Music Therapy Major

Music therapy is the systematic application of music elements and interventions, facilitated by a certified music therapist in a health care or educational environment, to promote therapeutic change in clients/ students with a wide variety of disabilities and challenges. This professional degree program prepares students to meet entry-level competencies set by the American Music Therapy Association in order to prepare for professional practice in music therapy. Clinical and musical competencies are tracked throughout the program as part of the advising process. Students who successfully complete four years of coursework and a six-month internship at an approved healthcare facility will have met the requirements to graduate and become eligible to sit for the national board certification examination administered by the Certification Board of Music Therapists. Students are advised that additional licensure may be required to practice music therapy in some states.

An audition/interview is required before acceptance into the music therapy program. In order to enter into upper-division coursework, and apply for the music therapy internship, students must pass the Functional Music Examinations I prior to enrolling in practicum (MTY 381) and must pass the Functional Music Skills Exam II before enrolling in MTY 485 Clinical Training in Music Therapy (internship). The director will assist the student in applying for the internship and serves as academic supervisor alongside the on-site internship supervisor to ensure that all AMTA competencies have been met.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate musical competence for clinical use.
2. Students will apply music psychology and music therapy research to music therapy clinical work.
3. Students will design and implement music therapy processes for assigned field work populations.