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Music Education (PK-12 Certification), M.A.T.

College of Education
School of Music

Become a licensed South Carolina music teacher and enjoy performance, teaching, leading and research opportunities. Develop outstanding professional teaching skills in this one- to two-year program.

In collaboration with the USC College of Education, the master of arts in teaching degree is designed for music students whose undergraduate degree was not in music education. Prepare for a career in music education and qualify for initial South Carolina teacher certification. Choose from a choral/vocal, instrumental strings or instrumental winds/percussion track.

Program Highlights

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    Distinguished School

    Since 1969, the School of Music has consistently retained the distinctive National Association of Schools of Music accreditation.

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    Real Experiences

    Learn while doing with hands-on experiences teaching in one or more Music For Your Life community outreach programs.

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    Supportive Community

    Foster your creative learning, skill development and personal exploration through Spark: Music Leadership at Carolina.

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    Expansive Network

    Virtually half of all public school music teachers in South Carolina are graduates of our program.

What You’ll Study

Study music education foundations and techniques, graduate music courses, professional education courses in the College of Education, courses in music learning and teaching and practicum opportunities. Participate in ensembles and collaborate with other students in real teaching experiences through Music for Your Life programs for children and adults.

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

  • Teaching

    Foster learning by conveying knowledge, skills and concepts to students

    Communication

    Exchanging information and ideas through speaking, writing or other means of expression

    Leadership

    Inspiring and guiding others to achieve common goals and reach their full potential

  • Cultural Awareness

    Learning about and respecting diverse cultures and beliefs

    Presentation Skills

    Preparing and delivering effective and engaging presentations to inform, persuade or inspire

    Collaboration

    Working with others to achieve a common goal or objective

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Learn how alumni use degrees with outcome data from Gamecock GradStats, a service of the University of South Carolina Career Center.

Potential Careers

  • Teacher
  • Educator

Job Titles of Alumni

  • Music Teacher
  • Choral Director
  • Band Director
  • Orchestra Director
  • Music Education Specialist
  • Private Lessons Teacher

Workplace Settings

  • Music
  • Education

Employers of Alumni

  • Charleston County School District
  • Richland County School District Two
  • University of South Carolina
  • Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra
  • South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra
  • String Theory Chamber Music

Advanced Degrees

Advance your career or options with post-graduate education.

Is USC Right For You?

There are many reasons we could be your ideal university. There's the award-winning academics, the globally modeled student life, and abundance of study abroad and experiential learning options. Take a closer look at what USC could mean for you.

Degree content is provided for informational purposes only. The Academic Bulletin is the source of record for all degree information.
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