For additional information on the Music department, including a faculty listing, please see the Music Department page of this catalog.
Degree Requirements
This program is designed to satisfy the current educational requirements prescribed by the AMTA and NASM. The baccalaureate program of music therapy consists of four (4) years of academic work, followed by a six-month, full-time, off-campus internship. It is designed for those desiring a career in music therapy. Graduates of this program will be eligible to sit for the examination of the Certification Board of Music Therapists (CBMT). Qualified applicants will be eligible to receive the MT-BC credential.
Core Areas A-E
Satisfactorily complete core Areas A-E, as listed in the Core Curriculum section of this catalog.
Core Area F
Satisfactorily complete each of the following courses:
Major Requirements
Satisfactorily complete each of the following courses:
Additional Degree Requirements
Satisfactorily complete all graduation requirements listed in the academic policies section of this catalog.
Internship is required prior to graduation, after the completion of all coursework and 180 pre-internship training hours. Students must enroll for at least 1 credit of internship for one semester and must be enrolled in Clinical Internship for each semester in which they are actively in internship.
Music therapy majors must also follow all requirements included in the Department Handbook.
Music Therapy Program Requirements
Admission Requirements
To be accepted to the music therapy program, each prospective incoming music therapy major, freshman or transfer, must successfully pass an entrance audition and interview. The purpose of this audition/interview is to evaluate the student's level of preparation upon entering Georgia College and to acquaint the music faculty with the student's potential. The audition must be completed before a student can be placed in the proper course work. For those students who have not auditioned before registration, an audition date will be offered during the week before the semester begins, or they may audition during the regularly scheduled audition dates found on the Music Department website. If students do not audition, they will be placed in pre-music major coursework (does not count toward the major) with the exception of some music therapy courses. Music Therapy students must successfully audition for the Music Department faculty, in addition to their Music Therapy Entrance Requirements. Any student not registered for applied lessons for more than two consecutive semesters must re-audition for acceptance into the program. The student may also be asked to play all major and minor scales, multiple octaves ascending and descending, and an excerpt of sight-reading. New age, popular, jazz, Christian contemporary, country, and other similar styles of music are not permitted for any audition. For specific audition requirements for each instrument or voice visit www.gcsu.edu/music.
Students may not begin major lessons without a successful audition, but may take MUST 2110 Introduction into Music Therapy and audition again in the spring.
Upon completion of the entrance auditions, the faculty may make one of the following recommendations:
1. That the student be accepted.
2. That the student take non-music major lessons and audition again.
The student will be notified of the final decision by letter.
Acceptance into Music Therapy at the freshman level does not guarantee acceptance as a candidate for the Bachelor of Music Therapy; there will be a Junior audition after for acceptance as a candidate for Bachelor of Music Therapy degree. Admission to the Music Therapy Program is highly competitive and may be limited based on availability of qualified faculty and maintaining student to faculty ratios required by accreditation standards. All students who apply to the major may not be admitted.
Many agencies where clinical and practical experiences take place require students to undergo a criminal background check, urine drug screens, and to meet the CDC standards for immunizations for health care professionals. Students desiring to enter the Music Therapy major should consider these requirements. Agencies may refuse any student based on inability to meet these guidelines or other agency guidelines. Refusal of an agency to accept a student may delay or prevent a student from completing the program. Certification agencies may also refuse to license individuals who have committed certain criminal acts or other acts of moral turpitude.
Admission to Candidacy for the Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree
At the conclusion of their sophomore year, music therapy majors must successfully pass a formal interview/audition for official acceptance as a candidate for the Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree. As part of the interview, each student will be asked to discuss music therapy, its definition, and their expectations for a career in music therapy. As part of the audition, students should be prepared to perform one piece on their principal instrument and to accompany themselves on guitar and piano with ten memorized songs each (20 in total).
In order to be eligible to take the Candidacy Interview/Audition, each student must have successfully completed their Freshmen/Sophomore music & music therapy courses, their Guitar & Piano Proficiency Tests, and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Once accepted as a candidate for the Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree, music therapy majors must maintain this minimum GPA of 2.5.
Other Requirements
Each music therapy major is expected to specialize in one instrument or voice during the course of their study (minimum of one credit hour per semester for six consecutive semesters). Students enrolled in applied study must audition with the Department of Music before their first semester's work in order to ascertain appropriate placement within the applied study syllabus. Music therapy majors must also participate in at least one performing large ensemble during six consecutive semesters at GC (minimum of one credit hour per semester) except during internship. Students must maintain a minimum grade of “C” in applied study.
Music Proficiency Requirements
Successful completion of the Guitar Proficiency Exam and the Piano Proficiency Exam is a requirement of all music therapy majors. Guitar and piano proficiencies are prerequisites for acceptance as a candidate for the Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree. Preparation for the Piano Proficiency Exam is provided in MUSC 1210 and MUSC 1220. Preparation for the Guitar Proficiency Exam is provided in MUST 2250 and MUST 2251.
Clinical Training Requirements
During their sophomore year, music therapy majors are required to complete 15 hours per semester of supervised pre-practicum clinical experiences. Students must have accumulated a minimum of 28 pre-practicum clinical hours before being eligible for the Junior Audition and acceptance as a candidate for the Bachelor of Music Therapy Degree. Juniors are required to complete both 30 hours of supervised major practicum clinical hours and 15 hours of minor clinical hours. Seniors are required to complete 20 hours of clinical experience (Advanced Practicum). Additional information regarding approved activities may be obtained from the student's advisor. Students must complete a minimum of 180 hours of pre-internship clinical hours (practicum and service learning (pre-practicum) before being eligible for Internship, MUST 4990 per AMTA guidelines for clinical training.
Clinical Internship Requirements
Students must complete MUST 4990 Clinical Internship after all academic coursework is satisfied. A total of 1200 clinical hours must be completed. This includes 180 hours of pre-internship hours. While the academic credits vary for MUST 4990 Clinical Internship from 0-12 credits, students must enroll for at least 1 credit of internship per the program of study.
Recital Attendance Requirements
Music therapy majors are required to enroll in MUSC 1990 each semester of their freshman and sophomore years (4 semesters).
Transportation Requirements
Clinical training in music therapy is provided, in part, at selected community facilities. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to these facilities.
Other Requirements for Music Therapy Majors
See the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 BMT Student Handbooks for further program requirements.