Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Therapy

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The Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Therapy at the Frost School of Music is designed to help students acquire basic clinical competencies. Upon completion of coursework, students enter a six-month, full-time clinical internship. When the internship requirement has been met, candidates are eligible to take the board certification examination in music therapy and begin practice as a clinician.

The Curriculum

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy is built upon the clinical and research paradigm known as Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT). This model utilizes scientific evidence regarding the influence of music on the human brain and behavior function to treat neurological, developmental, and medical needs. The NMT approach is becoming increasingly recognized and accepted by the medical community, which helps increase employment for our graduates.

Courses for this degree program are drawn from four main categories:

  • Music
  • Music Therapy
  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Natural Sciences

Music

Being a competent music therapist requires a solid foundation in all areas of music. Consequently, approximately half of the total credit hours required for the degree are allotted to studying music and acquiring specific musical skills.

Courses in music include:

  • Applied instruction on principal instrument or voice
  • Piano skills
  • Music Theory
  • Music History and Literature
  • Conducting
  • Arranging/Orchestration
  • Music Technology
  • Functional Music Skills (percussion, voice, guitar, autoharp, piano, and improvisation)
  • Performing Ensembles

Music Therapy

Using music effectively as a therapeutic medium is based on knowing how the human brain and body process musical information. Through these interactive and experiential courses, students learn about the theory and research that supports the use of music in therapy. In addition, students have multiple opportunities to practice and refine their clinical skills. Before leaving campus to complete the internship, students take five semesters of practicum, which involves working with different clinical populations in the community. All clinical experiences are carefully supervised by board-certified music therapists.

Content areas for music therapy coursework include:

  • Overview and History of the Music Therapy Profession
  • Music and Development
  • Music in Rehabilitation
  • Psychology of Music
  • Music in Psychotherapy

Behavioral and Natural Sciences

To work successfully with clients, music therapists rely on an in-depth understanding of the human body and the intricacies of human behavior. Students take several psychology courses, including child and adolescent development, statistics and abnormal psychology, and earn a minor in psychology. Additional courses include human biology and psychobiology.

General Education Requirements

To achieve a well-rounded education, students also complete requirements in college algebra, English composition and the social sciences.

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy is approved by the American Music Therapy Association, the National Association for Schools of Music, and the University of Miami.

For more information on this degree program, please contact:

Teresa Lesiuk, Ph.D., MT-BC

Program Director, Music Therapy
tlesiuk@miami.edu
305.284.3650

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