Overview

The Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy is offered by the Department of Music Education and Music Therapy. This program, fully approved by the American Music Therapy Association, is designed to prepare students for entry-level clinical positions in music therapy. Upon successful completion of the degree, graduates are eligible to take the national examination of the Certification Board for Music Therapists and thereby qualify for professional certification in the field.

Music Therapy is a four-and-a-half-year degree program, including post-academic clinical training. The Music Therapy clinical training continues one semester beyond the second semester of the senior year.

Students must select one of the following concentrations:

  • Bassoon
  • Cello
  • Clarinet
  • Classical Guitar
  • Double Bass
  • Euphonium
  • Flute
  • French Horn
  • Harp
  • Harpsichord
  • Oboe
  • Percussion
  • Piano
  • Saxophone
  • Trombone
  • Trumpet
  • Tuba
  • Viola
  • Violin
  • Voice

Clinical Training

A total of 1200 hours of supervised clinical training is required prior to graduation. Refer to the program requirements for details.

Special Admissions Requirements

See Music Admissions information on the Boyer College of Music and Dance page.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: BC-MTHE-BMUS

Licensure/Certification

Board Certification as a Music Therapist demonstrates that you have completed comprehensive competency testing based on your education and clinical training and that you have met an objective standard that ensures you are prepared to practice music therapy. Certification is required to practice as a music therapist in the following states: California, Connecticut, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The Certification Board of Music Therapists administers an examination that students must pass in order to become certified. Temple University's Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and Master of Music in Music Therapy programs, both accredited by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), meet the educational requirements to sit for the certification examination. Students must also complete a clinical internship following graduation before sitting for the certification examination.

https://www.cbmt.org/state-requirements/

Contact Information

Alison M. Reynolds, Music Education and Music Therapy Department Chair
215-204-8310
alison.reynolds@temple.edu

Michael Zanders, Coordinator of Undergraduate Music Therapy Program
215-204-8311
michael.zanders@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements

The Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy is conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 130 credits. This major requires a concentration; the available concentrations are Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Classical Guitar, Double Bass, Euphonium, Flute, French Horn, Harp, Harpsichord, Oboe, Percussion, Piano, Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola, Violin, and Voice.

University Requirements

  • All students are required to complete the university's General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
  • All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses. The specific writing-intensive courses for the major are MUST 3196, MUST 3696, and MUED 4696.

Clinical Training

A total of 1200 hours of supervised clinical training is required prior to graduation.

Students must be continually enrolled in MUED 4685 Music Therapy Clinical Internship  for a total of 1000 hours. A student beginning an internship in Year 4 Spring will also need to register for this in the Year 4 Summer session and possibly Year 5 Fall; credits can be distributed across semesters differently but must total 6.

Music Therapy Grades

Grades below C in any music therapy course may not be applied toward degree requirements in music therapy. All students are permitted to repeat a course one time. Students who need to repeat a course a second time must obtain the approval of the dean/designee of their home school or college and be registered with assistance. Except as permitted by this policy, no students may repeat a course a third time.

Students who have exhausted course attempts for course(s) required for their major will be required to change majors.

Program Requirements

General Education courses32
Music Theory
MUST 1711Theory I4
or MUST 1911 Honors Theory I
MUST 1712Theory II4
or MUST 1912 Honors Theory II
MUST 2711Theory III4
or MUST 2911 Honors Theory III
MUST 2712Theory IV4
or MUST 2912 Honors Theory IV
Music History
MUST 2704Music in History3
MUST 3196History of Pop3
MUST 3696Music in History3
Intermediate Conducting
MUSC 2323Basic Conducting1
MUSC 2324Conducting Intermediate1
Psychology
PSY 1001Introduction to Psychology3
PSY 2201Foundations of Psychopathology3
PSY 2301Foundations of Developmental Psychology3
Functional Piano, Voice, and Guitar
MUED 3631Functional Voice I 11
MUED 3632Functional Voice II 11
MUED 3633Functional Piano I 11
MUED 3634Functional Piano II 11
MUED 3635Functional Guitar I 11
MUED 3636Functional Guitar II 11
Music Therapy
MUED 3689Fieldwork in Music Therapy2
MUED 3789Fieldwork in Music Therapy II2
MUED 3889Fieldwork in Music Therapy III2
MUED 4611Music Therapy Overview3
MUED 4613Music Therapy Foundations3
MUED 4614Psychiatric Music Therapy3
MUED 4616Developmental Music Therapy3
MUED 4618Music Therapy Ethics2
MUED 4619Medical/Rehabilitative Music Therapy3
MUED 4641Music Therapy Experiences I: Creative Methods1
MUED 4642Music Therapy Experiences II: Recreative Methods1
MUED 4643Music Therapy Experiences III: Receptive Methods1
MUED 4685Music Therapy Clinical Internship 26
MUED 4696Music Therapy Research3
Concentration
Select the courses specific to your concentration:
MUSC 1201Voice Concentration2
or MUSC 1401 Piano Concentration
or MUSC 1501 Instrumental Concentration
MUSC 1202Voice Concentration2
or MUSC 1402 Piano Concentration
or MUSC 1502 Instrumental Concentration
MUSC 2201Voice Concentration2
or MUSC 2401 Piano Concentration
or MUSC 2501 Instrumental Concentration
MUSC 2202Voice Concentration2
or MUSC 2402 Piano Concentration
or MUSC 2502 Instrumental Concentration
Secondary Piano
MUSC 1405Secondary Piano for Music Majors 11
MUST 1106Jazz Secondary Piano 11
MUST 2105Jazz Secondary Piano1
MUST 2106Jazz Secondary Piano1
MUST 3105Jazz Class Piano1
Guitar
MUED 1658Guitar I 11
MUED 1659Guitar II 11
Voice
MUSC 1211Voice Class 11
MUSC 1212Voice Class 11
Ensembles
Consult with advisor to select the appropriate Ensemble courses4
Total Credit Hours130
1

Voice Concentrations

Piano Concentrations

Guitar Concentrations

2

Must be continually enrolled in MUED 4685 Music Therapy Clinical Internship for a total of 1000 hours. A student beginning an internship in Spring will also need to register for this in the Summer session and possibly Fall; credits can be distributed across semesters differently but must total 6.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
MUSC 1405 Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1 1
MUSC 1211 Voice Class 1 1
MUED 4611 Music Therapy Overview 3
MUED 1658 Guitar I 1 1
Ensemble 1
MUST 1711
Theory I
or Honors Theory I
4
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
4
Select one of the following: 2
Voice Concentration  
Piano Concentration  
Instrumental Concentration  
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MUST 1106 Jazz Secondary Piano 1 1
MUSC 1212 Voice Class 1 1
MUED 1659 Guitar II 1 1
Ensemble 1
MUST 1712
Theory II
or Honors Theory II
4
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ 4
PSY 1001 Introduction to Psychology 3
Select one of the following: 2
Voice Concentration  
Piano Concentration  
Instrumental Concentration  
 Credit Hours17
Year 2
Fall
MUST 2105 Jazz Secondary Piano 1
MUED 3635 Functional Guitar I 1 1
MUSC 2323 Basic Conducting 1
Ensemble 1
MUST 2711
Theory III
or Honors Theory III
4
MUED 4641 Music Therapy Experiences I: Creative Methods 1
MUED 4616 Developmental Music Therapy 3
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
3
Select one of the following: 2
Voice Concentration  
Piano Concentration  
Instrumental Concentration  
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MUST 2106 Jazz Secondary Piano 1
MUED 3636 Functional Guitar II 1 1
MUSC 2324 Conducting Intermediate 1
Ensemble 1
MUST 2712
Theory IV
or Theory IV
4
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
3
PSY 2301 Foundations of Developmental Psychology 3
MUED 4642 Music Therapy Experiences II: Recreative Methods 1
Select one of the following: 2
Voice Concentration  
Piano Concentration  
Instrumental Concentration  
 Credit Hours17
Year 3
Fall
MUED 3633 Functional Piano I 1 1
MUED 3631 Functional Voice I 1 1
MUST 3196 History of Pop [WI] 3
MUED 4614 Psychiatric Music Therapy 3
MUED 4643 Music Therapy Experiences III: Receptive Methods 1
MUED 3689 Fieldwork in Music Therapy 2
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MUED 3634 Functional Piano II 1 1
MUED 3632 Functional Voice II 1 1
MUED 3789 Fieldwork in Music Therapy II 2
MUST 2704 Music in History 3
PSY 2201 Foundations of Psychopathology 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Year 4
Fall
MUED 4696 Music Therapy Research [WI] 3
MUST 3696 Music in History [WI] 3
MUED 3889 Fieldwork in Music Therapy III 2
MUED 4619 Medical/Rehabilitative Music Therapy 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring
MUED 4613 Music Therapy Foundations 3
MUST 3105 Jazz Class Piano 1
MUED 4618 Music Therapy Ethics 2
MUED 4685 Music Therapy Clinical Internship 2 2
 Credit Hours8
Summer
MUED 4685 Music Therapy Clinical Internship 2 2
 Credit Hours2
Year 5
Fall
MUED 4685 Music Therapy Clinical Internship 2 2
 Credit Hours2
 Total Credit Hours130
1

Voice Concentrations

Piano Concentrations

Guitar Concentrations

2

Must be continually enrolled in MUED 4685 Music Therapy Clinical Internship for a total of 1000 hours. A student beginning an internship in Spring will also need to register for this in the Summer session and possibly Fall; credits can be distributed across semesters differently but must total 6.