You're a Freshman, transfer, or readmission interested in daytime programs.
Empower students as learners
Possibly the only thing greater than unlocking your own creativity through music, is helping someone else unlock theirs. That’s precisely what you’ll do with a focus in music education: help your students learn to express their unique individuality, while providing them with a strong sense of how the shared experience of music brings us all together.
Quick Facts
Credits
126
Careers
- Music Teacher
- Music Therapist
- Music Director
Financial Aid
The average undergraduate student award is $16,603.
Learn about financial aidProgram Overview
As a music education student, you’ll study music theory, composition, conducting, music history, and forms of the medieval, baroque, pre-classical, romantic, and 20th century periods from around the globe. With such a thorough background, you’ll gain the skills and to share this knowledge with your own students. You can choose which area of music education to specialize in: Choral or Instrumental.
Choral Music Education
Use your voice to inspire in more than one way by becoming a teacher for K-12 chorus. The K-12 Choral Education curriculum will take you through different levels of music theory and music history, conducting, voice teaching techniques, along with participating in an ensemble of your choice each semester.
Instrumental Music Education
Learn the ins and outs of all the instruments in an ensemble by becoming a teacher for K-12 band or orchestra. The K-12 Choral Education curriculum teaches many levels of music theory and music history, conducting, and techniques for teaching brass, woodwinds, percussion, and strings. In addition to learning in the classroom, stay active in your instrumental skills by participating in an ensemble of your choice each semester.
Locations
In addition to our main and online campuses, Concordia has nine center locations which offer accelerated undergraduate and graduate programs close to where you live and work.
- Mequon
How to Apply
Undergraduate Application Steps
It’s time to help you become a Falcon! Just follow these simple steps to complete your application.
For first-time freshman:
- Submit your online application
- Submit the Common Application
- Have your school send your official high school transcripts. Transcripts may be mailed or sent via a transcript processing service to:
Concordia University Wisconsin
Admissions Office
12800 N. Lake Shore Dr.
Mequon, WI 53097 - Send your official ACT or SAT scores.
Scores on your high school transcript will be considered official. If your school does not put scores on transcripts, please contact ACT at www.act.org or College Board at www.collegeboard.org.
For transfer students:
- Submit your online application
- Submit the Common Application
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
*Transfer students with less than 60 college credits completed will also submit official high school transcripts. Students who have less than 30 college credits also need to submit official ACT or SAT scores. Scores on your high school transcript will be considered official.
Minimum Requirements
- A minimum GPA of a 2.5/4.0 (C average) or higher
- ACT composite of 18 or above
- SAT equivalent of 940 or higher for combined math and evidence-based reading and writing (for tests taken after March 2016).
*If your GPA or ACT score falls below the minimum for acceptance, your admissions counselor may ask you to retake the test or supply additional documents, such as an essay or letters of recommendation, to complete the application.
Required Academic Coursework in High School
A minimum of 16 units of high school (secondary school) work is required, of which at least 11 should be in basic liberal arts areas. Units should be distributed as follows:
- English: At least three units, but four are strongly recommended.
- Mathematics: Two units of college-prep math, preferably one each in Algebra and Geometry.
- Natural Science: Two units, preferably one each in Biology, Physics or Chemistry.
- Social Studies: Two units, preferably one each in world history and American history.
- Liberal Arts: Two units of the same foreign language or additional units in one or more of the other listed subjects or in fine arts.
- Other Electives: Five units from any area of academic study, but ideally from the areas listed above.
- German or Latin is recommended for pre-seminary students.
Brad A. Alles
Assistant Professor
Phone: (262) 243-2177
Email: brad.alles@cuw.edu
Bio
Brad Alles teaches Foundations of Education and Teaching the Faith. His interests include apologetics and worldview education. He has produced two books, a DVD, and has spoken in twenty states.
Education
- MA - Christian Education, Concordia University Chicago (1994)
- BS - Secondary Education/Art & Theology, Concordia University Nebraska (1987)
Research Interests
- Faith development
- Christianity and cultural transformation
Teaching Interests
- Christian education
- Apologetics
Alexa Doebele D.M.A.
Associate Professor
Office: Rincker Hall R109C
Phone: (262) 243-4241
Email: alexa.doebele@cuw.edu
Bio
Dr. Alexa Doebele is associate professor of music and Director of Choral Activities at Concordia University Wisconsin, where she conducts Kammerchor, Selah, and the Chapel Choir, in addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in music education, conducting, and choral literature. She joined the CUW faculty in 2009, having taught previously at the University of Wyoming, the University of Colorado, and Front Range Community College. She is a ten-year veteran of K-12 music education, most recently at Iver C. Ranum High School in Denver, Colorado. She is a frequent clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor, and is active as an editor of choral music. Prior to her arrival in Wisconsin, Dr. Doebele recently served as the Director of Music at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. She is also active as both a solo and choral singer, most recently with Vox Antiqua, a newly-formed early music ensemble for which she is also the artistic director, and previously with the Milwaukee Choral Artists, the Colorado Conductors’ Chorus, the Ars Nova Singers, St. Martin’s Chamber Choir, the Boulder Chorale, the Littleton Chorale, and the Colorado Symphony Chorus. Dr. Doebele can be heard as a featured soloist with the Ars Nova Singers on the CDs I Heard a Voice and blue true dream, and she has performed solo and choral works with them on tour in Santa Fe, NM, Washington, DC, and Vancouver, Canada. She completed a bachelor’s degree (double major in vocal performance and German language and literature) at Washington University in St. Louis and her Master of Music Education and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees at the University of Colorado.
Education
- BM - Vocal performance; German language and literature, Washington University (1990)
- MME - Music Education, University of Colorado (1993)
- DMA - Choral Conducting and Literature, University of Colorado (2009)
Contributions
- Doebele, A. (2016). Nimm mich mir by J. S. Bach (15-94410). (pp. 15-94410). Indianapolis, IN: Colla Voce Music. www.collavoce.com...
- Doebele, A. (2012). Music in the Cloud for the Modern Choral Director 53 (5, pp. 5). Oklahoma City, OK: Choral Journal.
Presentations
- Doebele, A. (2018). Better Communication through Conducting. Oral Presentation. Hearts Hands Voices Workshop. Waukesha, WI.
- Doebele, A. (2018). Vocal Techniques for Church Choirs. Oral Presentation. Hearts Hands Voices Workshop. Waukesha, WI.
- Doebele, A. (2017). Lutheran Theological Symbolism in the Music of J. S. Bach. Lecture. Reformation 500 Lunch-n-Learn series. Mequon, WI, USA.
- Doebele, A. (2017). Vocal Techniques for Church Choirs. Oral Presentation. Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music. River Forest, IL.
- Doebele, A. (2017). Better Communication through Conducting. Oral Presentation. Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music. River Forest, IL.
Research Interests
- Choral music of the German Baroque
- Choral music of the English Renaissance
Teaching Interests
- Conducting choral ensembles
- Teaching conducting
James D. Juergensen, Ed.D
Director of Faith Integration for Athletics, Associate Professor
Phone: (262) 243-5418
Email: james.juergensen2@cuw.edu
Education
- EDD - Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service, Cardinal Stritch University (2004)
Research Interests
- Christian leadership
- Athletic ministry
Teaching Interests
- Secondary education methods
- Middle level educaton methods
Louis A. Menchaca
Department Chair - Music, Professor
Phone: (262) 243-4235
Email: louis.menchaca@cuw.edu
Bio
Expertise in instrumental music education, conducting, trumpet performance, arts advocacy, jazz education, professional free-lancing and arts industry consulting. A leading trumpet and conducting free-lancer in Upper Midwest in both jazz and classical idioms
Education
- Ph D - Music Education; Instrumental conducting, The Ohio State University (1988)
- MA - Instrumental conducting, Music education , The Ohio State University (1985)
- BA - Instrumental music education, St. Mary's University of San Antonio (1983)
Research Interests
- Transcriptions and arranging for instrumental ensembles
- Trumpet performance
Teaching Interests
- Concert band
- Orchestra
Adam Paape Ed.D.
Department Chair - Secondary/K-12 Education, Associate Professor
Phone: (262) 243-4203
Email: adam.paape@cuw.edu
Bio
Dr. Paape serves as the department chair for the Secondary/K12 education department. His instructional focus is in mathematics education, mentoring future teachers of mathematics. His research focuses on student-centered mathematics instruction, with an emphasis on implementing rich, conceptual mathematical tasks.
Education
- EDD - Educational Leadership, George Fox University (2013)
- MS - Educational Administration, Concordia University Wisconsin (2004)
- BA - Secondary Education - Mathematics, Concordia University Wisconsin (2000)
Contributions
- Paape, A. (2018). Reflections on Professional Coaching: Eight Mathematics Teaching Practices River Forest, IL: Lutheran Education Journal.
- Paape, A. (2017). (Not) Teaching the Way We Were Taught (Spring 2017). (pp. Spring 2017). River Forest, IL: Lutheran Education Association.
- Paape, A. (2016). Review of Brian Pickerd, Scattering Seed in Teaching: Walking with Christ in the Field of Learning and Education 20 (3, pp. 3). Calvin College: International Journal of Christianity and Education.
- Paape, A. (2016). Using Highlighters to Promote Productive Struggle and Deepen Student Understanding Wisconsin Teacher of Mathematics.
- Paape, A. (2015). Encyclopedia Entry: School Prayer. Encyclopedia of Christian Education. 2 Lanham, Maryland: Rowman and Littlefield.
Research Interests
- Mathematics instructional methodolgy
- In-service teacher instructional practices
Teaching Interests
- Mathematics education
- Pre-service teacher preparation
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