By Brendon James/reporter
Music students can now be rewarded with a new degree.
TCC now offers the Associate of Arts in Music to its students.
Karen Parsons, NE music chair, said because other universities offer the degree plan, TCC should also have the same degree for students while also completing their core classes.
“We have a lot of students interested in our department, and we decided it was for the best to create this degree,” she said.
Gerald Ringe, NE music instructor, said when he was academic adviser at the University of North Texas, he noticed students were exposed to problems such as trying to take classes required for their particular degree.
“I encountered a lot of students having problems with what classes they are told to take versus what is on their degree program,” he said.
NE student Davonte Anderson said the degree will prepare students for their four-year degrees.
“The two-year degree will accurately prepare you when you go to a four-year university,” he said. “You can complete all of your core classes while you’re taking music classes that can prepare you. Just the music classes being offered is good enough, but the fact that you can get rewarded for taking those classes is awesome.”
Parsons said around 30 NE students are currently working under the new degree.
The degree is not required but is highly recommended for music majors, said NE instructional associate Patricia Asher.
“You don’t have to have it,” she said, “but it will keep you on the right path. No matter what kind of music major you’re working toward, this degree will fulfill your first two years of requirements. When you go to a four-year institute and they see you have completed the associate degree, they can see your dedication and that can help you in the long run.”
The degree is not yet available in the degree audit because it still has not been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
NE academic advisor Randy Saleh said he hopes the degree will become official soon.
