Master in Music Therapy (MMT)

MMT-600 Orientation Master Music Therapy (0 credits)

Orientation to the Master in Music Therapy program

MMT-610 Advanced Music Therapy Theory (3 credits)

Advanced Music Therapy Theory will deepen existing foundational knowledge of music therapy by integrating current and emerging models of treatment and theoretical orientation. A variety of online modules will combine recorded lecture and supportive classroom tools to enhance synthesis of practices and approaches.

MMT-612 Music Therapy Research and Evaluation (3 credits)

Music Therapy Research and Evaluation will integrate music therapy theory and current evidence based literature to help inform clinical work. The student will learn and apply various research organizing methods including reviewing information, conducting research, analyzing data, and disseminating results to a larger audience.

MMT-614 Music & Neuroscience (3 credits)

Music and Neuroscience will provide expanded opportunities to learn about music and its convergence with neuroscience and cognition. Students will understand and apply knowledge of current and emerging models of music neuroscience and cognition, identify implications for practice, and develop confidence in explaining these concepts to a variety of stakeholders.

MMT-616 Topics in Diversity (2 credits)

Topics in Diversity will explore a variety cultural attitudes within diverse groups toward health care and therapy, development of identity, and roles and meanings of music and the integration of cultural diversity knowledge in one's own practice.

MMT-630 Counseling Skills for Music Therapists (3 credits)

Counseling Skills for Music Therapists will promote evaluation and analysis of a variety of verbal and nonverbal interpersonal skills. Students will recognize human dynamics in various stages of the music therapy process and develop strategies to respond clinically.

MMT-632 Advanced Clinical Practice in Music Therapy (2 credits)

Advanced Clinical Practice in Music Therapy will examine and explore current methods of music theory treatment and promote opportunities for the student to relate clinical phenomena in a broad treatment context.

MMT-640 Clinical Songwriting (2 credits)

Clinical Songwriting will provide opportunities to extend current knowledge of songwriting techniques in a clinical context. The course will allow for development of original, impromptu, and reproduced music for client experiences. This course partially fulfills the entrpreneurship digital badge (take Business in the fall to complete the badge)

MMT-642 Vocal Health (2 credits)

The student in Vocal Health will recognize current issues affecting vocal health while deepening awareness of personal vocal use and employ strategies for self-care within clinical practice.

MMT-644 Applied Music Lessons (1 credit)

Admission to the MMT program. This course consists of 50-minute weekly private lessons on a single instrument of choice. Lessons will be held online and video file-sharing will also be necessary. Students will integrate their skills and flexibility on the chosen instrument through regular practice, research, and reflection, as well as performance to create dynamic musical expression in client-focused, evidence-informed care while enhancing and maintaining their personal and instrumental health and well-being.

MMT-650 Advanced Clinical Improvisation (2 credits)

Advanced Clinical Improvisation offers the student an opportunity to extend their knowledge of creative styles of music therapy and music making. Students will learn to apply a variety of improvisational styles and the role improvisation can play in dynamic relationships.

MMT-660 Advocacy in Music Therapy (2 credits)

Advocacy in Music Therapy will provide student opportunities to explore and increase understanding of a variety of leadership models to foster and develop an effective style resonant with the learner. The student will evaluate and analyze legislative policy affecting music therapy practice related to their professional practice. Additionally, the student will serve as educator to the public combining both experience and expertise increasing positive public perception of music therapy.

MMT-662 Leadership in Music Therapy (2 credits)

Leadership in Music Therapy will explore of a variety of leadership styles in diverse contextual settings and relationships. Students will develop methods of evaluation to discern and refine a leadership style uniquely applied to their own clinical practice.

MMT-664 MMT Supervison & Pedagogy (2 credits)

Music Therapy Supervision and Pedagogy will be divided into two modules: supervision and pedagogy. The supervision module will provide opportunities for the student to explore their experience with peer, employee, student, and intern based supervision and deepen their relationship with supervision through reflective and interactive process. The pedagogy module will identify and analyze best practices and emerging needs of music therapy undergraduate education with an opporunity to lead a portion of an undergraduate course online.

MMT-668 Music Therapy Business: Development & Best Practices (2 credits)

Music Therapy Business Development and Best Practices will provide students the opportunity to deepen their understanding and application of regulations, reimbursement structures, service delivery, and administrative practice for use within music therapy practice. Partially fulfills a badge so if a student takes grant writing in the summer this course will need to run.

MMT-670 Current Topics in Music Therapy (2 credits)

This course will be based on a specific topic, but is expected to offer some introductory advanced training, such as Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music Level I. The course will include a blend of experiences including journaling, experiential and didactic learning to increase understanding of advanced process in the specialized content area. Examples of recent topics have included NMT training, trauma-informed care, end of life practices and MATADOC training.

MMT-670A Summer Workshop (1-3 credits)

This is a two-day workshop and full attendance in-person or online is required.

MMT-670B Topics: Grant Writing (2 credits)

This course partially fulfills the entrpreneurship digital badge (take Business in the fall to complete the badge)

MMT-670D Topics: Trauma Informed Care (2 credits)

MMT-670E Topics: Trauma Informed Care Workshop (1 credit)

MMT-670F Topics: Applied Neuroscience (1 credit)

MMT-670G Topics: Brief Music Therapy (2 credits)

MMT-670H Topics: Ethics in Private & Clinical Practice I (1 credit)

MMT-670I Topics: Medical Music Therapy (2 credits)

MMT-695 Project Development (1 credit)

The student will define and develop a project which is self-directed in nature based on a range of advanced competencies identified in the course outcomes section. The projects may include an identification of gaps in literature related to a preferred population, application of research findings with analysis, or analysis of and dissemination of research to a larger audience. The project will be designed to deepen the student's relationship research and integration into their practice, and may be considered as part of the process of the culminating project for the degree.

MMT-697 Independent Study (1-3 credits)

Independent Study for MMT Program

MMT-710 Advanced Music Therapy Theory II (2 credits)

The student in Advanced Music Therapy Theory II will create a personal philosophy of music therapy relatable to their personal clinical practice through a process of synthesis of knowledge of current and emerging theories, deduction of theory, and foundational principles of music therapy practice.

MMT-712 Music Therapy Culminating Project (1 credit)

The student will complete and orally defend a scholarly project that is an outcome of their personal philosophy regarding music therapy; a thorough review of related literature; and application to research, theory and/or advanced clinical practice. This project may be an extension of work begun in other courses.

MMT-714 External Assessment for MMT (0 credits)

In this course students will be evaluated through personally crafted essays related to course content throughout the curriculum and an oral presentation and defense of the culminating project. In addition to the program director, student will choose two external assessors. One must be an adjunct who taught at least one course the student has taken and the other can be a related professional from within the Alverno or greater music therapy community with expertise in an area of focus related to the assessment. Successful completion of this course is the final requirement for degree completion.

Prerequisite(s): MMT-712

MMT-730 Advanced Music Therapy Practicum (2 credits)

The student in Advanced Music Therapy Practicum will refine clinical skills by providing music therapy to identified client(s), analyze interactions and responses in the clinical setting, and integrate advanced skills of music therapy. The music therapist will be expected to utilize varied repertoire reflective of a variety of musical skills and cultural diversity as appropriate while applying advanced music therapy theory.