The Equivalency in Music Therapy at Appalachian is designed for students who hold a Bachelor’s degree and are interested in becoming board certified music therapists. In pursuing the equivalency, the student completes those courses required to sit for the national examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. The student who holds a Bachelor of Music degree may or may not complete another degree. The student who holds a Bachelor’s degree other than a Bachelor of Music (e.g., Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, etc.) will be awarded the Bachelor of Music degree upon satisfactory completion of internship

Entrance Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree
• An audition on the student's principal instrument is required unless the student holds the Bachelor of Music degree from an NASM accredited music program.
• An interview (live or by phone) with the Music Therapy Admissions Committee

Requirements for the Music Therapy Equivalency

Music Therapy and Clinical Music Skills (Minimum 29 semester hours)

• MUS 1052-MUS 1053 (1-1) Functional Guitar I & II
• MUS 2050 (2) Introduction to Music Therapy
• MUS 2051 (1) Music Therapy Clinical Skills
• MUS 2070 (2) Music in Special Education
• MUS 2071 (2) Music, the Brain, and Neurological Disorders
• MUS 3060 (1) Functional Piano
• MUS 3061 (1) Functional Music Therapy Techniques
• MUS 3070 (2) Developmental Music Therapy
• MUS 3072 (2) Models of Music Therapy in Mental Health
• MUS 3073 (2) Music Therapy Practice in Mental Health
• MUS 3900 (5) Music Therapy Practicum
• MUS 4060 (1) Clinical Piano Improvisation
• MUS 4061 (1) Clinical Group Improvisation
• MUS 4070 (2) Quantitative Research in Music
• MUS 4071 (2) Music Therapy in Health Care
• MUS 4800 (1) Senior Clinical Project
• MUS 4901 (0) Internship

Music Foundations

• Music Theory and Arranging (5 semesters equivalent to MUS 2002, MUS 2008, & MUS 3002)
• Music History and Literature (2-4 semesters equivalent to MUS 1611, MUS 2611, MUS 2612, & MUS 3611)
• Performance on Principal Instrument/Voice (with competency equivalent to Level III)
• Proficiency in secondary applied music – Class Piano (3-4 semesters), Voice (1), Conducting (1)
• Traditional Ensembles (minimum 4 semesters)