Music Therapy Equivalency Certificate
Do you already have a Bachelor’s degree in music and are looking for a career in a helping profession?
Are you interested in the intersection of music and medicine?
Valparaiso University offers this unique certificate program designed to prepare you for the board certification program in four part-time semesters, followed by two semesters of clinical internship.
The Bachelor’s level equivalency is an undergraduate post-baccalaureate certificate that prepares students for Music Therapy Board Certification in educational, healthcare, correctional, psychological, wellness, and other settings. Featuring small class sizes and individualized attention in a supportive community of students and faculty.
The equivalency includes 35 credits of music therapy coursework (which includes music therapy theory, history, foundations, techniques and a few psychology courses which you may have already taken), and 1200 hours of fieldwork. The equivalency is not another Bachelors but prepares you to be able to apply to take the national Music Therapy Board Certification exam after you finish the coursework and fieldwork. Once you pass that, you can practice as a music therapist. Generally students will need to reduce their work hours to part time in order to fit in the internship as well.
The certificate generally takes 6 semesters which includes the internship (which many programs do not), depending upon course availability and the amount of time you have to devote. This flexible program is designed to meet the needs to working individuals and the program can be self-paced based on your needs.
Prerequisites required:
- Bachelor’s degree in music from an NASM (National Association of Schools of Music) school (minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale)
- General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Lifespan Development, and a course in Socio-Cultural Diversity (C- or better)
- Successful audition on primary instrument at MUS 203 level (2 pieces of contrasting nature)
Recommendations
- Functional skills on voice, guitar and piano. These are required to pass the Keyboard and Performance Level Proficiency exams mid program*
*These skills are measured through proficiency exams, which are required before beginning fieldwork and generally taken mid program. These secondary instrumental skills may be developed either through self-study, private lessons outside of the university, or through lessons taken through the university.
SAMPLE CURRICULUM
| Cr | Cr | ||
| MUTH 120 History and Theory of MT MUS 300A Keyboard Proficiency MT Foundations I: The Therapeutic Process MT Foundations I Lab | 3 0 2 1 | MUS 204 Popular Music MUS 300B Keyboard Proficiency MT Foundations II: Special Populations MT Foundations II Lab MUTH 175 Performance Level MT Proficiency I MUTH 232 Percussion Methods | 3 0 2 1 0 1 |
| MUTH 383 Music Therapy Practicum I MUTH 373 Music Therapy Jr Seminar I MUTH 330 Clinical Musicianship in MT | 1 1 2 | MUTH 384 Music Therapy Practicum II MUTH 374 Music Therapy Junior Seminar II MUS 340 The Cultural Psychology of Music MUS 304 World Music MUTH 275 Performance Level MT Proficiency II | 1 1 3 3 0 |
| MUTH Music Therapy Internship MUTH 476 Music Therapy Senior Seminar MUTH 493 Music Therapy Research | 1 3 1 | MUTH Music Therapy Internship MUTH 476 Music Therapy Senior Seminar MUTH 430 Music Therapy Advocacy & Entrepreneurship TOTAL | 1 3 1 35 |
FIELDWORK
Once students have completed required performance proficiency exams, professional dispositions and initial fieldwork, students begin their internships in Northwest Indiana and Chicago. This includes concurrent course seminars in supervision and entrepreneurship. During this time, students are discouraged from enrolling in other courses or ensembles.
The music therapy curriculum prepares students to sit for the national board certification exam in music therapy. The mere completion of the courses, however, is not enough to guarantee board certification. Students must also meet all requirements and competencies outlined by the American Music Therapy Association. See the Certification Board for Music Therapists for more information.
BOARD CERTIFICATION
The music therapy curriculum prepares students to sit for the national board certification exam in music therapy. The mere completion of the courses, however, is not enough to guarantee board certification. Students must also meet all requirements and competencies outlined by the American Music Therapy Association. See the Certification Board for Music Therapists for more information.