Furman University

Most of your first year consists of taking general education requirements, but Furman suggests that you take the following Music courses:

• MUS 111 Basic Musicianship

• MUS 112 Basic Musicianship

• MUS Ensemble (both semesters)

• MUS Performance Studies and Studio Class (both semesters)

During your sophomore year, you will continue to take general education and music requirements along with your core classes; many majors begin to delve into teaching methods with field experiences in local schools.

• EDU-111: Perspectives on American Education, or

  • EDU-112: History of Education in America, or

  • EDU-113: Introduction to Educational Philosophy, or

  • EDU-114: Culture, Identity, and Schooling

• EDU-120: Human Development

During your junior year, you will take various methods courses and explore specialty areas.

Possible courses:

• MUS 353 Instrumental Conducting

• MUS 354 Choral Conducting

• MUS 434 Elementary Methods

Additional Courses that may be taken:

• MUS 330 String Methods

• MUS 331 Woodwind Methods

• MUS 332 Brass Methods

• MUS 333 Percussion Methods

• MUS 423 Survey of Choral Literature

Starting around August 1 of your senior year, before Furman classes begin, you will return to campus early. You’ll be paired with experienced teachers in a local public school to help set up classrooms, learn school routines and build rapport with students during the first weeks. We refer to this 2-3 week experience as the “Early Experience.”  During the Early Experience, there will be many opportunities for you to learn about the school community, observe, tutor and provide small group instruction, as well as participate in special topic seminars led by Furman education faculty. 

During the fall, you are enrolled in your final methods courses.

• MUS 431 Vocal/Choral Methods

• MUS 432 Instrumental Methods

• MUS 450 Vocal Pedagogy

During the spring term of your senior year, you will participate in a full-time field experience known as the teaching internship. You will spend 14 weeks in the school. As co-teachers during the field experience, you will gradually assume all of you cooperating teacher’s teaching and administrative responsibilities. These responsibilities require at least four weeks teaching full-time.

Teaching internship courses:

• EDU 434 Content Literacy Strategies

• EDU 505 Teaching Internship

You are required to take EDU-221: Students with Exceptionalities.

This course includes:

• Instruction in the characteristics of persons with exceptionalities
• Implications for teaching and learning
• Applications of special education procedures and services
• Extensive field experiences

You will also participate in a wide range of K-12 school settings, with multiple opportunities to interact with different student populations. You will reflect on your interactions to identify professional and personal growth and connect theory with practice.

Furman’s Music Education program is nationally recognized for the hands-on experiences, mentorships and musical experiences it provides to teacher candidates, beginning with their first semester on campus. Right away, you will participate in K-12 class observations, tutoring and small-group interactions. 

Beginning in the fall of your senior year, you will work alongside teachers in local schools to learn about opening schools for the school year. After the fall, you will complete your full-time student teaching internship in the spring.

Once you complete your student teaching experience, you will earn your teaching certificate for PK-12 Music Education (Instrumental or Choral).  

Mentors and coaches offer skilled and experienced guidance to Furman’s teacher education candidates. They work closely with you to guide your development. Mentors and coaches are assessed regularly, which includes student feedback. University faculty create and maintain strong relationships with mentors and coaches, working with them to provide helpful and consistent advice for you.

Teachers who will work with you during student teaching are selected on the basis of their mentoring abilities and instructional skills, as well as their knowledge of state and local teacher certification. 

Furman’s Music Education program is dedicated to excellence, receiving perfect re-accreditation evaluations for over two decades and consistently placing teachers in prominent music programs nationwide. They partner with local school districts, which are known to have great respect for your dedication and abilities. Your feedback is important for evaluating their program. You and other students represent your peers on key committees and regularly share anonymous input about program quality. Furman analyzes this and other measures to improve their programs effectively.