Music Education
Associate in Fine Arts in Music Education
Modes of Instruction
Click here to learn more about the modes of instruction offered at Kaskaskia College.
The Associate in Fine Arts in Music Education is designed for students pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education Degree (BME) at a senior college or university. Students will receive a solid foundation in music theory, music history, and applied instruction while exploring a range of performance and creative opportunities. Foundation education courses are an integral part of this degree.
Note: Completion of the AFA degree does not fulfill the requirements of the Illinois General Education Core Curriculum. Students who complete the AFA must complete their general education requirements after they transfer to a four-year college or university.
Program Details
MUSC_0501_DEGR
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- PERFORMANCE SKILLS - All students shall demonstrate growth in musicianship. Performance skills encompass technical skill on an instrument or voice, ability to perform in an ensemble, confidence and stage presence, and aesthetic judgment.
- BASIC MUSICIANSHIP - Students shall demonstrate the ability to hear, analyze, read, and write music.
- KNOWLEDGE OF LITERATURE - Students shall identify, interpret, compare and contrast historical periods of music and literature.
- CROSS-CULTURAL APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF DIVERSE MUSICAL TRADITIONS - Students shall formulate and display understanding of diverse musical traditions through written and oral communication.
- A KNOWLEDGE OF MUSIC SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE - Students shall identify, analyze, and solve problems specific to music technology and acquire technical skills necessary for artistic self-expression with technology. Students will create compositions and improvisations utilizing technology, and gain and understanding of historical development leading to the current state of technology.
Students completing this degree must also complete curriculum requirements aligned with General Education Student Learning Outcomes.
Music Faculty

**Enrollment in any math class is based on your score on the assessment placement test and proper prerequisite. MATH 130 or higher required, but not including MATH 134 and 135.
***If students complete the AA degree, Physical and Life science courses are both required; one must have a lab component.
****Students must successfully complete one of the following courses to meet requirements of Public Act 87-581 in order to graduate: BUSN 134, GEOG 150, HIST 109, PHLE 120, PHLE 121, PHLE 201, POLS 101, PSYH 101, or SOCO 101.
NOTE: Students transferring to a four-year college should check to see if courses will transfer to your prospective college before registering. For more information visit iTransfer.org.
Students can speak with the Music Program Coordinator to discuss articulation agreements.
Student electives may be different, depending on the university or in the state where they received their high school diploma. See an advisor at transfer institution.
RECOMMENDED MUSIC SPECIALITY COURSES
The following courses are suggested to improve articulation for music education majors:
MUSC 290 Introduction to Conducting 2
PSYH 216 Adolescent Psychology 3
Associate in Arts: Music Education
The following Required General Education Core Courses will allow for the student to receive an AA in addition to the AFA - Music Education Degree.
(2) Social Science Electives 6 credits (Recommended 1, non-western or 3rd world cultures courses)
(1) Fine Arts OR Humanities Elective 3 credits
(1) Health and Personal Development Elective Criterion I 3 credits
(1) Health and Personal Development Elective Criterion II 2 credits
(1) Life or Physical Science*** 3-4 credits
TOTAL 17-18 credits
Required Core Music Courses (35 hours)
MUSC 122 Music Theory I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
MUSC 123 Music Theory II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
MUSC 222 Music Theory III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
MUSC 223 Music Theory IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 3
MUSC 137 Aural Skills I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 1
MUSC 138 Aural Skills II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 1
MUSC 201 Aural Skills III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
MUSC 202 Aural Skills IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
MUSC 141 Class Piano I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
MUSC 142 Class Piano II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1
MUSC 241 Class Piano III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . 1
MUSC 242 Class Piano IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 1
MUSC 207 Intro to Music Hist & Lit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Major Ensemble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . .4
Applied Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . .. ...8