Music Therapy
Undergraduate Program
Music Therapy is an exciting career opportunity for musicians who enjoy working closely with people with special challenges. Loyola’s music therapy undergraduate program is the seventh-oldest in the United States. It was founded in 1957 and celebrates its’ fiftieth year. Loyola’s program is an endorsed education program of The American Music Therapy Association, Inc. and the National Association Schools of Music.
The music therapy undergraduate curriculum at Loyola provides the opportunity for students to work as a therapist in training while focusing on music therapy theory and research. Students are provided with music therapy clinical techniques which are effective with a variety of client diagnoses. Students participate in mock music therapy sessions where they role-play clients and therapists, in an effort to practice some of the clinical techniques learned in class. Further training is provided in fieldwork placements where students work with a variety of client populations, observing, co-leading, and leading music therapy sessions. Populations that music therapy students work with include, but are not limited to, developmental disability and autism, psychiatric, physical rehabilitation, and geriatrics.
The bachelor of music therapy degree culminates with a capstone experience called clinical training, which is a six month internship. Upon completion of all coursework and a six-month clinical internship, students are eligible to take the Certification Board for Music Therapy Exam. Once completed, a Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) is designated.
You may gain additional information about the field of music therapy by visiting www.musictherapy.org, the American Music Therapy Association’s website
Graduate Program
The Master in Music Therapy (MMT) has been an integral part of the College of Music since 1975; it is the 3rd oldest and one of the most respected music therapy graduate programs in the country. Loyola offers a master’s program in music therapy consisting of 30 semester hours of coursework. Over the years, the Loyola music therapy graduate program has become nationally recognized for its’ contributions to music therapy research which has been published in professional journals such as the Journal of Music Therapy, Music Therapy Perspectives Perceptual and Motors Skills, Mental Retardation, and Journal of Rehabilitation.
There are two tracks in the master of music therapy degree program: graduate and equivalency, and the traditional graduate degree. The graduate and equivalency is designed for student who does not possess an undergraduate degree in music therapy. The equivalency consists of undergraduate music therapy courses as well as psychology core courses not completed at the undergraduate level. The music therapy graduate equivalency course work is usually completed in two years plus a six month internship. The second track and traditional track is for those students who already have an undergraduate degree in music. Students in this track will only take the graduate level courses in music therapy and the supportive courses. This program is usually completed in one year.
The Loyola’s master of music therapy degree is designed to impart further breadth and depth to entry-level competencies such as music therapy methods, music therapy research, functional music skills and clinical foundations. The MMT is also designed to impart basic competencies in one or more of the following areas: (1) education and supervision, (2) advanced clinical practice, (3) music and medicine, and (4) advanced music therapy models.
Studies in music comprise at least one-third of the curriculum. These studies may include course work in diverse areas, such as, guitar, voice, piano for clinicians, ensembles, and private instruction. The remainder of the curriculum consists of supportive studies which bear directly on the specific educational objectives of the degree program and which facilitate successful completion of the thesis. A thesis of publishable quality is required.
For master of music therapy students, the development of clinical, supervisory and teaching skills is very important. To this end, advanced courses in music therapy clinical supervision, music therapy models, and music and medicine are especially designed to help students meet the challenges facing today’s health care professionals. Graduate students’ programs of study are planned in consultation with faculty advisors and the Program Chair. Specific courses and other requirements necessary for completion of the degree are listed at the time of petitioning the College of Music and Fine Arts Curriculum Committee for admission to candidacy.
This degree offers a program of study designed to provide opportunities for advanced clinical, supervisory, and methodological knowledge. In addition, techniques of scholarly writing and research are emphasized. An equivalency program leading to a M.M.T. degree are also available to students with an undergraduate degree in an area other than music therapy.
Coordinator: Dr. Victoria Vega
E-mail: vpvega@loyno.edu
Loyola University New Orleans
College of Music and Fine Arts
Communications/Music Complex, Room 204E, Campus Box 8
Phone: (504) 865-2142
Fax: (504) 865-2852
