Bachelor's Degree in Music Education

Program Overview

With a focus on scientific-based music education, the program emphasizes collaborative learning, critical thinking, and the use of technology to equip graduates with the skills to teach music effectively in various educational settings. Upon completion, graduates are qualified to work in primary, secondary, and private music institutions.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Near East University's (YDÜ) Music Teacher Training Program is a 4-year undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor's degree. Graduates are qualified to work as music teachers. The program aims to train music teachers equipped with universal standards through scientifically-based music education. The goal is to produce music teachers who are scientifically minded, have absorbed universal musical culture, and are participatory and practically trained. The program cultivates creative, cultured, and strong young teachers. The program is taught in Turkish and prepares teachers for secondary schools in both the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and the Republic of Turkey (TC), as well as private primary and preschool institutions in both countries. The curriculum includes general culture, basic sciences, computer science, educational technologies, and teaching profession knowledge. Students engage in collaborative work to develop teamwork skills. The program fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. The program's strengths include a high employment rate for graduates, motivated students, a young and dynamic academic staff, strong faculty commitment, Turkish as the language of instruction, high teacher-student interaction, student-centered learning, a focus on 21st-century workforce needs, and the availability of master's and doctoral programs. The program's mission is to cultivate music education experts with a sense of social responsibility, who internalize and develop democratic values, are committed to ethical and secular values, are inquisitive, research-oriented, productive, problem-solving, and contribute to their field through knowledge production and application. The program also aims to conduct original, collaborative, valid, reliable, and scientifically sound research contributing to universal science and national development. It engages with government agencies, NGOs, and private institutions to inform educational policies and address educational needs scientifically.

Outline:

The program consists of 240 AKTS credits across 70 courses. Each semester includes at least 8 courses. The curriculum includes courses mandated by the Turkish Higher Education Council (YÖK) and other courses determined by the University Senate. University-wide courses include Campus Orientation, Career Planning, and Cypriot History and Culture. English Language I and II are also offered. A detailed course schedule with course codes, prerequisites, theoretical and practical hours, national credits, and AKTS credits is provided for each semester across all four years. The courses cover a wide range of topics including Atatürk's Principles and Revolution History, Foreign Languages, Turkish Language, Campus Orientation, Information Technologies, Introduction to Education, Musical Hearing Reading and Writing, Piano, Individual Instruments, Individual Voice Training, Educational Psychology, Philosophy and Sociology of Education, Educational Technologies, Principles and Methods of Teaching, Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving, Learning Difficulties, Turkish Sign Language, Scientific Research Methods in Education, Information Media and Technology Literacy, Multiculturalism, Comparative Education, Measurement and Evaluation in Education, Harmony and Accompaniment, Choir, Orchestra/Chamber Music, Special Teaching Methods in Music, THM and Baglama Training, Educational Music Composition, Entrepreneurship and Leadership, Classroom Management, Music Culture and Music History, Project, Special Education and Inclusion, Lifelong Learning, Educational Music Repertoire and Piano Accompaniment, Individual Instrument and Teaching, Choir and Management, Orchestra/Chamber Music Management, TSM Theory and Practice, and Approaches to Preschool Music Education. Elective courses are also available in music and other fields.

Assessment:

Students are assessed through mid-term exams, in-class assignments, and final exams. Mid-term exam dates are announced at the beginning of each semester by the Department Head. Short quizzes may be given without prior notice. Final exams are held at designated times and locations. Final grades are determined by the instructor based on mid-term and final exam results, in-class work, and attendance. Make-up exams are given for valid reasons. Some courses may not require mid-term or final exams; in these cases, grades are based on in-class work. Practical courses may have separate assessments for the theoretical and practical components. Grades are finalized once submitted to the Student Affairs Department. Students who fail a course (FF) can take make-up exams. Students with a GPA below 2.0 can also take make-up exams to improve their GPA. Make-up exam weight is equal to the final exam. The final grade is calculated by adding the make-up exam score to other assessment scores. Make-up exams are not given for practical courses with mandatory attendance. Letter grades (AA, BA, BB, CB, CC, DC, DD, FF) with corresponding GPA scores (4.0, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, 2.0, 1.5, 1.0, 0.0) are used. Incomplete grades (I) must be completed within 15 days; otherwise, they become FF. Extensions are possible with departmental and faculty approval. Progressing grades (P) and Unsatisfactory grades (U) do not affect GPA. Withdrawal grades (W) are given for courses dropped within the first ten weeks of the semester with advisor and instructor approval. There are restrictions on withdrawing from courses, especially in the first two semesters.

Teaching:

The program employs student-centered learning and utilizes developing information and technology in its teaching methods. The faculty is described as young and dynamic, with a strong commitment to the program and university. The program emphasizes collaborative work and teamwork skills. The program fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity in its students.

Careers:

Graduates can work as music teachers in private and public preschools, primary schools, and secondary schools in both KKTC and TC. Other career paths include working as musicians, instrumental and music teachers in private music schools, and positions within the Ministry of National Education, universities, and other institutions.

Other:

The Music Teacher Training Department at the Atatürk Education Faculty of Near East University was established in 2013 with the approval of the Higher Education Planning, Evaluation, Accreditation and Coordination Council of the KKTC (YÖDAK) and the Higher Education Council (YÖK) of Turkey. The program is full-time and requires attendance. Students needing accessibility support can contact the Disability Support Unit. The program uses self-assessment, graduation, and satisfaction surveys, as well as interviews for evaluation purposes. To graduate, students must successfully complete all courses (240 AKTS credits) and achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 out of 4.0. They must also comply with the Near East University's regulations regarding termination of enrollment.