Course Requirements
Interested in the Music Therapy Graduate or Equivalency programs?
Music Therapy Major
Music therapy students are trained to use musical, clinical, and personal skills to help meet identified needs in their clients. Students get practical experience in the types of facilities in which graduates are often hired: schools, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, psychiatric facilities, etc.
Students must complete:
- 1200 hours of music therapy clinical training
- with approximately 200 hours in pre-internship field experiences and
- 1000 hours in a National Roster or University-Affiliated Internship (approximately six months).
Completion of academic and internship requirements leads to eligibility to take the board examination. Passing the examination leads to the entry-level credential MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified) awarded by the Certification Board for Music Therapist (CBMT).
A Baccalaureate degree at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College requires at least 125 credit hours. In addition to the general studies courses and electives, the music therapy major requires completion of the Music "Core" courses, as well as, the Music Therapy requirements listed on this page. Please consult your academic advisor with any questions you may have about completing this major.
Music Therapy Major builds upon Music "Core"
The Music Therapy major requires completion of the Music "Core" Courses in addition the requirements listed below.
Music Therapy Major - Required Courses
Complete the following courses in addition to the Music Core.
Applied music area. Requirement of Music Therapy Major.
Study of techniques of conducting with practical experience in choral music. When taken with 1 credit hour of MU342 or MU343 this will statisfy the Music Core elective.
An introduction to the history of music therapy and to the application of music in the therapeutic treatment of a variety of populations. Course fee applies.
Designed to help students understand the process of music therapy from referral to termination. Special emphasis given to assessment and evaluation. Also investigates the dynamics and processes of music therapy groups. Prerequisite: MU282 and Instructor's consent. Course fee applies.
Study of music materials as available in courses now in use in the elementary school, stressing evaluation and organization. Study of current methods of programs in the elementary school. Includes the study of Orff and Kodaly techniques.
Elementary performance and pedagogy of wind, brass, percussion instruments and guitar. Requires ability to read music and instructor’s consent. Course fee applies.
Elementary or Intermediate Elementary performance and pedagogy of percussion, woodwind, or brass. Requires the ability to read music and instructor's consent. Course fee applies.
Development of skills used in therapeutic improvisation. Normally reserved for junior/senior music therapy majors. Course fee applies. Prerequisite MU 283 and instructor consent.
A broad spectrum of supervised pre-clinical experiences. Written summaries and development of evaluative skills. Reserved for music therapy majors. MU380 is typically taken for .5 or 1 credit over 3-6 semesters. Optional: An intensive summer practicum may be taken for credit as an independent study course with instructor consent. Course fee applies.
Music therapy treatment goals and objectives for those with developmental and physical disabilities. The development of music therapy skills to assist exceptional populations. Course fee applies. Prerequisite: MU 282.
Music therapy treatment goals and objectives for the elderly, those with substance abuse issues, and those with mental disorders. The development of music therapy skills to assist in rehabilitation. Course fee applies.
An investigation of topics such as: the influence of music on human behavior; physiological responses to music; neuromusical research; hearing and music perception; human musicality. Includes individual projects. Normally reserved for juniors and seniors. Requires instructor’s consent. Course fee applies.
The study of various types of music therapy research. Exploration of research types in the literature. Qualitative and quantitative methods are investigated. Includes development of an original research proposal. Normally reserved for juniors and seniors. Requires instructor’s consent. Course fee applies.
Directed professional experience in a field of music. Requires instructor’s consent. Course fee applies.
Music Therapy Major - Supporting Courses
The following non-music courses are required to give you a framework for therapy understanding. PE119, PS111, PS260, and MA253 count as general studies requirements.
Examines the form and functional relationships of all the major organ systems of the human body. Designed for music therapy majors and fulfills the general studies science requirement for them. Course is available to others, but does not meet their general studies science requirement. Two one-hour lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Course fee applies. Prerequisite: a score of 38 on the mathematics placement exam or MA 101.
Organization of data; binomial, normal and t distributions; estimation; hypothesis testing; correlation and regression; chi-square; analysis of variance; application to business decisions and experiments in natural and social sciences. Use of appropriate computer software. Fulfills general studies requirement. Prerequisite: MA112 or placement.
Students learn a variety of international dances and the cultural background of each dance in folk and square dance. Social dance includes learning the waltz, fox trot, jitterbug, rumba and chacha.
An overview of contemporary psychology introducing students to: human development, cognition and language, learning, memory, sensation, perception, motivation, emotion, biological basis of behavior, social psychology, personality, psychopathology and psychotherapy. The focus of the course is on both the scientific method of acquiring psychological data, as well as the theories which interpret that data and help guide further research in the field. For majors and non-majors, this course also serves as the prerequisite for most psychology classes. Fulfills general studies requirement.
Studies human physical, cognitive, personality, emotional, social and moral development and change from conception to death. Prerequisite: PS111.
Theoretical and practical knowledge needed to make use of basic counseling skills. Emphasis on process in utilizing these skills. Activities include role playing and video presentations.
Studies the dynamics of abnormal behavior including etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of emotional disorders, psychoses, substance abuse and childhood disorders. Prerequisite: PS 111.
*MU243 and one credit of MU 342/343 count as music core electives. The 3 credit hours are not including in the total of music therapy credit hours, but in the Music "Core" instead.
MU380 is typically taken for .5 or 1 credit over 3-6 semesters. Optional: An intensive summer practicum may be taken for credit as an independent study course with instructor consent.
^PS 111 and MA253 are counted as General Studies requirements.
Proficiency Examinations
Music therapy majors must demonstrate music skills as outlined in the American Music Therapy Association Professional Competencies. In addition, music therapy majors must pass the Piano Proficiency Examination and the Guitar/Voice Competency Examination before beginning internships.
Students are responsible for scheduling the Guitar/Voice Competency Examination with the music therapy faculty. This examination will take place in February prior to applying for internships (for traditional students this would be February of the junior year). The examination can be taken no more than three times. Additional details regarding proficiency and competency examinations are located in the Music Area Handbook.
Clinical Training Requirements
Students must complete at least 1,200 clock hours of music therapy clinical training. Approximately 200 hours (a minimum of 180 pre-internship hours are required) are accrued in field experiences (in conjunction with MU 380), and approximately 1,000 hours are accrued during internship.
Successful completion of the Internship is a degree requirement. Admission to the Internship requires: a general GPA of 2.0; an average of 2.5 in all music courses; a C- or better in all music therapy courses; and a recommendation from the Director of Music Therapy. Study of the applied instrument and ensemble participation are required each semester except during the internship.
Successful completion of academic and clinical requirements leads to eligibility to take the music therapy board examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. Passing the examination leads to the professional credential MT-BC (Music Therapist-Board Certified).
The music therapy programs at SMWC are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and are approved by the American Music Therapy Association.
