Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy
Website: https://twu.edu/music/undergraduate-programs/bachelor-of-science-in-music-therapy/
The Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy prepares students for a career in music therapy. The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) accredits this degree plan. Students must demonstrate Professional Competencies as outlined by AMTA, in addition to all required coursework, clinical fieldwork, and internship, prior to receiving the B.S. in music therapy.
Marketable Skills
Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."
- Investigation - ability to think integrally about music therapy and its relation to larger contexts.
- Communication - ability to communicate in both oral and written forms.
- Collaboration - ability to work as part of a team with others from a variety of disciplines, backgrounds, and cultures.
Admissions
All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.
In addition, applicants must:
- Fill out the online TWU Music Audition Application via Acceptd.
- A letter of recommendation from your current private teacher or ensemble director will be required for each application. The letter must be received prior to your audition date and must be submitted by the letter writer through the Acceptd platform.
- Audition and participate in a placement evaluation.
- Meet individually with one of the music therapy faculty, learn more about the program, and ask any questions.
You also may choose to compete for scholarships that are available to new and transferring music students each year. These are awarded based on musical excellence, as verified through your entrance audition and placement examination, and supported by teacher recommendations.
Please visit the TWU Music Auditions website for audition dates, area-specific audition criteria, and a Step-by-Step Guide to admission into music degree programs.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 122 SCH
Major: 41 SCH
Program Code: MUSICTHERAPY.BS; CIP Code: 50.0901.00
Texas Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Life & Physical Sciences | 6 | |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture | 3 | |
| Creative Arts | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | 3 |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | 3 |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| CAO: Women's Studies | 3 | |
| CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics | 3 | |
| Total SCHs | 42 | |
Courses Required for Major
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| MU 1021 | Keyboard Musicianship I | 1 |
| MU 1031 | Keyboard Musicianship II | 1 |
| MU 1521 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MU 1523 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MU 1531 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MU 1533 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MU 2521 | Aural Skills III | 1 |
| MU 2523 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MU 2533 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MU 3313 | Music History I | 3 |
| MU 3323 | Music History II | 3 |
| Principal Instrument (4 SCH at 4000 level) | 12 | |
| Music Ensembles | 6 | |
| Total SCHs | 41 | |
Departmental Requirements
Must complete a grade of "C" or higher for courses to be counted toward the degree.
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 1013 | Introduction to General Psychology (may be applied from core) | 3 |
| PSY 1603 | Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 2513 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| BIOL 1013 | Human Biology (may be applied from core) | 3 |
| DNCE 1071 | Introduction to Tap Dance | 1 |
| or DNCE 1091 | Dance Physical Conditioning/Body Work | |
| MU 1112 | Music and Wellness (may be applied from core) | 2 |
| MU 2913 | Music and Cultures (may be applied from core) | 3 |
| MU 3703 | Women in Music (may be applied from core) | 3 |
| Total SCHs | 21 | |
Music Therapy Courses
Special Requirement: A grade of "B" or higher for courses to be counted toward the degree.
| Code | Title | SCHs |
|---|---|---|
| MU 2061 | Keyboard Musicianship III | 1 |
| MU 1412 | Professional Foundations in Music Therapy I | 2 |
| MU 1422 | Professional Foundations in Music Therapy II | 2 |
| MU 2401 | Music Therapy Practicum I | 1 |
| MU 2412 | Introduction to Integral Thinking in Music Therapy | 2 |
| MU 2421 | Music Therapy Practicum II | 1 |
| MU 3021 | Clinical Percussion | 1 |
| MU 3081 | Clinical Keyboard | 1 |
| MU 3301 | Clinical Guitar | 1 |
| MU 3411 | Music Therapy Practicum III | 1 |
| MU 3421 | Music Therapy Practicum IV | 1 |
| MU 3422 | Context Thinking in Music Therapy | 2 |
| MU 3443 | Research in Music Therapy | 3 |
| MU 3462 | Experience Thinking in Music Therapy | 2 |
| MU 3472 | Outcome Thinking in Music Therapy | 2 |
| MU 3671 | Clinical Singing | 1 |
| MU 4421 | Music Therapy Practicum V | 1 |
| MU 4481 | Capstone in Music Therapy | 1 |
| MU 4491 | Clinical Musicianship | 1 |
| MU 4521 | Music Therapy Practicum VI | 1 |
| MU 4633 | Psychology of Music | 3 |
| MU 4651 | Music Therapy Clinical Internship I | 1 |
| Total SCHs | 32 | |
Before students may register for internship, they must have met the following requisites:
- Satisfied music departmental recital attendance requirements.
- Completed all academic courses, including practica (Refer to Music Therapy handbook for criteria for admission to different levels of practicum).
- Achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 2.75 or better.
- Achieved a grade-point average of 3.0 in music therapy courses, including practica, with no grade below B.
- Received no letter grade below C in other music courses.
- Shown evidence of emotional stability and good physical health.
- Met university requirements for liability insurance and immunizations.
- Demonstrated professional, interpersonal, and ethical behaviors and skills as required by The American Music Therapy Association’s Professional Competencies
- Met all specific internship admission requirements, including but not limited to, requirements for liability insurance, drug testing, immunizations, criminal background, personal medical insurance, and/or transportation. Expenses for any required special training, drug testing, background checks, or other special requirements specific to an internship site are the responsibility of the student. Acceptance to an internship does not guarantee that the legal agreements between the university and the facility can be negotiated. The student may not begin the internship until all legal agreements have been finalized. See academic advisor for details related to a specific internship site.
Graduate students wishing to work toward certification must complete the music therapy equivalency program, which may be done at the same time the student completes some graduate courses toward the Master’s Degree. Post-baccalaureate students pursuing the equivalency program, but not the Master’s Degree, must complete the requirements for a second bachelor’s degree.
Testing for drugs, specific immunizations in addition to those required by TWU, proof of personal medical insurance, and/or passing a criminal background check may be required by certain facilities associated with the required clinical work. If students are unable to be cleared on any of these requirements, they may not be eligible to continue in the program.
Certification as a Music Therapist (MT-BC) is achieved by passing a national examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. This exam may be undertaken only after all requirements, including internship, have been completed. However, completion of the program does not guarantee eligibility to take the board certification exam. Questions regarding specific criminal background and its possible effects on eligibility for board certification should be addressed directly to the Certification Board for Music Therapists.
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | TCCN | SCHs | |
| MU 1021 | Keyboard Musicianship I | MUSI 1181 | 1 |
| MU 1112 | Music and Wellness (CAO Core) | 2 | |
| MU 1521 | Aural Skills I | MUSI 1116 | 1 |
| MU 1523 | Music Theory I | MUSI 1311 | 3 |
| MU 1412 | Professional Foundations in Music Therapy I | 2 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Principal Instrument | 2 | ||
| UNIV 1231 | Learning Frameworks: the First-Year Seminar | EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300 | 1 |
| ENG 1013 | Composition I | ENGL 1301 | 3 |
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| MU 1031 | Keyboard Musicianship II | MUSI 1182 | 1 |
| MU 1531 | Aural Skills II | MUSI 1117 | 1 |
| MU 1533 | Music Theory II | MUSI 1312 | 3 |
| MU 1422 | Professional Foundations in Music Therapy II | 2 | |
| PSY 1013 | Introduction to General Psychology | PSYC 2301 | 3 |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Principal Instrument | 2 | ||
| ENG 1023 | Composition II | ENGL 1302 | 3 |
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| MU 3301 | Clinical Guitar | 1 | |
| MU 2061 | Keyboard Musicianship III | MUSI 2181 | 1 |
| MU 2521 | Aural Skills III | MUSI 2116 | 1 |
| MU 2523 | Music Theory III | MUSI 2311 | 3 |
| MU 2412 | Introduction to Integral Thinking in Music Therapy | 2 | |
| MU 2401 | Music Therapy Practicum I | 1 | |
| MU 3021 | Clinical Percussion | 1 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Principal Instrument | 2 | ||
| PSY 1603 | Developmental Psychology | PSYC 2314 | 3 |
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| MU 2421 | Music Therapy Practicum II | 1 | |
| MU 2533 | Music Theory IV | MUSI 2312 | 3 |
| MU 3671 | Clinical Singing | 1 | |
| MU 3422 | Context Thinking in Music Therapy | 2 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Principal Instrument | 2 | ||
| MU 2913 | Music and Cultures | MUSI 1307 | 3 |
| PSY 2513 | Abnormal Psychology | PSYC 2320 | 3 |
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| MU 3462 | Experience Thinking in Music Therapy | 2 | |
| MU 3411 | Music Therapy Practicum III | 1 | |
| MU 3313 | Music History I | 3 | |
| MU 3081 | Clinical Keyboard | 1 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Principal Instrument | 2 | ||
| Mathematics Core | 3 | ||
| Science Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 16 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| MU 3323 | Music History II | 3 | |
| MU 3421 | Music Therapy Practicum IV | 1 | |
| MU 3472 | Outcome Thinking in Music Therapy | 2 | |
| Large Ensemble | 1 | ||
| Applied Music: Principal Instrument | 2 | ||
| BIOL 1013 | Human Biology | BIOL 1308 | 3 |
| MU 4633 | Psychology of Music | 3 | |
| SCHs | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| MU 4421 | Music Therapy Practicum V | 1 | |
| MU 4491 | Clinical Musicianship | 1 | |
| MU 3703 | Women in Music | 3 | |
| MU 3443 | Research in Music Therapy | 3 | |
| HIST 1013 | History of the United States, 1492-1865 | HIST 1301 | 3 |
| POLS 2013 | U.S. National Government | GOVT 2305 | 3 |
| SCHs | 14 | ||
| Spring | TCCN | ||
| MU 4481 | Capstone in Music Therapy | 1 | |
| MU 4521 | Music Therapy Practicum VI | 1 | |
| POLS 2023 | Texas Government | GOVT 2306 | 3 |
| HIST 1023 | History of the United States, 1865 to the Present | HIST 1302 | 3 |
| DNCE 1071 or 1091 | Introduction to Tap Dance or Dance Physical Conditioning/Body Work | DANC 1110 | 1 |
| Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core | 3 | ||
| SCHs | 12 | ||
| Fifth Year | |||
| Fall | TCCN | ||
| MU 4651 | Music Therapy Clinical Internship I | 1 | |
| SCHs | 1 | ||
| Total SCHs: | 122 | ||
NOTE: Coursework is followed by the music therapy internship, which concludes the required 1200 clinically supervised hours. The traditional internship model is six months of full-time supervised experiences. Students enroll in MU 4651 for internship.
