The Maryville Music Therapy program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and is approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). The four-and-one-half year program culminates in a six-month internship under the supervision of a board-certified music therapist in a wide choice of facilities. The degree is awarded at the completion of the internship.
A total of 1,200 clinical training hours are required for graduation. The first portion of those hours is accomplished within the academic courses in the practica in which students gain exposure to a minimum of three populations. The remainder of the hours is given to the internship experience. Upon successful completion of the degree, the student is eligible to sit for the Certification Board for Music Therapists national exam, and successful candidates will receive the professional credential, MT-BC.
All Music Therapy majors are expected to declare a major applied instrument upon acceptance into the program. They are required to take private lessons and engage in ensembles each semester until graduation. Given the clinical competencies for music therapy dictate proficiency in guitar, voice, and piano/keyboard, students may opt to take private lessons in one of these three areas in their junior and/or senior year. Students are required to perform in a recital at least once each academic year. They must pass the piano, voice, and guitar proficiency examinations prior to starting their internship. Non-piano majors take piano each semester until proficiency level is met.
Students entering into the bachelor’s degree program in Music Therapy must complete an audition to demonstrate their musical performance abilities in addition to standard admission requirements. Details about the audition process are given under Special Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Academic Programs.
Upon admission to the program, Music Therapy majors are required to maintain a 2.5 average at Maryville to remain in the program. No grade less than a “C” will be accepted in MUS and MUTH courses.
Students with a previous degree that is not in music, music education, or music technology will be required to complete all music and music therapy courses for a degree in music therapy.
See Financial Matters for reference to fees that apply: Private/Applied Music Instruction and Professional Insurance (Practica semesters and Internship). There also is a fee for clinical background check.
Students can achieve early access to the Music Therapy, M.M.T. in their final year of preparation. Qualifying undergraduate and equivalency students are encouraged to take graduate level coursework as a bridge to the graduate degree.
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