VanderCook College of Music
General Education
Build a Foundation with General Education
Earning an exemplary music education starts with a general instruction plan that provides VanderCook College of Music students with the necessary building blocks to develop fundamentals for higher learning. Musicians and music educators are skilled at their craft because of their ability to understand, arrange, enhance and teach complex ideas. Those fundamentals begin with a comprehensive General Education curriculum.
As a VanderCook student you will be challenged to develop a global understanding of history, sociology, and psychology through the general education coursework at the College. Students will think critically about human behavior, psychology and social justice while developing a knowledge base to serve a diverse community of learners.
What is the General Education Program at VanderCook like?
General education classes are designed so students can develop foundational concepts that will serve them as members of a global and diverse society.
VanderCook’s general education curriculum has three key objectives that allow students to embody the following ideas:
- Develop a global understanding of history, sociology, and psychology.
- Think critically and develop problem-solving skills.
- Communicate effectively when speaking and writing.
Courses are created around these objectives and assessments are completed to challenge the student’s understanding of the world they live and teach in.
What are the General Education Graduation Requirements at VanderCook?
General education classes make up the second largest amount of credit hours of any of the five major study areas (Applied Music Performance, Music Education, Professional Education, Music Fundamentals and Theory).
These are the general education requirements for all undergraduate students:
- Complete 39 credit hours of general education courses.
- Enroll in a variety of classes that provide a comprehensive understanding of each of the five objectives.
- Meet or exceed assessments in each objective category.
Have questions about other areas of study? Learn more about requirements for all undergraduate courses and required credit hours.