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Music Education, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Teach Music with Creativity, Self-Expression, and Joy

Our Alumni Have Careers As:

Music or Arts Education Supervisors coordinates K-12 music/arts teachers throughout the school district. They ensure teachers use standards-based curricula to provide the highest quality learning in and through the arts. Supervisors also apply pedagogy to guide and support music/arts teachers in presenting programs for parents and public audiences.

Music teachers use their understanding of pedagogy to meet students’ learning needs while fulfilling state and district standards. They also plan and present programs for parents and the general public as a demonstration of learning and creating in music.
Studio directors design and manage extra-curricular classes and ensembles to extend student learning. They guide music/arts teachers in providing high-quality and customized instruction to meet the needs of their students. Directors also organize concerts and other outreach events to demonstrate students’ self-expression and creativity through the arts.
program completion feature
program completion feature

Learn To

Amplify student creativity and self-expression through music

Enhance teaching and learning through song and spoken word repertoire

Earn National Board Certification

Extend creative and expressive movement as music pedagogy

Expand classroom instruments as opportunities for active music-making

Make meaningful and authentic cross-curricular connections

Promote 21st century skills: creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication

Support students’ social and emotional learning through creative and cooperative learning

“ I have not only grown as a musician, but I have also truly grown as an educator through this course. Watching other teachers teach, participating in their process, borrowing their ideas, and making practical applications to the curriculum was truly a blessing. ”
Meredith Sumner Silverdale Elementary, Maysville, NC
Meredith Sumner, Silverdale Elementary, Maysville, NC
Music Education Program Overview

AOSA Certified

The Graduate Certificate in Music Education at UNC-Wilmington emphasizes Orff-Schulwerk, an internationally-established approach to creative music and movement education. Building on decades of nationally-approved teacher-education courses, this graduate certificate combines summer levels courses with practical field experience labs and a capstone curriculum project into one program.

Endorsed by the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA), the three, two-week summer courses comprise the heart of the certificate. Participants develop specific musical and pedagogical skills in: singing, creative movement, playing percussion instruments and recorders, repertoire analysis, and composition and arranging. Curricular extensions include special topic focus areas such as children’s literature, dramatization, and folk dance. Led by faculty with national and international reputations, the levels courses provide intensive and inspiring experiences in a supportive atmosphere that also foster a sense of community and collaboration among everyone who participates.

As one of the few post-baccalaureate programs in the United States that leads to the AOSA Certificate of Completion, this certificate program also offers students the opportunity to contribute to an Orff Kids Camp featuring practical classes on creative music and movement education.

With direct connections to the National Core Arts Standards, students apply the Orff  process to meet state standards for music education while maintaining a joyful sense of play and creative exploration. Also featuring action-research projects as applied learning, the certificate program offers students ways to extend and transform their classroom practices.

In addition, this certificate further distinguishes itself with an option to complete the curriculum capstone at the Orff Institute in Salzburg, Austria. During a two-week summer study-abroad experience, participants interact with teachers and musicians from around the world at the International Course hosted by the Orff Institute. They also study the roots of the Schulwerk with faculty from the Universität Mozarteum while exploring the natural beauty of the Salzkammergut and experiencing Austrian culture.

This graduate certificate program is designed for in-service music teachers with a focus on general/classroom music education. To be considered for admission, candidates must possess an undergraduate degree in music education or a closely related field or documented successful professional music teaching.

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Sample Courses in Music Education

Sample courses listing
MUS 501 Orff-Schulwerk Level I
MUSL 501 Field Experience in Orff-Schulwerk Level I
MUS 502 Orff-Schulwerk Level II
MUSL 502 Field Experience in Orff-Schulwerk Level II
MUS 503 Orff-Schulwerk Level III
MUSL 503 Field Experience in Orff-Schulwerk Level III
MUS 504 Curriculum Development in Orff-Schulwerk, Capstone
MUS 505 International Orff-Schulwerk and Related Curricular Studies, Capstone
* MUS 501, 502, and 503 summer courses are offered without credit for professional development.
SEE THE FULL CURRICULUM

Admission Deadlines & Requirements

Information: Music Education, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Apply Now

  • Complete applications are reviewed for admission by the program as they are received.
  • All application and supporting documents must be received by the published deadline.

Coordinator:

Location/Delivery Method:

  • Main Campus

Deadlines (11:59 p.m. EST) 

  • Summer I 2025: 
    • May 1, 2025
  • Fall 2025: 
    • July 1, 2025

Transcripts

  • One official transcript is required from each U.S. post-secondary institution attended. Refer to the Getting Started page for international transcript instructions.

Test Scores

  • None Required

Recommendations

  • None Required

Additional Requirements

  1. Upload Documents After Application Submission 
  2. Resume
  3. Professional Qualifications: To be considered for admission, candidates must possess an undergraduate degree in music education or a closely related field or documented successful professional music teaching experience. The program coordinator determines eligibility, consulting as needed with program faculty.
  4. Federal Financial Aid: Non-federal loans are available for this program. Admitted students may apply through the UNCW Scholarship Application to be considered for additional scholarships. Please consult your Financial Aid Counselor for further details.
  5. Visa Sponsorship: This program does not qualify for visa sponsorship.

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