Bachelor of Science in Music Education

Our curriculum emphasizes musicianship across PreK–12 public and private schools, both in classroom and rehearsal settings, enabling you to teach anywhere in the United States.

View the 2022—2023 Curriculum

 

Program Type

Major

Degree

Bachelor's

Duration

4-year

Required Credit Hours

138

Our Music Education Graduates Succeed

These recent B.S. Music Education graduates have gone on to become successful teachers, administrators, and performers both the local and international stage.

Michael Warren poses for a photo in a gray suit.

Michael Warren

Dr. Michael Warren (2017) was host of the 2019 gala for The Pittsburgh Promise, which featured headliner Leslie Odom, Jr. of the Broadway smash-hit musical "Hamilton".

Hannah Roux poses on a bed of pink spring flowers.

Hannah Roux

Hannah Roux (2020) began her teaching career during the coronavirus pandemic, teaching elementary general and vocal music in Fox Chapel School District.

Blake Mechtel poses in cap and gown in front of the Mary Pappert School of Music.

Blake Mechtel

Blake Mechtel (2020) teaches four choirs and is in charge of the a capella group Verbrato at Rutland City High School and Middle School in Rutland, VT.

Meet the Music Education Faculty

Our Music Education faculty are nationally- and internationally-known educators, scholars, conductors, and clinicians active within the profession.

Dr. Rachel Whitcomb

Program Director of Music Education; Associate Professor of Music Education; Associate Dean

Rachel Whitcomb headshot.

Dr. Stephen Benham

Professor of Music Education; Chair of Performance Department

Steve Benham headshot

Dr. Paul Doerksen

Professor of Music Education

Paul Doerksen headshot

Music Education Adjunct Faculty

Mary Lynne Bennett

Mary Lynne Bennett

Adjunct Professor of Piano

Shawn Funk

Shawn Funk

Adjunct Professor of Music Education

PJ Gatch

PJ Gatch

Adjunct Professor of Music Education

Todd Kuczawa

Todd Kuczawa

Adjunct Professor of Music Education

Kayla Kurtz

Kayla Kurtz

Adjunct Professor of Music Education

Jeffrey Leonhardt

Jeffrey Leonhardt

Adjunct Professor of Music Education

Jayne McDonald

Jayne McDonald

Adjunct Professor of Eurhythmics

Marlo Rankin

Marlo Rankin

Adjunct Professor of Music Education

Laura Reynolds

Laura Reynolds

Adjunct Professor of Music Education

Steven Schmidt

Steven Schmidt

Adjunct Professor of Music Education

Rachel Skilone

Rachel Skilone

Adjunct Professor of Music Education

Chad Thompson

Chad Thompson

Adjunct Professor of Music Education

Music Education Facilities

Music Education Students have access to several resource centers and storage areas.

The Music Education Instrument Storage Room, along with a variety of cabinets throughout the building, features an extensive collection of percussion, woodwind, string, brass, general music, and Modern Band instruments for use in methods and techniques courses. The collection also includes acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, a full Orff instrumentarium, sheet music, methods books, movement materials, early childhood manipulatives, and sound equipment, all housed on shelves from the Wenger Corporation. The collection is updated regularly to reflect the most up-to-date innovations in PreK-12 music classrooms.

The Mary Jane Schultz Music Center provides you with an ever-expanding resource of music and music-related research materials. Located on the fifth floor of Duquesne University's Gumberg Library, this collection of music resources comprises an extensive collection of musical scores and DVD/CDs, online research databases, and a wealth of archival materials, such as our unique collection of the papers and personal belongings of the composer Paul Hindemith.

The late William Schultz, former Duquesne student and Fender Guitar executive, and his wife Mary Jane Schultz made significant financial contributions to the Mary Pappert School of Music, funding noteworthy improvements to the music school's building and helping us establish the Mary Jane Schultz Music Center.

For more information about the Mary Jane Schultz Music Center, visit its page on the Gumberg Library's website.

Hone Your Performing Skills

Regardless of degree path, each student benefits from one-on-one instruction with our world-class faculty.

Duquesne's ensembles will provide you with the finest university-level performing experiences available, preparing you for your career as a professional musician. As a member, you will perform on campus, as well as at some of the best venues for music in the city. Our students have performed at Heinz Hall, Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall, the August Wilson Center, the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, and many more. 

LEARN ABOUT ENSEMBLES

In today's competitive commercial and studio music environment, versatility is of the utmost importance. Our unique jazz curriculum integrates foundational training in the classical tradition with private instruction and coursework in jazz idioms.