Music Therapy, B.Mus.

As a music therapy major, you will be closely guided in your development of your skills and interests by experienced, supportive and attentive faculty. Class sizes are small so faculty can truly get to know the students in the program. Skill development includes:

• Building clinical music skills through individual piano, guitar and voice lessons taught by music therapists, tailored towards student's individual needs to aid in their development as a professional.
• Learning about music therapy methods and their application through personal and professional development tailored to students unique needs and learning styles.

Each student completes fieldwork training to gain professional experience as they learn foundational skills and theoretical knowledge of music therapy. These fieldwork experiences offer you the opportunity to observe, participate, assist and lead music therapy sessions under the supervision of trained music therapists. These off-site partnerships offer you the opportunity to work hands-on with a variety of client populations including, but not limited to, children with developmental disabilities, individuals with medical issues, as with hospice or in medical settings, individuals in psychiatric settings such as drug and alcohol facilities and/or individuals working to improve their mental health. You have the opportunity to work closely with faculty to ensure that you are connected to clinical sites that best support your professional development to prepare for a career in music therapy.

A few of the local sites that students have recently completed their fieldwork include, but are not limited to:

• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
• Holisticare Hospice
• Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital
• Cooper Hospital
• Living Branches Senior Living
• Jefferson Hospital
• Foundations Behavioral Health
• Livengrin Foundation
• Christina School District
• Hospice & Community Care
• Warrior Music Foundation

As an introduction to your clinical training, you will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on clinical learning in the Immaculata University Music Therapy & Wellness Center, which serves community partners with a variety of needs right on Immaculata's campus. This offers you clinical training early on in your skills development and academic career under close support and supervision of music therapy faculty to gain entry level understanding of working with clients and building goals and treatments plans. This also offers you the opportunity to work with faculty to develop your own unique pathway towards becoming a professional music therapist based on your own strengths and needs 

 Students are also encouraged to engage in a variety of co-curricular, enrichment and networking opportunities through regional and national conferences, participating in alumni and social events, and continuing education or workshop opportunities that include national and international guest presenters. 

Immaculata is also proud to offer a master's degree in music therapy, should students be interested in furthering their education and opportunities in the field. During your senior year, you are eligible to take nine graduate credits that count toward both undergraduate and master's degrees in music therapy, at no additional tuition cost. 

• Opportunity for direct and advanced admission to the music therapy and counseling degree
• Free access to continuing education and workshop opportunities
• Additional opportunities to engage in partially funded music therapy research with faculty supervision

As a music therapy major at Immaculata, you'll take courses in music, music therapy and psychology along with liberal arts core classes. These courses are strategically placed throughout your academic experience to ensure a clear and logical pathway towards becoming a professional music therapist by developing your skills in not just music, but also providing an understanding of psychology, music therapy theories and foundations as well as their application towards client needs. After completion of the program, you'll be eligible to take the board certification exam through the certification board of music therapists (CBMT) to earn the professional credential of music therapist- board certified (MT-BC). As mentioned above, students will also have the opportunity to be considered for direct entry to the Immaculata master's program, while actively working in the field as a music therapist.

Music therapists work in a wide variety of clinical and educational settings and the demand for these services is increasing.  Immaculata receives many requests for assistance in finding music therapists to fill positions, and it is common for our students to find employment soon after completing their internship experience. 

Some sites that our recent alumni have been hired for include:

 Nemours Children's Hospital 

• Amidisys Hospice
• Bryn Mawr Rehab
• Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital
• Therapeutic Arts Group
• Settlement Music School
• High Focus Centers 
• Ascend Hospice
• Northbrook Behavioral Health Hospital
• Charlie Health

Immaculata University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the music therapy program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT).

This Certificate is for students who wish to seek additional instruction and performance opportunities within their respective program, as it provides greater focus on advanced musicianship and performance with multiple opportunities for collaboration, leadership, creative thinking, and self-awareness. Comparable to a Minor, a Certificate is noted on student’s transcript, but can be completed in under 18 credits.

The Certificate in Music Performance is available to undergraduate students enrolled in the B.Mus.in Music Therapy and B.Mus. in Music Education programs.