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

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

• In lieu of MUED 1658 and MUED 1659, classical guitarists can take MUST 2112 or MUST 2114; jazz guitarists can take MUST 2112 or MUST 4112.
• Both classical and jazz guitarists must take MUED 3635 and MUED 3636, unless waived upon examination by the instructor.

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

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

• In lieu of MUED 1658 and MUED 1659, classical guitarists can take MUST 2112 or MUST 2114; jazz guitarists can take MUST 2112 or MUST 4112.
• Both classical and jazz guitarists must take MUED 3635 and MUED 3636, unless waived upon examination by the instructor.

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.