Bachelor of Music Therapy
Music Therapy develops clients' potential abilities and enhances their quality of life. Music therapists can work with any individual or group seeking greater health and wellness, including those with physical or developmental disabilities, medical diagnoses, and mental health issues. Music therapists work in contexts such as hospitals, longterm care facilities, mental health treatment centres, 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 musicianship, therapeutic theories, medical music therapy, and anti-oppressive practice, and includes three terms of group and one-on-one clinical placements on campus and in the community, in addition to two terms of fulltime internship. 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-hour internship requirements. After this you will be eligible to apply for certification and to attain the title of Music Therapist Accredited (MTA).
Students may apply to the Bachelor of Music Therapy 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.
Students in the BMUS program may apply to the
BMT program after Year 2, having completed 10.0
credits, including the following courses, or
equivalent:
MUMT101;
One of: MUST100° or MUST101°;
One of: MUST103 or MUST 104;
MUST102°; MUST201°; MUST202°;
Guitar facility: one of MUST209 or any MUPS273–
275 course. (Requirement may be satisfied by
audition, demonstrating Guitar skills equivalent to
MUST209.)
MUAC101; MUAC102;
Either: (MUAC211 and MUAC251) or (MUAC221
and MUAC271);
One of: MUAC252 or MUAC272
2.0 credits of MUPS courses on a principal instrument (MUPS1xxD and MUPS2xxD);
1.0 credits of MUEN courses (excluding MUEN395*
and MUEN495*);
PS101; PS102; PS275; and one of PS276 or PS377
YEAR 3 (5.0 credits):
MUMT301; MUMT304; MUMT305; MUMT321; MUMT341;
0.5 credit MUPS at the 300-level;
0.5 credit from MUST308, MUST309;
1.0 credit of Psychology electives;
0.5 credit unrestricted electives.
YEAR 4 (3.5 credits)
Fall:
MUMT401; MUMT421; MUMT441°; MUMT442°;
0.5 credit unrestricted elective;
Winter:
MUMT451‡ - Music Therapy Internship I
YEAR 5 (1.5 credits)
Spring or Fall:
MUMT452‡ - Music Therapy Internship II
- Students intending to complete the BMT
program must normally be registered fulltime throughout; in special instances, parttime study may be allowed.
- 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:
a) 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.
b) An individual audition that will assess students' musical skills through:
i) performance of a song (own choice), singing and accompanying themselves on piano or guitar;
ii) performance of two contrasting pieces on their major instrument;
iii) improvisation on their major instrument (piano or guitar may also be used)
c) An individual interview that will:
i) assess students' understanding of the music therapy profession through their responses to interview questions;
ii) assess students' appropriateness for interpersonal interactions through their responses to interview questions;
iii) documented experiences (work or volunteer) in community and/or healthcare settings.
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). - 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'. - Non-music minor: students may, in
consultation with the department
concerned, elect to organize their nonmusic 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 Education, FACULTY
OF SCIENCE, SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
AND
ECONOMICS - ECONOMICS DEPARTME
NT and MARTIN LUTHER UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE.)
- 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.
- Failure to obtain the required standards in any year of the program will necessitate withdrawal from the program.
