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 four years of coursework plus six months of 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. Final grade for all sections 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 is 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 functional proficiencies on piano, guitar, and voice before they enroll in the senior level capstone courses MTHR 141, MTHR 142, and MTHR 150 section 02. Voice competencies are assessed in the MAPP 001E voice class and during fieldwork. All students, regardless of major instrument, must complete the voice competencies, pass all parts of the piano functional examination, and both beginning and advanced level functional guitar examinations. These examinations are given within the functional courses, but may also be passed at the examination time offered at the end of each semester.
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 courses.
| Major Area | ||
| MAPP 010 Applied Music * | 8 | |
| MTHR 011 | Music as Therapy: A Survey of Clinical Applications ** | 3 |
| MTHR 018 | Basic Skills for Music Therapists and Allied Professionals ** | 3 |
| MTHR 020 | Observation and 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 | Fieldwork in Music Therapy *** | 4 |
| MTHR 187 | Internship in Music Therapy **** | 2 |
| Supportive Courses in Music | ||
| MCOM 032 | Diatonic Harmony | 3 |
| MCOM 033 | Chromatic Harmony | 3 |
| MCOM 042 | Musicianship I | 1 |
| MCOM 043 | Musicianship II | 1 |
| Select 8 units of the following: | 8 | |
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| University Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Symphonic Wind Ensemble | ||
| Concert Band | ||
| Opera Production | ||
| University Chorus | ||
| Pacific Singers | ||
| MAPP 001B | Functional Guitar Class (Must be taken for 2 units) | 1 |
| MAPP 001D | Class Piano (Must be taken for 2 units) | 1 |
| MAPP 001E | Voice Class (Must be taken for 1 units) | 0.5-1 |
| MCOM 009 | Introduction to Music Technology | 1 |
| MPER 054 | Dean's Seminar | 1 |
| MHIS 011 | Survey of Music History I | 3 |
| MHIS 012 | Survey of Music History II | 3 |
| SPED 125X | Teaching Exceptional Learners | 2 |
| Behavioral Health Science Elective (BIO, SPED, SLPA, EDUC & PYSC) | 11 | |
| Music Electives | 11 | |
| Electives | ||
| Non-Music Electives | 3 | |
| * | Students repeat MAPP 010 in order to have a total of 8 units. |
| ** | |
| *** | Repeated for four semesters. |
| **** | Repeated for two semesters. |
Clinical Musicianship
- Accompany self and ensembles proficiently.
- Play/sing a basic repertoire of traditional, folk, and popular songs in several keys.
Social 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.
Professional Sustainability
- Identify ways in which music therapists can minimize their impact on the environment or social ecology through practice modifications.
- Describe innovative means of expanding service delivery while maintaining the integrity of the profession and employability of music therapists.
