Music Therapy
Music Therapy
Music Therapy
The music therapy concentration at Rowan University provides robust musical and clinical preparation through academic, practical, and applied studies. Our program has a unique hybrid online and face-to-face format, which offers flexibility for busy students. Our faculty includes experienced and skilled music therapists who teach clinical musicianship courses in weekly face-to-face classes. Our hybrid online courses include asynchronous work (students review materials and complete work on their schedule) combined with three face-to-face meetings during the semester for hands-on, interactive learning experiences. These experiences include course-based work with community agencies and schools to introduce students to music therapy practices. We are rapidly growing our roster of affiliated clinical settings throughout South Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New York to provide a wide range of practicum and internship experiences. Students in the bachelor’s program study their primary instrument or voice with Rowan’s distinguished studio faculty and perform in choral, instrumental, orchestral, band, early music, opera, and jazz ensembles. In addition, students can take courses in Rowan’s Music Industry program, with access to recording studios and technology labs.
We also offer a post-baccalaureate certificate in music therapy, designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in another field who wish to become credentialed music therapists.
What is music therapy?
Music therapy is a broad and diverse field where skilled clinicians work with clients to accomplish their personal and health-related goals through music. Music therapists work in a wide range of environments, including hospitals, schools, early intervention programs, assisted living facilities, long-term care, memory care, hospices, psychiatric facilities, group homes, and private practices. Becoming a music therapist in the United States requires a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution, and then passing the national board certification exam.
Program Requirements
Students in the Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degree program take 32 credits of music-therapy-specific courses in addition to music and Rowan Core requirements, for a total of 120 credits. Selected courses in the music therapy concentration are offered primarily online via asynchronous delivery (students review materials and complete work on their schedule) with on-campus meetings two to three times per semester for a total of 12 hours of face-to-face class time per 3-credit course. These courses include Foundations of Music Therapy, Psychology of Music, Principles of Music Therapy I and II, Music Therapy Research Methods, and Therapeutic Principles for Music Therapists. Other courses are offered via face-to-face instruction on weekday evenings once per week. These courses include Clinical Piano Skills I and II, Clinical Guitar Skills, and Music Applications for Music Therapy I, II, and III. Music Therapy Practicum I, II, and III and Residency in Music Therapy require supervised field placements in the community under the supervision of a board-certified music therapist. Students complete approximately 65 hours for each semester of Practicum and 1000 hours over two semesters of Residency, totaling 1200 hours. Courses outside of the music therapy program may be offered in online or face-to-face delivery formats, including ensembles and applied lessons that require face-to-face instruction.
The Music Therapy Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is a 38-credit, full-time or part-time program offered in a hybrid format. The music therapy courses are cross-listed with the bachelor’s courses: post-baccalaureate students take classes with the bachelor’s degree students according to the format described above. Similarly, these students undertake the same clinical training requirements (practicum and residency) for a total of 1200 hours of clinical training. And, as described above, outside of the music therapy program (Developmental Psychopathology and Abnormal Psychology) may be offered in online or face-to-face delivery formats.
View Program Guide for Bachelor of Music, Music Therapy here
How to Apply
If you are interested in applying for the Bachelors of Music in Music Therapy program, please complete an application with the university and register for an audition with the music department.
If you are interested in applying for the post-baccalaureate certificate in music therapy, please apply through the Rowan Global application.