Contact: Mike Harris | Program Coordinator & Designated School Official (DSO)
301-891-4086 | mharris1@wau.edu
The Music Therapy Equivalency Program (MTEP) is designed for those who already hold an undergraduate degree (most typically in music, music performance, or music education; or related disciplines, e.g. psychology/ counseling; others, e.g. business or nursing, may be considered with a substantial music background), but who wish to complete requirements for professional certification as a music therapist.
Rather than completing a second bachelor’s degree, the student completes courses that will teach competencies required for professional certification by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). The student is then eligible to sit for the national examination in music therapy offered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT). Upon passing the exam, the credential Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) is granted.
For most students with an undergraduate degree in music, the MTEP requires three to four semesters of on-campus study (usually part-time enrollment), followed by a six-month required internship.
Depending on the specific undergraduate degree, some students may require additional credits which will necessitate at least a semester longer to complete the equivalency program.
Students with undergraduate degrees in areas other than music must complete basic coursework in music (i.e., music theory, lessons on a major instrument, music history, etc.) in addition to the core music therapy program. Students will be required to demonstrate functional skills in keyboard, voice, percussion, and guitar.
Following coursework at Washington Adventist University, the student must successfully complete a six-month internship at an AMTA-approved clinical site. Transcripts of coursework from the student’s undergraduate program along with the MTEP records at WAU are submitted toward professional certification following completion of the internship.
Because this is a professional studies non-degree program, students may not qualify for university-sponsored financial aid expressly for graduate or undergraduate students. However, they may qualify for WAU Department of Music scholarships and additional financial aid offered through private lending institutions.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students completing the MTEP will be able to:
- Demonstrate music foundations and clinical skills central to the practice of music therapy.
- Describe the relationship between music therapy, research and practice.
- Utilize a variety of music therapy methods and implement services in clinical settings across distinct population groups.
- Document music therapy services according to the AMTA Standards of Clinical Practice.
- Practice music therapy in a professional and ethical manner as delineated by the AMTA Professional Documents
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