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Department of Music

Music Education/Teaching Credential

Students sit on the floor and play a small marimba while other children watch.

Credential Program

Music Education at Fresno State

A credential to teach music in California gives you a license to teach all forms of music in K-12 schools.

  • Our Music Ed program is one of 17 in the CSU system that is an approved “Waiver” program. This means that once you complete our Music Ed degree (with a 2.67 GPA or better), you do not have to take the CSET in Music in order to enter the credential program. You have satisfied Subject Matter Proficiency.
  • Students who completed degrees at Fresno State in Music as a Liberal Art, Composition, or Performance DO have to show Subject Matter Proficiency through other means!  In most cases this means passing the CSET in Music.
  • ALL teachers in CA MUST exhibit Basic Skills competency (*CBEST) prior to teaching in CA schools. Students in Music Ed MUST display this competency prior to admission to the credential program.

All Music Education courses are taught by highly trained professors who are recognized for their work throughout the U.S. & published in high-profile music journals.  They are also active adjudicators & clinicians.  Fulltime Professors have more than 60 years of teaching experience PreK-aging adults in various settings.

Music Education students receive a robust curriculum that prepares them to teach music in all forms at all levels K-12.  In addition to the courses listed below, music education students have hands-on experiences with school aged children in various courses. Students actively participate in observations, creating and teaching lessons to children. 

Students in the Bachelor of Music Degree enter in the Pre-Music Major and once they have completed all coursework (First four semesters in the BM Music Education Roadmap) in the Pre-Music Major, change their option to Music Education. *Once all of the requirements have been met students MUST complete TWO FORMS found via this link Change of Major Option Forms.  Listed under ‘Applications’, download and complete the Change of Major Form and the Bachelor of Music Education Option Application.