Baccalaureate Assessment Program

Baccalaureate Music Degree Student Outcomes

Baccalaureate degrees in music are designed to develop and strengthen musical knowledge and performance skills in preparation for careers in teaching, performance, music industry, and for graduate music study. A student majoring in music is expected to evidence competency in the following areas:

  • Demonstrate preparation, knowledge, and skills for a professional career in music
  • Demonstrate solo performance proficiency and knowledge of solo literature in the selected area of concentration
  • Demonstrate ensemble performance proficiency and knowledge of ensemble literature in the selected area of concentration
  • Demonstrate knowledge of music theory, musical analysis, and historical musical developments
  • Demonstrate proficiency in keyboard skills and in sight-singing
  • Demonstrate skill in utilization of music computer applications.

 

Assessment Plan

The Department of Music has maintained a highly organized assessment plan since 1996. This assessment plan included a variety of assessment formats, some of which were assessments of student progress through the degree program. The purpose of this revised plan is two-fold:

  • To provide accurate designations on a regular basis to each music major student indicating his/her progress throughout the program
  • To organize student progress assessment tools in a consistent format The Assessment Plan for all baccalaureate degrees within the Department of Music is a four-tiered transition point indication within the degree program. Candidates for the degrees Bachelor of Music in Performance, Bachelor of Music Education, and Bachelor of Arts in Music must meet requirements of each transition point.

The four transition points and their respective time frames are as follows:

  • Music Major Level 1 Review: following two semesters of study
  • Music Major Level 2 Review: following four semesters of study
  • Music Major Level 3 Review: junior or senior year
  • Music Major Level 4 Review: prior to commencement

Students declaring a music major would, under this program, be enrolled with the designation of Music Major, Level 1. Upon completion of each level, the designation would change to reflect advancement: Music Major, Level 2, Music Major, Level 3, and Music Major, Level 4. Completion of the Music Major Level 4 Review indicates program (degree) completion.

The assessment plan is modeled upon that of National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). It will serve as a significant assessment component for the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) 10-year accreditation review, the North Central ESU accreditation review, and the NCATE accreditation review.

A variety of assessment formats are utilized throughout this program. The following table lists these assessment formats, requirements, approval/non-approval evaluation results, and faculty committee responsible for the evaluative decisions.

 

Music Major Level 1 Review

Degree Plan Requirements Evaluation Responsibility
BA
BME		 Applied Music Review Applied Jury with encourage or discourage evaluation Applied Area
BM BM Performance Jury Applied Jury with encourage or discourage evaluation Applied Area

Candidate receiving a positive (encourage) evaluation:

  • BA, BME, BM candidate is accepted with Music Major Level 2 designation
  • BM candidate can enroll in 3-5 hours of applied music

Candidate receiving a negative (discourage) evaluation:

  • is not accepted with Music Major Level 2 designation
  • is permitted to re-apply

Transfer Music Majors, following two semesters of study at ESU, can apply for either the Music Major Level 1, Music Major Level 2 or Music Major Level 3 Review, depending upon the candidate's status, and upon recommendation of the applied instructor.

 

Music Major Level 2 Review

Degree Plan Requirements Evaluation Responsibility
BA
BME
BM		 Minimum grade of C in MU 118 & 119 Grade earned incourses Advisor
Applied Music Review Semester jury with approved evaluation Applied Area
Two faculty recommendations (applied instructor and musiccourse instructor) Checklist Program Review Committee
Essay stating degree choice, reasons, and career goals Checklist Program Review Committee

Candidate meeting all requirements:

  • is accepted with Music Major Level 3 designation
  • is admitted to 400 level music courses

Candidate not meeting all requirements:

  • is not accepted with Music Major Level 3 designation
  • is not permitted to enroll in 400-level music courses
  • is permitted to re-apply

 

Music Major Level 3 Review

Degree Plan Requirements Evaluation Responsibility
BA
BME
BM		 Minimum grade of C in MU 108, 118, 109, 119,
208, 218, 20,9 219		 Grade earned in courses Advisor
Minimum grade of C in MU 324, 328, 329 Grade earned in courses Advisor
Minimum grade of C in final exam of MU 209 Checklist Advisor
Applied 500 level approval Applied faculty evaluation Applied area
MU 099 - all semester grades of "S" Grade earned in courses Advisor
Minimum grade of C in all music course work Grade earned in courses Advisor
BME Admission to Teacher Education Phase I Checklist Advisor
Minimum grade of C in MU 134 final exam Checklist Advisor

BA, BME, & BM candidates must meet all requirements of the Music Major Level 3 Review before moving to Music Major Level 4 status.

 

Music Major Level 4 Review

Degree Plan Requirements Evaluation Responsibility
BA
BME
BM		 Satisfactory completion of Senior Recital/Senior Project Senior Recital/Senior Project evaluation Applied Area/Project Committee
Completion of all degree requirements with minimum gradeof C Grade earned in courses Advisor
Technology Portfolio completed, submitted, & approved Rubric Program Review Committee
Professional Portfolio completed, submitted, & approved Rubric Program Review Committee
Completion of Senior Exit Survey Checklist Program Review Committee

 

Back to Assessment Page