Music Therapy Suggested Timeline

Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree

* Functional Skills Exam 1 must be passed before traditional four-year students begin Practicum 1 and before transfer students begin Practicum 2

Transfer Students and Students Switching to Music Therapy

Below is a suggested course sequence for music therapy-specific courses (MT prefix) for transfer students looking to complete their degree requirements in fewer than four years. Students should consult with their academic advisor when planning their academic sequence.

Fall of Year 1

Introduction to Music Therapy (MT 190)

Psychology of Music (MT 491)

Functional Piano I (MUS 185)

Percussion Techniques (MUS 236, offered alternating Fall Semesters)

Spring of Year 1

Clinical Processes in Music Therapy 1 (MT 290)

Music Therapy Practicum 1 (MT 294)

Functional Piano II (MUS 186)

Class Guitar I (MUS 187)

Functional Skills Exam 1* (must pass before moving to MT 296)

Fall of Year 2

Class Voice II (MUS 182)

Music Therapy Practicum 2 (MT 296)

Theory and Practice with Children (MT 391)

Improv & Songwriting for Music Therapy (MT 496)

Class Guitar II (MUS 188)

Spring of Year 2

Clinical Processes in Music Therapy 2 (MT 390)

Theory and Practice with Adults (MT 392)

Music Therapy Practicum 3 (MT 394)

Research in Music Therapy (MT 493)

Fall of Year 3

Music Therapy Practicum 4 (MT 396)

Clinical/Professional Issues in Music Therapy (MT 494)

Capstone (MUS 495)

Spring of Year 3

Clinical Internship (MT 499)

Functional Music Skills Information for Transfer Students

Transfer students attempting to complete music therapy coursework in four semesters are highly encouraged to enter the program with experience on voice, piano, and guitar. While transfer students are expected to pass all skills on the Music Therapy Functional Skills checklist, they are allowed to enroll in Practicum Level 1 (MT 294) before fully passing the subset of skills in Functional Skills Exam 1. Transfer students must demonstrate pass Functional Skills Exam 1 before enrolling in Practicum Level 2 (MT 296). 

Lessons for Music Therapy Majors

Music therapy majors are required to reach the MUS 372 level (include a level-change) on their primary instrument. Traditional four-year students reach this level at the end of their third year. Transfer students will be placed at the appropriate level of study by a faculty member of their primary instrument during their first semester in the program. After successfully completing MUS 372, music therapy majors may elect to use their remaining 2 credits of lessons to study one or more of the clinical instruments (i.e., piano, guitar, voice, percussion). Students have the option of combining half hour lessons in their primary and/or any of the clinical instruments listed above. Music therapy majors are encouraged to take .5 credits (i.e., a half hour lesson) on each of the clinical instruments before beginning internship.