Music Therapy

Chair: Anthony Meadows, Ph.D., MT-BC

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Music Therapy program prepares students to practice music therapy at an advanced level, in a range of clinical settings. The program provides extensive breadth and depth of training in the musical, clinical, and theoretical components of the music therapy discipline, emphasizing multiple dimensions of promoting health through music experiences and therapeutic relationships. It provides a thorough orientation to scholarly literature, research, and writing on music therapy topics. In addition, it prepares students to be independent professionals, clinical supervisors, advocates for music therapy services, and leaders within their field.

The Master of Arts in Music Therapy program provides the student with eligibility to become credentialed as a Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) (if not already eligible upon admission). The program is also designed to meet part or all of the educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania, and may be applied toward licensure requirements in other states.

The Master of Arts in Music Therapy program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). For further information on music therapy (including educational guidelines), consult AMTA’s website at www.musictherapy.org.

Course Of Study

The Master of Arts in Music Therapy consists of two divisions (or levels) of study in music therapy (described below). In addition, the program includes a series of general (core), psychology, and elective graduate courses (described in the College of Graduate Studies Catalog).

Lower Division

The lower division begins with the Music Therapy Foundations/Principles course series. Upon successful completion of this series, along with completion of Music Therapy Practicum and demonstration of functional proficiency on piano, guitar, and voice (through diagnostic examination administered by music therapy faculty—consult department for specific guidelines), the student becomes eligible to enroll in Music Therapy Internship. Note that cultivation of functional proficiency on piano, guitar, and voice can be addressed through graduate course work and/or individual study at the post-baccalaureate level, either at Immaculata University or through an external institution/instructor. Upon successful completion of Music Therapy Internship (consisting of a minimum of 900 hours) and verification of all professional music therapy competencies, the student becomes eligible to take the examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). Upon successful passage of the CBMT examination, the student earns the national credential Music Therapist-Board Certified, or MT-BC. For further information, consult CBMT’s website at www.cbmt.org.

Upper Division

Upon successful completion of the lower division Music Therapy Foundations/Principles course series (500 level), the student may elect any of the upper division music therapy courses (600 level). Upon successful completion of Music Therapy Internship and verification of all professional music therapy competencies, the student may elect the upper division Advanced Clinical Training and Advanced Music Skills for Therapy courses. Toward the completion of their degree, students take both the Culminating Project in Music Therapy and the Comprehensive Exam in Music Therapy. Students admitted to the program with advanced standing (see below under Admission Guidelines) complete only upper division (advanced) courses in music therapy.