This five year program leads to a double major in performance and music education, with P-12 certification in either choral/general music or instrumental/general music. You can also choose from vocal, piano, or instrumental performance, allowing you to customize the program to fit your own interests and talents. Graduates of this program are uniquely positioned to both perform and to teach.
Field of Study: Education
Music Therapy Dual Degree
Through the Music Therapy Dual Degree program, you can earn either a Bachelor of Arts in Music or a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Butler and a degree in Music Therapy from our program partner, IUPUI. Depending on your chosen Butler major, this program will take either five or six years to complete, and will prepare you for a wide range of careers, whether as a music educator, a music therapist, a performer, or something else.
Music Education
Butler’s Music Education major will prepare you for P-12 certification in choral/general music or instrumental/general music. With early, frequent, and diverse opportunities for field experience–including two eight-week phases of student teaching–as well as opportunities to work with numerous Indianapolis arts organizations like the Indianapolis Children’s Choir and Music For All, you will be prepared with the experience you need. Paired with a flexible curriculum and diverse performance opportunities, graduates are uniquely positioned to teach the next generation of music students.
Youth and Community Development
Our Youth and Community Development program will prepare you for career opportunities working with young people outside of the traditional school day–like challenge education/outdoor education, after school programs, museum education programming, social work, counseling, student affairs, community development, or non-profit work. In addition to 39 hours of professional education coursework, you’ll also choose one of five concentration areas, providing you with more in-depth knowledge of a specific area of youth or community work. Concentration choices include Arts Administration, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Organizational Communication and Leadership, Recreation and Sports Studies, or Sociology with an emphasis in social work. The capstone experience you’ll have your senior year—similar to student teaching—will be a full-time internship that aligns with both your major and your area of concentration.
Sport Coaching
Our minor in Sport Coaching requires 19 credit hours and is open to all Butler University students, regardless of college or field of study. The program is a collaboration with Butler’s Health and Recreation Center and prepares students for coaching opportunities. Coursework topics include philosophy, vision and goal setting, ethical practices, building relationships, inclusive and safe sport environments, practice and competition best practices, and assessment strategies. You will also have the opportunity to attain the National Federation of High School Sports (NFHS) Level 1 Coaching Certification in one sport-specific course of your choosing and/or in First Aid, Health, and Safety for Coaches.
Special Education – Mild Intervention
Our minor in Special Education—Mild Intervention requires 18 credit hours and is designed for students interested in creating environments inclusive for learners of all abilities. Students learn how to assess and design programs for students receiving special education in courses and extensive field experiences. This minor is required for the Early Childhood licensure pathway, and both the minor and licensure pathway are available to students majoring in Elementary Education or Middle/Secondary Education. The minor is also available to Communication Sciences and Disorders students.
Recreation and Sports Studies
Our minor in Recreation and Sports Studies requires 18 credit hours and is open to all Butler University students, regardless of college or field of study. The program is designed for students interested in health, physical activity, recreation, and sports. Coursework topics include prevention and treatment of injuries, officiating sports, water safety instruction, and more.
Middle/Secondary Education
Middle/Secondary educators must be strong teachers and academic content experts in areas like math, social studies, literature, sciences, or languages. Our program prepares you to be just that. At Butler, you’ll learn the teacher education skills necessary for success in the classroom and receive in-depth preparation in an academic content area you’re passionate about sharing with students in grades 5–12. Middle/Secondary students complete more hours of content courses than Butler students majoring in those areas, enjoy extensive clinical experiences, and complete two full-time student teaching experiences in both middle and high school settings. By the time you graduate, you’ll be a highly effective, sought-after content expert with more than 800 hours of teaching experience on your resume.
Exploratory Education
Our Exploratory Education major is a great starter option for students who think they would like to teach or work with youth in a community setting, but aren’t sure which path to take. As a student in this major, you’ll take introductory classes in education, experience the wide variety of educational work and settings available, and participate in assessments to discover your strengths, values, and interests—all with the purpose of unlocking your passion to confidently declare a major that is right for you.
Teachers of English Language Learners
This licensure pathway focuses on the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for supporting English learners and their families in educational contexts. Students learn how to assess and design programs for English learners in courses and extensive field experiences. The program is available to students majoring in Elementary Education or Middle/Secondary Education.