruments, ensemble participation connects you to a vibrant musical community while deepening the performance expertise you will bring to your future students.
FSC's ensembles include Symphony Band, Symphony Orchestra, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Jazz Ensembles, Opera Theatre, WW Quintet, Brass Quintet, String Quartet, and Jazz Chamber Ensembles.
Known throughout Florida for its rich arts programs, the local public school system offers Music Education students many opportunities to gain hands-on classroom experience from early in their studies. Through field placements that progress in depth and responsibility across the program, you will apply pedagogical principles in real K-12 settings before your student teaching semester. By the time you graduate, you will have the classroom experience, confidence, and certification to step directly into a music teaching career.
FSC's Bachelor of Music Education prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in music education and beyond. Within six months of graduating, 98.6% of FSC students are employed or in graduate school.
The direct career path from an FSC Music Education degree. Graduates are fully certified to teach vocal, instrumental, and general music in Florida public schools in grades K-12, with the classroom experience and pedagogical foundation to be effective from day one.
The performance training and pedagogical skills developed through the BM Education prepare graduates to build successful private teaching studios, working with students of all ages and levels outside the public school setting.
Community arts centers, youth organizations, and cultural institutions depend on music educators who can design and lead programs for diverse populations. FSC's combination of pedagogical training, ensemble experience, and field studies prepares graduates for these leadership roles.
School districts, curriculum developers, and arts organizations rely on consultants who combine deep musical knowledge with professional teaching experience. FSC graduates are well-positioned for these advisory and policy-facing roles.
FSC's rigorous curriculum and student teaching experience make graduates competitive candidates for graduate programs in music education, music advocacy and policy, and related fields. The NAFME student chapter and conference participation provide additional professional credentialing before graduation.
"I really appreciate how the education professors consistently connect what we're learning to music and show us how to apply these skills in a music-centered setting. I also love that we have a foundations class focused on music, taught by an educator with a strong background and experience in music education."
"I love our music education program here at FSC because of its great professors that bring a wealth of professional experience, offer a personalized mentorship, and a passion for teaching that truly inspires students. Their dedication to nurturing both our craft and building our effective teaching skills creates a supportive environment where I am excited to step into a classroom of my own one day!"
"What I really like about the program here at FSC is that the professors are always willing to help you because they want you to learn and grow to be the best educator you can be for future students."
From early field placements in Lakeland-area schools to ensemble performances, NAFME conferences, and a full semester of student teaching, FSC Music Education students are always learning by doing. Every experience builds the teaching artistry and professional network you will carry into your career.
“The highlights of my teaching career at Florida Southern College have always been the moments in the classroom or rehearsal hall when I can see and hear students experiencing music in transformative ways.
In a music classroom, there are no age barriers or physical limitations. Music is inherently inclusive and welcomes everyone. Because music is such a powerful unifier, I have had the privilege of working with a diverse range of individuals, and I have been enriched by those experiences.
Music allows us to step into the lived experiences of composers, and when musicians perform, they bring an art form to life. Imagine stepping into a painting and becoming part of the scene—experiencing it as though you were truly there. That is what it feels like to be a musician. Music can flow through us, deepening our understanding of the world and expanding our aesthetic awareness.
As a music educator, I can amplify these experiences by fostering meaningful musical moments with students. One classroom and one rehearsal at a time, music educators help shape generations of learners who go on to create their own musical journeys. Every lesson extends beyond the music room, carrying the potential to influence countless students and enrich their lives in lasting ways.”
Get an inside look into the Florida Southern College experience with on-campus tours and events designed to show you what it will be like to live, study, and play at FSC.
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Meet FSC Mocs before a fun-filled experience at Southern Select! You can enjoy light refreshments...
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Read the latest from FSC's Music Education program, from student teaching placements and NAFME conference participation to faculty recognition and school partnership updates.
At FSC, you are the focus. Our team loves connecting with prospective students to answer questions about the Bachelor of Music Education, audition requirements, and what a career in K-12 music education looks like from here.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education
Department Chair, Director of Orchestra and String Studies
This is a big decision, and we’re here to help you make the choice that’s right for the future you’re imagining. Choose a next step to explore the possibilities at FSC!
