Bachelor of Music (B.M.)
Music Therapy
The music therapy degree is designed for those who want to use their musical skills to earn a degree in healthcare that would improve sensorimotor, cognitive, language, emotion, or social functioning of others in a variety of settings. The degree provides comprehensive training in a broad musical and scientific context. This five-year program includes internship placements that lead to national board certification and state licensure as a practicing music therapist.
Music Therapy Program Director: Nicole O’Malley
B.M./Music Therapy Program Advisor: Jonathan Amon
Curriculum
A minimum of 139 credits is required for graduation.
Students selecting this option must complete 105 credits in Studies in Music and Professional Education, as follows:
Musical Foundations (62 credits):
- 7 semesters of the principal applied music area, 2 credits per semester.
- 7 semesters of MUS 300: Music Convocation;
- Senior recital MUS 450 (capstone);
- 2 semesters of MUS 293 University Chorus or MUS 395 Concert Choir, 1 credit per semester. Students must take these courses during their freshman year.
- Also required are 7 semesters of major ensembles appropriate to the principal applied music area, at 0-1 credit per semester. Major ensembles include:
- MUS 292: Concert Band
- MUS 293: University Chorus
- MUS 394: Symphonic Wind Ensemble
- MUS 395: Concert Choir
- MUS 396: Jazz Studio Ensemble
- MUS 397: University Symphony Orchestra
Additional course requirements are:
- MUS 119: Introduction to the Music Profession
- MUS 115: Musicianship Lab I
- MUS 116: Music Theory I
- MUS 117: Musicianship Lab II
- MUS 118: Music Theory II
- MUS 215: Musicianship Lab III
- MUS 216: Music Theory III
- MUS 217: Musicianship Lab IV
- MUS 218: Music Theory IV
- MUS 171: Piano I
- MUS 172: Piano II
- MUS 271: Piano III
- MUS 272: Piano IV
- MUS 220: Music as Global Culture
- MUS 105, 106, 222, 301, 322: Musicology Elective (2 courses)
- MUS 239: Movement, Gesture and Sound
- MUS 170: Guitar Methods I
- MUS 180: Guitar Methods II
- MUS 173: Voice Methods I
- MUS 183: Voice Methods II
- MUS 334: World Percussion Traditions
- MUS 438: Music, Mind & Body
Clinical Foundations (18 credits)
- PSY 113: Intro to Psychology
- KIN 122: Human Anatomy & Physiology
- PSY 254: Problems & Personality Disorders
- MUS 243: Seminar in Therapeutic Relationships I
- MUS 244: Seminar in Therapeutic Relationships II
- MUS 343: Seminar in Therapeutic Relationships III
- MUS 344: Seminar in Therapeutic Relationships IV
- MUS 443: Seminar in Therapeutic Relationships V
- MUS 444: Seminar in Therapeutic Relationships IV
Music Therapy (25 credits)
- MUS 136: Music Therapy Overview
- MUS 137: Clinical Observation
- MUS 232: Music Therapy in Adult & Late Life
- MUS 233: Assessment and Treatment Planning
- MUS 332: Psychiatric Music Therapy
- MUS 335: Music Therapy Foundations
- MUS 331: Music Therapy with Children and Adolescents
- MUS 439: Medical Music Therapy
- MUS 236: Practicum I
- MUS 237: Practicum II
- MUS 336: Practicum III
- MUS 337: Practicum IV
- MUS 436: Practicum V
- MUS 437: Practicum VI
- MUS 435: Clinical Musicianship
- MUS 486: Music Therapy Research
Internship (5th year)
- MUS 493: Internship Seminar – Therapeutic Relationship
- MUS 491: (2 sem)
Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy (meets requirements in all states)
In accordance with the 2019 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, URI hereby discloses only that the curriculum for this program meets the educational requirements for national certification and licensure when applicable in all U.S states and territories. States requiring licensure will also require additional paperwork; we encourage you to investigate those requirements as well as an updated list of states requiring licensure through the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT).