Anthony Meadows, Professor of Music 
Ruebush Hall, Room 216, 540-665-4583, ameadows2@su.edu

The Bachelor of Music Therapy degree is an approved program of the American Music Therapy Association that provides students with the musical, theoretical and clinical preparation for a career as a music therapist. The degree program culminates in a six-month clinical internship. Students who successfully complete the curriculum, including internship, are eligible to take the Music Therapy Board Certification exam and earn the credential, Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC).

Program Outcomes

Students completing the Bachelor of Music Therapy will be able to:

• design, develop and complete collaborative projects appropriate to their discipline and career goals
• apply knowledge of music therapy theories, methods and techniques to clinical practice
• assess and interpret clients’ history, needs and behaviors to develop and implement a comprehensive treatment plan
• access, interpret and utilize current research in ways that inform clinical practice decisions
• demonstrate integrated music skills that meet the diverse needs of clients; and
• practice clinical and cultural reflexivity in ways that inform ethically competent clinical practice

Admission and Matriculation

Students are admitted to the Bachelor of Music Therapy degree program based on the entrance criteria established by the university and Conservatory. Students follow the course of study published in the Shenandoah University Undergraduate Catalog for the year of entrance to the university.

Clinical Training is a core component of the degree program and students must complete all initial clinical clearance requirements (background check without disqualifying offenses, clear drug screens, current immunization records, annual TB tests, COVID-19 vaccinations, attendance at orientation and other site-specific requirements) prior to starting clinical training (practicum and internship) courses. Students who are unable or unwilling to complete clinical clearance requirements will not be admitted to practicum and/or internship placements.

Sophomore Screening

The Sophomore Screening is conducted at the end of the fourth semester of study in the Bachelor of Music Therapy curriculum.  All undergraduate students in the Music Therapy program are required to complete the screening in order to continue as a music therapy major. Faculty will conduct screening interviews and musical evaluations for each student at the end of the sophomore year to assess whether the student’s academic, personal and professional progress qualifies them for continuation in the program.

Students must complete the following requirements:

• demonstrate a consistent level of academic success in all coursework, with a minimum average GPA of 3.0 in music therapy academic and music skills course
• pass a music skills evaluation (see Undergraduate Music Therapy Handbook for requirements)
• pass a Professionalism Assessment  (see Undergraduate Music Therapy Handbook for requirements)
• pass an interview with music therapy faculty

Additional requirements for the Sophomore Screening are detailed in the Undergraduate Music Therapy Handbook.

Students who do not satisfy the Sophomore Screening requirements will not be admitted into 300- or 400-level music therapy (MUTH) coursework.

A student who fails two practicum courses, including repeats of any one practicum course, will be dismissed from the Music Therapy Program.

Applied Music Therapy Clinical Guitar 1 and Clinical Keyboard 1 Proficiency Examinations
The proficiency examinations in the first semester of music therapy clinical skills in guitar and keyboard, Applied Music Therapy Clinical Guitar I and Applied Music Therapy Clinical Keyboard I, are available to music therapy majors who have prior skills in guitar and/or keyboard and have permission from the Director of Music Therapy to take the proficiency exam in one or both areas. The Applied Music Therapy Clinical Guitar I and the Applied Music Therapy Clinical Keyboard I Proficiency Examinations for new and transfer music therapy students are offered during the start of term in the fall and spring semesters. Based on the results of the Applied Music Therapy Clinical Guitar I and/or the Applied Music Therapy Clinical Keyboard I Proficiency Examinations, the student will be required to complete APTG 105 and/or APTK 105 or the student will be exempt from the course(s). Students who are exempt from Applied Music Therapy Clinical Guitar I and/or the Applied Music Therapy Clinical Keyboard I are required to complete the credits with open electives.

American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) Course Requirements

To meet AMTA accreditation requirements, students must receive a grade of C or higher in each core music therapy course (indicated on the degree program tracking sheet). Students who do not receive a grade of C or higher will be required to repeat the course. Students who demonstrate patterns of core course failures (repeated grades of C- or lower) may be asked to withdraw from the program.