Bachelor of Music (Music Therapy)
Music Therapy combines the study of music with study in the behavioral and health sciences and prepares students for careers as music therapists in hospitals, special education settings, mental health and rehabilitation centers, correctional facilities, development centers, and in the community.
Designed to be completed in four years (inclusive of internship), the Music Therapy program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). The Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy is earned at the completion of three years of coursework plus a culminating clinical internship (MTHR 187). Students are eligible for the Board Certification Examination upon the completion of the internship at an approved clinical facility. Students must be enrolled for at least one unit of MTHR 187 during the semesters that cover the start and completion dates of the internship. A final grade for all units of MTHR 187 is given only upon receipt of the final internship evaluation.
In order to complete the Music Therapy degree, students must obtain a grade of B- or better in Music Therapy courses and demonstrate interpersonal and professional skills appropriate to the clinical profession as evaluated by the Music Therapy Faculty. A student who does not receive such a grade following the second attempt through a particular course may be disqualified from the Music Therapy major.
A student who receives a grade of less than B- in either MTHR 011 or MTHR 018 may not enroll in upper-division Music Therapy core courses until a B- grade or better is obtained in each of these lower-division courses.
All Music Therapy majors are required to demonstrate clinical musicianship proficiencies on piano, guitar, and voice before they enroll in the senior level capstone courses of MTHR 141, MTHR 142, and MTHR 150 (section 02). In this regard, all music therapy students will enroll in piano, voice, and guitar classes to develop these clinical musicianship proficiencies. These proficiencies will be assessed by examination with the music therapy faculty prior to beginning the MTHR 150 (section 1) and throughout practicum.
Bachelor of Music Major in Music Therapy
Students must complete a minimum of 120 units with a Pacific cumulative and program grade point average of 2.0 in order to earn the Bachelor of Music degree with a major in music therapy.
I. General Education Requirements
For more details, see General Education
Minimum 28 units and 9 courses that include:
A. CORE Seminars (2 courses)
| CORE 001 | Problem Solving & Oral Comm | 3 |
| CORE 002 | Writing and Critical Thinking | 4 |
Note: 1) CORE Seminars cannot be taken for Pass/No Credit. 2) Transfer students with 28 or more transfer credits taken after high school are exempt from both CORE seminars.
B. Breadth Requirement (7 courses, at least 3 units each)
| At least one course from each of the following areas: | ||
Artistic Process & Creation | ||
Civic & Global Responsibility | ||
Language & Narratives | ||
Quantitative Reasoning | ||
Scientific Inquiry | ||
Social Inquiry | ||
World Perspectives & Ethics | ||
Note: 1) No more than 2 courses from a single discipline can be used to meet the Breadth Requirement.
C. Diversity and Inclusion Requirement
| All students must complete Diversity and Inclusion coursework (at least 3 units) | ||
Note: 1) Diversity and Inclusion courses can also be used to meet the breadth category requirements, or major or minor requirements.
D. Fundamental Skills
| Students must demonstrate competence in: | ||
Writing | ||
Quantitative Analysis (Math) | ||
Note: 1) Failure to satisfy the fundamental skills requirements by the end of four semesters of full-time study at the University is grounds for academic disqualification.
II. Major Requirements
Students must obtain a grade of B- or better in all Music Therapy (MTHR) courses.
| Major Area | ||
| MAPM 021 | Applied Music | 2 |
| MAPM 022 | Applied Music | 2 |
| MAPM 023 | Applied Music | 2 |
| MAPM 024 | Applied Music | 2 |
| MAPM 125 | Applied Music | 2 |
| MAPM 126 | Applied Music | 2 |
| MTHR 011 | Music as Therapy: A Survey of Clinical Applications ** | 3 |
| MTHR 018 | Basic Skills for Music Therapists and Allied Professionals ** | 3 |
| MTHR 020 | Clinical Assessment in Music Therapy | 2 |
| MTHR 135 | Music with Children in Inclusive Settings: Therapeutic and Educational Applications | 3 |
| MTHR 139 | Research in Music | 2 |
| MTHR 140 | Psychology of Music | 2 |
| MTHR 141 | Music Therapy in Mental Health and Social Services | 3 |
| MTHR 142 | Music Therapy in Medicine and Health Care | 3 |
| MTHR 150 | Practicum in Music Therapy *** | 4 |
| MTHR 187 | Internship in Music Therapy **** | 20 |
| Supportive Courses in Music | ||
| MCOM 032 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MCOM 033 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MCOM 042 | Musicianship I | 1 |
| MCOM 043 | Musicianship II | 1 |
| Select 6 units of the following: | 6 | |
| Concert Band | ||
| Ensemble Performance | ||
| University Chorus | ||
| MPER 060 | Varied Ensemble | 1 |
| MAPM 009 | Functional Guitar I | 1 |
| MAPM 010 | Functional Guitar II | 1 |
| Two units selected from the Class Piano according to placement exam: MAPM 003, MAPM 004, MAPM 005, MAPM 006 | 2 | |
| MAPM 007 | Functional Voice | 1 |
| MPER 054 | Dean's Seminar | 1 |
| MHIS 006 | Music of the World's Peoples | 3 |
| MHIS 011 | Survey of Music History I | 3 |
| MHIS 012 | Survey of Music History II | 3 |
| General Studies | ||
| PSYC 017 | Abnormal and Clinical Psychology | 4 |
| Select 3 to 5 units from one of the following: | 3-5 | |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Introduction to Biology | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| Behavioral Health Science Elective (BIO, SPED, SLPA, EDUC & PSYC) | 8 | |
Clinical Musicianship
- Accompany self and ensembles proficiently.
- Play/sing a basic repertoire of traditional, folk, and popular songs in several keys.
Behavioral/Health Science Foundations
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of normal human development, exceptionality, and psychopathology.
- Articulate common/specific principles of therapy and the importance of the therapeutic relationship.
Music Therapy Foundations/Principles
- Demonstrate knowledge about the historical, philosophical, psychological, physiological, and sociological bases for the use of music as therapy.
- Explain the impact of contemporary issues in healthcare and education on music therapy practice.
- Identify various models of traditional and contemporary music therapy practice.
Clinical Foundations
- Demonstrate knowledge of various client populations.
- Carry out clinical functions including: conducting assessments; planning treatment; implementing treatment; documenting progress (oral/written); and terminating treatment/planning discharge.
Ethics and Professionalism
- Demonstrate knowledge of professional role and ethics.
- Demonstrate knowledge of professional standards of clinical practice; interdisciplinary collaboration in designing and implementing treatment programs; supervision and administration.
Evidence-Based Practice
- Interpret information in the professional research literature.
- Demonstrate basic knowledge of historical, quantitative, and qualitative research.
- Apply research findings to clinical practice in music therapy.
