Music Therapy

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The Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy is one of the strongest programs at Chapman University. With the current shortage of music therapists in the United States, many positions across the country go unfilled. Since 1993, Chapman graduates have had a 100% pass rate on the Board Certification Examination with a 100% placement as professional music therapists, either in private practice or in various clinical settings.

The Music Therapy program at Chapman University provides students an opportunity to pursue the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy. Individuals with existing bachelor's degrees may be able to complete an equivalency program, rather than a second bachelor's degree and should contact the Director of Music Therapy for further information.

Purpose Statement
The purpose of the music therapy program is to provide a personalized education that facilitates the emergence of the music therapist within each student and prepares the student for entry into the contemporary workplace of our global economy. The competency-based curriculum in music therapy strives to develop an understanding of music, human development and exceptionality, clinical processes, and the therapeutic use of music. The coursework and practical experiences are set within a context of critical thinking and inter and intra-dependence to enhance each student's self-awareness and instill a passion for learning. Thus, the emerging music therapist understands the role of the discipline, the profession, and the self as a vehicle for facilitating the health and well-being of all people within the world community.

Program Philosophy
The program philosophy is based on an understanding of the musical interactions between two or more people as a clinical process to facilitate health and well-being through the remediation or palliation of the symptoms related to illness and disease, or life-challenging conditions. Thus, at Chapman University music therapy is defined as an allied health profession in which musical interventions are used in an interactive clinical process between a music therapist and a client, or clients, to address the therapeutic or palliative care needs of the individual or group.

Basic requirements
The Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy is a professional degree program that is grounded in the liberal arts tradition of Chapman University and the basic competencies required to enter the music therapy profession. To earn the Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degree, students are required to complete a combination of general education, traditional music, and a core sequence of music therapy courses. The music therapy curriculum includes course-based experiences across the disciplines of music, psychology, and the sciences to provide foundational understanding about the relationships between the therapist, the client(s), and music. Thus, the program of courses provides (a) an understanding of human physiological and psychological development and exceptionality, (b) the art, history, science, theory, and technology of music and sound, and (c) the historical, theoretical, and musical processes and experiences that comprise the artistic, scientific, and clinical discipline of music therapy.

Practical experiences are combined with the classroom-based experiences to provide each student with the opportunity to develop clinical skills and abilities through university-affiliated field-placements with diverse populations, people of varying ages, and in multiple settings in off-campus locations. The rich music therapy community of southern California provides Chapman University students with unique opportunities for professional interactions and a variety of practical experiences in clinical environments. The addition of our on-campus Music Therapy Clinic in 2004 will provide additional clinical opportunities for students and clients. The combined curriculum helps each student develop intra- and inter-dependent critical thinking, multicultural awareness, and clinical proficiency for successful professional practice.

Clinical Training
The degree candidate must complete a total of 1200 hours of clinical experience: a minimum of 180 hours while in residence at Chapman University, a minimum of 900 hours in an external clinical training facility following the completion of all other coursework, and the remaining 120 hours either in residence or at the external clinical training facility. The successful Chapman graduate is then eligible to apply to take the national certification exam through the Certification Board for Music Therapy, CBMT (http://www.cbmt.org), and to apply for professional membership in the American Music Therapy Association, AMTA (http://www.musictherapy.org/).

Beginning in the sophomore year, each student engages in Chapman University affiliated fieldwork placements. While progressing through observing, to co-leading and leading sessions, students have different practical experiences each semester, so that by the end of their academic coursework, students have had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of individuals and groups of varying ages, diagnoses, and needs. They have also learned from a variety of highly skilled and experienced music therapy clinicians.

Getting Started
To begin your application process, please visit the Admissions web page http://www.chapman.edu/admission/default.asp to request an application to Chapman University. Please note in your application, your intent to major in music therapy. Next, contact the Director of Music Therapy to discuss scholarship audition information and for additional information or questions regarding the music therapy program.

We welcome your interest in our program and look forward to helping you live your dream.