A Master’s Equivalency Program in Music Therapy
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in music and want to pursue a career in music therapy, most universities with such programs offer master’s equivalency degrees. Not only will this grant you the bachelor’s and master’s degrees needed for board certification, but many programs also include clinical internships so that once your degree is earned, you can begin practicing music therapy immediately!
The Master of Music Therapy (MMT) degree equips you with the academic and clinical training required to become a board-certified music therapist in any specialty field of your choosing. Furthermore, it prepares you to conduct research, teach classes and serve as a supervisor.
Students enrolled in the MMT program may specialize in a range of fields, such as music and psychotherapy, mental health, medical rehabilitation or expressive arts. Each student works closely with an advisor from Music Therapy to craft an individualized plan that meets both personal and professional objectives.
Graduate studies in music therapy equip you with the knowledge, skills and training to meet professional standards set forth by organizations such as the American Music Therapy Association and National Association for Schools of Music for music therapy practice. Coursework emphasizes theory, research and ethics to prepare you for more advanced practice.
This 36-credit program offers an innovative combination of supportive psychology and research courses, along with the chance to explore improvisational techniques, clinical practice, assessment, and supervision. Furthermore, students have the option to complete a thesis seminar as well as two relevant electives.
With an extensive clinical internship integrated into your coursework, you’ll gain invaluable experience in the music therapy field and be qualified to take both AMTA-defined competencies and a national examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists upon graduation.
The MMT degree prepares you to use music and the therapist-client relationship as a key part of therapeutic treatment, helping your clients heal from physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral issues. Your academic courses and clinical experience will focus on applying these principles across various settings so that you have the training needed to meet all patients’ needs.
Scholarships are available to students pursuing the master’s equivalency program at WMU. These awards are given on the basis of academic excellence and financial need, as well as recommendations from faculty in the music therapy program or other areas within the university you may wish to explore.
Scholarships are competitively awarded and typically provide between $11,000-12,000 for full-time students. However, these opportunities are only available to music therapists with either Board-Certified or Board-Eligible certification who plan on supervising interns during their pre-internship and/or post-internship clinical experiences.
If you would like to learn more about WMU’s equivalency and master’s degree programs, please reach out to our Graduate Admissions Office. They can answer any queries regarding the application process as well as offer helpful advice on how to move forward.