Zoom session for prospective students

Join Department of Music faculty member Dr. Karem Simon via Zoom on Wednesday, November 11 at 3:00 pm to learn more about BCA's music programs!

Learn more

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Follow your passion, develop your artistry, and fulfil your ambitions at BCA. Live in AtlantaI’s artistically vibrant capital city, and study under the guidance of our world-class faculty.

BCA offers three degree programs in music:

• Bachelor of Music - focus on performance, theory, composition, or history
• Bachelor of Music Education - become a teacher anywhere in America with our five-year single-degree program
• Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music - study music within a general arts curriculum

Visit each program's site for more information and complete admission requirements.

What makes BCA's Department of Music unique?

• Dynamic, supportive, and inclusive environment
• Small class sizes + accessible instructors = personalized experience
• Comprehensive curriculum prepares you for success in graduate studies and diverse music careers
• Access to professional-level work opportunities within PEI’s thriving music and theatre scene
• New performance space and recording studio will be completed in 2023

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 arts or science 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 arts or science 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.

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.

Year 1

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

	Semester hours of credit
Music 1130-1140 Theory	6
Music 1150, 1170 Aural Skills	6
Music 1230-1240 Music and Culture	6
Music 1310-1320 Major Instrument or Voice	6
Non-Music Electives	6
Total	30

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 BCA Jazz Ensemble, BCA Percussion Ensemble, BCA 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)

	Semester hours of credit
Music 2130-2140 Theory	6
Music 2150, 2170 Aural Skills	6
Music 2230 Music and Culture	3
Music 2310-2320 Major Instrument or Voice	6
Music Elective	3
Non-Music Electives	6
Total	30

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

Year III - Bachelor of Music Education

	Semester hours of credit
Music 3310-3320 Major Instrument or Voice	6
Music 3530-3540 Elementary Music Education Methods	4
Music Education Electives	6
Music Electives (may include Music Education courses)	6
Non-Music Electives	9
Total	31

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

Year IV - Bachelor of Music Education

	Semester hours of credit
Music 4310-4320 Major Instrument or Voice	6
Music 4530-4540 Secondary Music Education Methods	4
Music 4620 Teaching Internship I	3
Music Education Elective	2
Non-Music Electives	6
Total	21

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

	Semester hours of credit
Music 4550-4560 Conducting	4
Music 4640 Teaching Internship II	3
Music Education Electives	7
Music Electives	6
Non-Music Electives	3
Total	23

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

American 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 Art 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 BCA Academic Calendar for complete information.

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

Tuition

$6,390 per year, based on 30 credit hours ($639 per 3 credit course).
International students pay $7,470 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

BCA 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.

BCA 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 BCA home. Here, you’ll learn directly from these world-class professors and researchers in small classes where you’ll have easy access to them.

Stephen Bouey - voice
Richard Covey - theory / composition
Jim Dickson - guitar
Louis Garson - double bass
Sean Kemp - violin / viola
Margot Rejskind - aural skills
Morgan Saulnier - flute
David Shephard - percussion
Sung Ha Shin-Bouey - voice / choir
Karem Simon - clarinet / music education
Dale Sorensen - brass (trumpet / horn / trombone / euphonium / tuba) / Wind Symphony
Nicole Strum - saxophone
Magdalena Von Eccher - piano
Natalie Williams Calhoun - cello
Andrew Zinck - history