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
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
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
General Education courses | 32 | |
Music Theory | ||
MUST 1711 | Theory I | 4 |
or MUST 1911 | Honors Theory I | |
MUST 1712 | Theory II | 4 |
or MUST 1912 | Honors Theory II | |
MUST 2711 | Theory III | 4 |
or MUST 2911 | Honors Theory III | |
MUST 2712 | Theory IV | 4 |
or MUST 2912 | Honors Theory IV | |
Music History | ||
MUST 2704 | Music in History | 3 |
MUST 3196 | History of Pop | 3 |
MUST 3696 | Music in History | 3 |
Intermediate Conducting | ||
MUSC 2323 | Basic Conducting | 1 |
MUSC 2324 | Conducting Intermediate | 1 |
Psychology | ||
PSY 1001 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
PSY 2201 | Foundations of Psychopathology | 3 |
PSY 2301 | Foundations of Developmental Psychology | 3 |
Functional Piano, Voice, and Guitar | ||
MUED 3631 | Functional Voice I 1 | 1 |
MUED 3632 | Functional Voice II 1 | 1 |
MUED 3633 | Functional Piano I 1 | 1 |
MUED 3634 | Functional Piano II 1 | 1 |
MUED 3635 | Functional Guitar I 1 | 1 |
MUED 3636 | Functional Guitar II 1 | 1 |
Music Therapy | ||
MUED 3689 | Fieldwork in Music Therapy | 2 |
MUED 3789 | Fieldwork in Music Therapy II | 2 |
MUED 3889 | Fieldwork in Music Therapy III | 2 |
MUED 4611 | Music Therapy Overview | 3 |
MUED 4613 | Music Therapy Foundations | 3 |
MUED 4614 | Psychiatric Music Therapy | 3 |
MUED 4616 | Developmental Music Therapy | 3 |
MUED 4618 | Music Therapy Ethics | 2 |
MUED 4619 | Medical/Rehabilitative Music Therapy | 3 |
MUED 4641 | Music Therapy Experiences I: Creative Methods | 1 |
MUED 4642 | Music Therapy Experiences II: Recreative Methods | 1 |
MUED 4643 | Music Therapy Experiences III: Receptive Methods | 1 |
MUED 4685 | Music Therapy Clinical Internship 2 | 6 |
MUED 4696 | Music Therapy Research | 3 |
Concentration | ||
Select the courses specific to your concentration: | ||
MUSC 1201 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
or MUSC 1401 | Piano Concentration | |
or MUSC 1501 | Instrumental Concentration | |
MUSC 1202 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
or MUSC 1402 | Piano Concentration | |
or MUSC 1502 | Instrumental Concentration | |
MUSC 2201 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
or MUSC 2401 | Piano Concentration | |
or MUSC 2501 | Instrumental Concentration | |
MUSC 2202 | Voice Concentration | 2 |
or MUSC 2402 | Piano Concentration | |
or MUSC 2502 | Instrumental Concentration | |
Secondary Piano | ||
MUSC 1405 | Secondary Piano for Music Majors 1 | 1 |
MUST 1106 | Jazz Secondary Piano 1 | 1 |
MUST 2105 | Jazz Secondary Piano | 1 |
MUST 2106 | Jazz Secondary Piano | 1 |
MUST 3105 | Jazz Class Piano | 1 |
Guitar | ||
MUED 1658 | Guitar I 1 | 1 |
MUED 1659 | Guitar II 1 | 1 |
Voice | ||
MUSC 1211 | Voice Class 1 | 1 |
MUSC 1212 | Voice Class 1 | 1 |
Ensembles | ||
Consult with advisor to select the appropriate Ensemble courses | 4 | |
Total Credit Hours | 130 |
- 1
Voice Concentrations
- In lieu of MUSC 1211 and MUSC 1212, classical singers can take MUST 2112 or MUST 2114; jazz singers can take MUST 2112 or MUST 4112.
- Classical and jazz singers must take MUED 3631 and MUED 3632, unless waived by examination.
Piano Concentrations
- In lieu of MUSC 1405, classical pianists can take MUST 2112 or MUST 2114; jazz pianists can take MUST 2112 or MUST 4112.
- In lieu of MUSC 1405 and MUST 1106, classical pianists must take two credits of jazz piano; jazz pianists must take two credits of jazz electives.
- Both classical and jazz pianists must take MUED 3633 and MUED 3634 unless waived upon examination by instructor.
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
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credit 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 or MUST 1911 | 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 Hours | 17 | |
Spring | ||
MUST 1106 | Jazz Secondary Piano 1 | 1 |
MUSC 1212 | Voice Class 1 | 1 |
MUED 1659 | Guitar II 1 | 1 |
Ensemble | 1 | |
MUST 1712 or MUST 1912 | 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 Hours | 17 | |
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 or MUST 2911 | Theory III or Honors Theory III | 4 |
MUED 4641 | Music Therapy Experiences I: Creative Methods | 1 |
MUED 4616 | Developmental Music Therapy | 3 |
IH 0851 or IH 0951 | 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 Hours | 17 | |
Spring | ||
MUST 2106 | Jazz Secondary Piano | 1 |
MUED 3636 | Functional Guitar II 1 | 1 |
MUSC 2324 | Conducting Intermediate | 1 |
Ensemble | 1 | |
MUST 2712 or MUST 2712 | Theory IV or Theory IV | 4 |
IH 0852 or IH 0952 | 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 Hours | 17 | |
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 Hours | 17 | |
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 Hours | 16 | |
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 Hours | 17 | |
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 Hours | 8 | |
Summer | ||
MUED 4685 | Music Therapy Clinical Internship 2 | 2 |
Credit Hours | 2 | |
Year 5 | ||
Fall | ||
MUED 4685 | Music Therapy Clinical Internship 2 | 2 |
Credit Hours | 2 | |
Total Credit Hours | 130 |
- 1
Voice Concentrations
- In lieu of MUSC 1211 and MUSC 1212, classical singers can take MUST 2112 or MUST 2114; jazz singers can take MUST 2112 or MUST 4112.
- Classical and jazz singers must take MUED 3631 and MUED 3632, unless waived by examination.
Piano Concentrations
- In lieu of MUSC 1405, classical pianists can take MUST 2112 or MUST 2114; jazz pianists can take MUST 2112 or MUST 4112.
- In lieu of MUSC 1405 and MUST 1106, classical pianists must take two credits of jazz piano; jazz pianists must take two credits of jazz electives.
- Both classical and jazz pianists must take MUED 3633 and MUED 3634 unless waived upon examination by instructor.
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.