Alverno’s music therapy program is based on the belief that music is a form of human behavior that is characterized by experience in structure, self-organization, and relating to others. It has been developed on the conviction that the music therapist can use music as a tool to reach desirable non-musical behavioral objectives in varied health-care and educational settings.
In order to use music effectively as a music therapist, you need to develop a broad base of music skills. These include knowledge of music theory and history; study in a primary applied instrument; basic skills in improvisation; competency in using basic music technology; and functional proficiency on a variety of instruments.
Because health and development is an intersection of biological, psychological, and sociological domains, you also need to study the natural and behavioral sciences, including anatomy and physiology, psychology, and sociology. The Alverno curriculum is structured to facilitate the development of these skills and applications.
You begin in-depth study in your profession in the first semester, through classroom study and by being an observer-participant in off-campus music therapy clinical settings.
You are required to complete 1,200 hours of clinical work prior to graduation with at least 15% (180 hours) in pre-internship experiences and at least 75% (900 hours) in internship experiences. While many students choose to fulfill this requirement during a six-month internship after on-campus courses have been completed, you have the opportunity to design an internship compatible with your personal needs and lifestyle. Alverno facilitates your internship and monitors your progress. Graduation follows successful completion of the internship. After receiving your degree, you are eligible to take the board certification examination. Successful completion of the examination allows you to use the credential of Music Therapist–Board Certified (MT-BC).
Alverno offers both a bachelor’s degree program and an equivalency program in music therapy, the latter for students who already possess a degree in another field.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning Requirements | ||
| Ensembles | Vocalists take 7 terms of MU-130. Instrumentalists take 2 terms of MU-130 and 5 other ensembles | 7 |
| Lessons | Take 2 MUA lessons for your performance area | 2 |
| Labs | Take 2 MUA labs with your performance area | 2 |
| MUA 175 | Take 2 External Assessments for MUA Lessons | 0 |
| MUE-105 | Group Piano 1 | 1 |
| MUE-106 | Group Piano 2 | 1 |
| MUE-107 | Group Piano 3 | 1 |
| MUE-119 | Beginning Guitar Class | 1 |
| MUE-219 | Intermediate Guitar Class | 1 |
| MUY-129 | Music Preprofessional Seminar | 1 |
| MU-157 & 157L | Theory 1 and Theory 1 Lab | 4 |
| MU-158 & 158L | Theory II and Theory II Lab | 4 |
| MUY-160 | Orientation in Music Therapy | 2 |
| MUY-171 & 171L | Clinical & Lab Experience 1/Geriatrics and Lab Exp 1: Geriatrics | 2 |
| PSY-110 | Life Span Development | 4 |
| Intermediate Requirements | ||
| MUY-297 | Independent Study | 1 |
| or RL-210 | Control of Life & Death | |
| MU-217 | Jazz History | 2 |
| or MU-218 | Hip Hop Music in American Culture | |
| MU-257 & 257L | Theory III and Theory III Lab | 4 |
| MU-258 | Theory IV | 3 |
| MU-270 | History of Western Music | 4 |
| MU-276 | Music Technology | 2 |
| MU-310 | Rock & Roll History | 2 |
| MU-399 | Formal Introduction to Advanced Work | 0 |
| Lessons | Take 2 MUA lessons for your performance area | 2 |
| Labs | Take 2 MUA labs with your performance area | 2 |
| MUE-209 | Vocal Techniques 1 | 1 |
| MU-210 | Improvisational Music | 2 |
| MUE-211 | Percussion Techniques | 2 |
| MUY-272 & 272L | Clinical & Lab Experience 2: Developmental Disabilities and Clinical & Lab Experience 2 Lab | 2 |
| MUY-273 & 273L | Clinical & Lab Experience 2: Developmental Disabilities and Lab 2: Developmental Disabilities | 2 |
| MUA 275 | Take 2 External Assessments for MUA Lessons | 0 |
| MUY-361 & 361L | Psychology of Music 1 and Psychology of Music Lab | 3 |
| MUY-362 & 362L | Psychology of Music 2/Research and Psychology of Music 2 Lab | 3 |
| MUY-363 | Creative Music Making | 2 |
| PSY-250 | Abnormal Psychology | 4 |
| Advanced Requirements | ||
| MU-125 | Music & Wellness Workshops | 1 |
| MU-372 | Contemporary Music | 2 |
| MUA 375 | Take 3 External Assessments for MUA Lessons | |
| MU-493 | Form & Analysis | 2 |
| MU-494 | Songwriting & Arranging | 1 |
| MU-495 | Applied Music Culmination Project | 0 |
| Lessons | Take 3 MUA lessons for your performance area | 3 |
| Labs | Take 3 MUA labs with your performance area | 3 |
| MUE-111 | Improvisational Keyboard | 1 |
| MUY-461 | Theoretical Foundations of Music Therapy | 3 |
| MUY-462 | Design & Appl in Music Therapy | 4 |
| MUY-472 & 472L | Clin Exp: Psycho-Emotional Disabilities and Clin Exp: Psycho-Emotional Disabilit Lab | 2 |
| MUY-473 & 473L | Clin Exp5: Psycho-Emotional Disabilities and Lab Exp 5: Psycho Emotional Disabilities | 2 |
| MUY-480A & MUY-480B & MUY-480C | Music Therapy Clinical Internship and Music Therapy Clinical Internship and Music Therapy Clinical Internship | 3 |