Bachelor of Music Therapy

Music Therapy develops clients' potential abilities and enhances their quality of life. Music Therapists work with all age groups and diverse client populations, including those with physical, intellectual and learning challenges, autism, and sensory processing disorders. They work in health care facilities, hospitals, schools, community settings and private practices.

Because music therapists communicate with clients through music, they must have excellent musicianship and musical sensitivity. Nearly half of the required courses are in music, and include instrumental or vocal study, musical skills and ensemble work. Our program also features courses in clinical improvisation, case studies, therapeutic theories, medical music therapy, and three terms of group and one-on-one clinical placements on campus and in the community. You will also take courses in developmental, abnormal, clinical and social psychology.

The Bachelor of Music Therapy program includes within the curriculum the Canadian Association of Music therapy (CAMT) internship. Covering nine terms, you will complete seven academic terms at the university and then complete a full-time clinical placement to fulfill the CAMT 1,000 internship requirements. After this you will apply to reach the title of Music Therapist Accredited (MTA).

Students can apply to the Bachelor of Music Therapy program at the end of second year in Laurier's Bachelor of Music (BMus) program. Admission is based on overall achievement in university-level music and psychology courses, an audition and interview.

Entrance Pathways

Students may apply to the Bachelor of Music Therapy Program by following one of two pathways:
BMus (Comprehensive) or BMus (Community Music).

Students in the BMus(Comprehensive) program may apply to the BMT program after Year 2, having completed the following courses, or equivalent:
MU100, MU136°, MU137°, MU161, MU162, MU181, MU158, MU190A*, PS101, PS102;
MU236°, MU237°, MU266, MU268, MU270, MU271, MU281, MU290A*, PS275, and one of PS276 or PS377

Students in the BMus(Community Music) program may apply to the BMT program after Year 2, having completed the following courses, or equivalent:
MU100, MU121, MU145A°, MU145B°, MU146 or MU181, MU194, MU195, MU158, PS101, PS102;
MU200, MU240, MU242 or MU265, MU243, MU246 or MU281, MU295K* or MU295G*, PS275, and one of PS276 or PS377.

 
BMT Requirements

Year 3 (4.5 credits)
MU201G°, MU201T°, MU352, MU363, MU364, MU368,
1.0 credit of Psychology electives, 0.5 credit unrestricted electives.
Students who have completed MU296 may take MU396 in Year 3. Those not enrolled in MU396 will take any 0.5 credit music elective. Students whose principal instrument is Guitar, or who have completed MU295G* are exempt from the MU201G° and MU201T° requirements, and must instead take any additional 0.5 credit unrestricted elective in their place.

Year 4 (4.0 credits)
Fall: MU453, MU454, MU455A°, MU455C°, MU464
Students who have completed MU396 may take MU496B in the Fall of Year 4. Those not enrolled in MU496B will take any 0.5 credit music elective.
Winter: MU458A‡ - Music Therapy Internship I

Year 5 (1.5 credits)
Spring or Fall: MU459B‡ - Music Therapy Internship II

 
Program Regulations

  1. Students intending to complete the BMT program must normally be registered full-time throughout; in special instances, part-time study may be allowed.

  2. Students in this program will be registered for the first two years in the Honours BMus program. Progression from Year 1 to Year 2 will be governed by the BMus regulations. Admission to Year 3, when the specific music therapy program begins, will be limited and admission decisions will be based on the following:
    1. Overall achievement in Music with a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00, a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.00 in Psychology courses, and a minimum overall GPA of 6.00 is required.
    2. An individual interview that will assess students' musical skills through:
      1. performance of a song (own choice), singing and accompanying themselves on piano or guitar;
      2. improvisation on their major instrument (piano or guitar may also be used).
    3. An individual interview that will:
      1. assess students' understanding of the potential for music therapy practice through their responses to interview questions;
      2. assess students' appropriateness for interpersonal interactions through their responses to interview questions;
      3. assess students' documented experience with persons with special needs.

    Note: Students who successfully meet the requirements listed in 2(a) and 2(b) are not guaranteed admission into Year 3 of the undergraduate music therapy program. Students begin working with clients in Year 3 of the music therapy program. The Faculty of Music takes seriously its responsibility for the well-being and safety of these clients. The suitability of a student for interpersonal interactions with clients is an important factor in the faculty's decision to approve a student for Year 3 of the music therapy program. Thus, the recommendation of the music therapy faculty, based on the interview in 2(c), may override successful completion of the requirements in 2(a) and 2(b). 

  3. For progression to Year 4 and for graduation, a minimum cumulative GPA of 7.00 in all Music courses, a minimum cumulative GPA of 5.00 is required in all Psychology courses, and a minimum overall GPA of 6.00 is required. 

    Normally, if a student receives a grade of 'unsatisfactory' in any Year 3 or Year 4 practicum, the student will not be permitted to continue in the program. If, at the advice of the music therapy faculty, a student in this situation is allowed to continue in the program, the student must complete an extra practicum with a grade of 'Satisfactory'.

  4. Non-music minor: students may, in consultation with the department concerned, elect to organize their non-music electives to meet the requirements for a minor. Psychology courses required in the music therapy program may be counted towards the minor in psychology. (Refer to regulations governing Minors in the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of EducationFaculty of Science, School of Business and Economics - Economics Department and Martin Luther University College.

  5. For students with prior university education, admission will be based on transcripts, an audition and an interview; the number of transfer credits will be determined by the faculty. A minimum of 10.0 credits must be completed at Wilfrid Laurier University.

  6. Failure to obtain the required standards in any year of the program will necessitate withdrawal from the program.