Graduates of this program are prepared for careers as professional music therapists in a variety of health care and educational settings. Furthermore, graduates are eligible to take the Board Certification Exam in music therapy, leading to the credential, Music Therapist Board Certified (MT-BC). The music therapy curriculum is approved by the American Music Therapy Association, and is based on the clinical and research paradigm known as Neurologic Music Therapy.

The music therapy program is designed to address three primary objectives:

• Comprehensive musicianship:  through intensive music study and performance experiences, students will articulate knowledge of music structure and style, produce aesthetically pleasing musical performances, and modify music for specific contexts.

• Knowledge of human behavior:  by studying both theory and scientific evidence, students will develop an in-depth understanding of the systems of the human body, the intricacies of human behavior, as well as developmental norms and deviations in each domain of functioning.

• Knowledge of Music Therapy:  students will engage in rigorous exploration of the theories and scientific evidence that support the use of music in a therapeutic context. Following the neurologic music therapy approach, all techniques learned in this program are based on scientific evidence regarding music perception and behavior. Furthermore, students have ample opportunity to establish and refine their therapeutic skills through five semesters of clinical practica in addition to a six-month, full-time clinical internship. Internship applications must include a written letter of recommendation from music therapy faculty member.