Bachelor in Music Teacher Education (Bachelor's)

Established in 1860 as a co-educational institution, Wheaton College is a private, residential, interdenominational Christian liberal arts college and graduate school. Its campus is in Wheaton, Illinois, a residential community 25 miles west of downtown Chicago, with access to the city and O’Hare and Midway International Airports. Residential life, orientation through Wheaton Passage, chapel, athletics, music, and shared experiences form a central part of campus life.

Wheaton offers more than 40 undergraduate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences and 18 graduate degrees. Undergraduate study is supported by a liberal arts curriculum and Christian spiritual formation. Graduate and professional programs include leadership, education, psychology, ministry, and Bible and theology. Faculty-led research and experiential learning extend beyond the classroom, including opportunities through HoneyRock, the Wheaton in the Black Hills program, and the Tel Shimron Excavations.

Global Programs and Studies supports intercultural study and engagement through summer experiences, faculty-led semester programs, and more than 30 approved partner programs. Options include study in Prague and Wheaton in Mexico, which combines language study, interdisciplinary courses, cultural immersion, and academic excursions. Students considering Wheaton should expect an explicitly Christian setting where faith and learning are pursued together, with a fully residential campus and academic opportunities connected to global perspectives.

This programme is designed for students preparing to teach music in K-12 public or private schools. It combines music performance, theory, and professional education coursework. Students develop conducting skills and learn methods for teaching choral and instrumental music. The programme meets Illinois state requirements for a K-12 teaching license.

Focus areas include Choral Methods, Instrumental Methods, Conducting, Music Theory, World Music, Music Education.

The programme requires 124 total credits, including 95 credits in the major. Coursework includes music theory, methods, performance, ensemble participation, and professional education courses. A student teaching practicum of 9 credits is required.

Graduates qualify to teach music in K-12 public or private schools with a state-issued teaching license.

Applicants must meet general college admission requirements. Admission to the Wheaton Teacher Education Program (WheTEP) is required. Candidates must pass the Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency and the Illinois Content Area Exam.

The programme totals about 124 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, typically four years. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 90% of applicants.