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WVU Morgantown

Music Therapy, B.M.

  • Overview
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Major
  • Learning Outcomes

Degree Offered

  • Bachelor of Music

Nature of the Program

Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. Through a course of study focused on the disciplines of music, human development, and music therapy combined with the University¹s General Education Foundations, the BM in Music Therapy imparts essential competencies in three main areas:  musical foundations, clinical foundations, and music therapy foundations.

Upon successful completion of the bachelor's degree, graduates are eligible to take the national board certification exam in order to obtain the credential MT-BC (Music Therapist Board Certified), which is required for professional practice in the United States.

Admissions for 2026-2027

Acceptance into an undergraduate music degree program is contingent upon both admission to WVU as an undergraduate student and a successful performance audition. Auditions are held from late fall through the early spring semester. For maximum scholarship consideration, students are encouraged to complete the application (including audition) before March 1. Audition information can be found on the College's website or by contacting the CCAM Office of Recruitment at (304) 293-4339. Special accommodations may be made by contacting the School of Music at (304) 293-4532 or Music@mail.wvu.edu.  

For admission consideration, all students must submit separate applications to the University and to the School of Music. The audition is a preliminary assessment of a student’s potential for success. For the Bachelor of Science in Music and Health, students must audition at a minimum performance level four. If a student is admitted, their standing is confirmed or revised after the first semester of study.

Students should own their own instrument under normal circumstances (except for piano).

  1. Apply to West Virginia University (How to Apply)
  2.  Audition for the School of Music (Apply Now)

Acceptance into an undergraduate music degree program requires admission to WVU as an undergraduate student and a successful audition and/or interview. The audition and/or interview is a preliminary assessment of a student's potential for success in their intended major.

  • BA Music - audition required
  • BA Music Business and Industry: Applied Music Emphasis - audition required
  • BA Music Business and Industry: Multi-instrumental Emphasis - interview required (no audition)
  • BM Composition - audition and portfolio review required
  • BM Music Education - audition and interview required
  • BM Music Therapy - audition and interview required
  • BM Performance - audition required
  • BS Music and Health - audition required

Students who cannot attend one of our regularly scheduled audition days should contact the School of Music at:
(304) 293-4532 or Music@mail.wvu.edu.  

Music majors can change from one music curriculum to another with faculty approval, particularly during the freshman or sophomore year, without significant loss of course credit. Students are encouraged to explore and follow the curriculum for which they are best qualified and in which they can achieve the greatest success. Evaluation of students’ work by the School of Music faculty informs these decisions. If students wish a broader, liberal arts-oriented program, they may pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music.

Major Code: 3717

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric3-6
ENGL 101
& ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103
Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning3-4
F4 - Society & Connections3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)9
Total Hours31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
University Requirements11
Music Therapy Program Requirements79
Music Therapy Major Requirements37
Total Hours127

University Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits)
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1 and 59
MUSC 191First-Year Seminar2
Total Hours11

Music Therapy Program Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
GPA of 2.75 is required each semester and cumulatively.
Minimum GPA of 2.75 is required in all MUSC and clinical foundations courses.
Minimum grade of C- is required in all MUSC and clinical foundations courses.
Applied Lessons
Principal Instrument12
Applied Music 100 Level (MUSC 121-127)
Applied Music 200 Level (MUSC 221-227)
Applied Music 300 Level (MUSC 321-327)
Applied Studies
MUSC 137Class Guitar 11
MUSC 144Functional Keyboard for the Commercial Musician 12
MUSC 145Functional Keyboard for the Commercial Musician 22
MUSC 237Class Guitar 21
MUSC 284Vocal Pedagogy3
MUSC 284SVocal Pedagogy Studio0
7 Semesters of Music Ensemble (at least 3 major ensembles; 2 vocal & 2 chamber or world music required)7
Major Ensembles
MUSC 300
Band: Wind Symphony
MUSC 300A
Band: Symphonic
MUSC 300B
Band: Marching
MUSC 302
University Community Choir
MUSC 303
Symphony Orchestra
MUSC 305
Chamber Singers
MUSC 306
University Mountaineer Chorus
MUSC 353
Jazz Ensemble 1
MUSC 350
Jazz Ensemble 2
Small/World Ensembles
MUSC 340
Chamber Music: Brass
MUSC 342
Chamber Music: Piano-4 Hand
MUSC 343
Chamber Music: Strings
MUSC 344
Chamber Music: Woodwind
MUSC 346
Chamber Music: Mixed Ensemble
MUSC 348
Chamber Music: New Music
MUSC 349
Chamber Music: Other
MUSC 351
Chamber Music: Percussion 1
MUSC 352
Chamber Music: Percussion 2
MUSC 353B
Chamber Music: Jazz Small Group
MUSC 353C
Chamber Music: Jazz Small Group 2
MUSC 353E
Chamber Music: Jazz and Ethnic
MUSC 353G
Chamber Music: Jazz Vocal Ensemble
MUSC 353H
Chamber Music: Jazz Other
MUSC 353I
Chamber Music: Jazz Vocal Ensemble
MUSC 354
Gamelan
MUSC 355
Steel Band
MUSC 356
African Music Ensemble
MUSC 357
Brazilian Music Ensemble
MUSC 358
Experiential Music Ensemble
MUSC 359
Taiko Ensemble
MUSC 361
Fife and Drum Ensemble
Music Convocation
MUSC 189
Music Convocation (Four Semesters)
Musical Foundations
MUSC 113American Popular Music (May fulfill GEF 8) pre-requisite for MUSC 270 and/or MUSC 2713
MUSC 116Music in World Cultures (GEF 7) pre-requisite for MUSC 270 and/or MUSC 2713
MUSC 161Aural Theory 12
MUSC 162Written Theory 13
MUSC 163Aural Theory 22
MUSC 164Written Theory 23
MUSC 261Aural Theory 32
MUSC 262Written Theory 33
Select one of the following (GEF 6):3
MUSC 270
History of Western Musical Traditions 1
MUSC 271
History of Western Musical Traditions 2
Select one of the following:2
MUSC 236
Introduction to Recording Technology
MUSC 465S
Electronic Music Production
MUSC 466
Techniques for Electronic Music Performance
Clinical Foundations
BIOL 102
& 102L
General Biology 2
and General Biology 2 Laboratory (GEF 2)
4
PALM 205Introduction to Human Anatomy3
PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology (GEF 4)3
PSYC 241Introduction to Human Development (GEF 8)3
PSYC 281Introduction to Psychological Disorders (GEF 8)3
SOWK 147Human Diversity3
STAT 111Understanding Statistics3
or STAT 211 Elementary Statistical Inference
Select one of the following:3
DISB 381
Lifespan Disability Policy
DISB 385
Disability and Society
SPED 404
Special Education in Contemporary Society
Total Hours79

Music Therapy Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
GPA of 2.75 is required each semester and cumulatively.
Minimum GPA of 2.75 is required in all MUSC and clinical foundations courses.
Minimum grade of C- is required in all MUSC and clinical foundations courses.
MUSC 185Introduction to Music Therapy3
MUSC 205Clinical Foundations of Music Therapy3
MUSC 230SMusic Therapy Methods 13
MUSC 231Music Therapy Methods 23
MUSC 330Principles and Practices of Music Therapy 13
MUSC 331Principles and Practices of Music Therapy 23
MUSC 444Psychological Foundations of Music3
MUSC 445Music Therapy Research Methods3
MUSC 239Music Therapy Practicum 12
MUSC 239AMusic Therapy Practicum 22
MUSC 339Music Therapy Practicum 32
MUSC 339AMusic Therapy Practicum 42
MUSC 440Music Therapy Practicum 52
MUSC 440AMusic Therapy Practicum 62
MUSC 485Music Therapy Internship 1
Total Hours37

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
Major Ensemble1Major Ensemble 1 
MUSC 121-127 Applied Lesson2MUSC 121-127 Applied Lesson2 
MUSC 1371MUSC 1632 
MUSC 1612MUSC 1643 
MUSC 1623MUSC 1890 
MUSC 1853MUSC 2053 
MUSC 1912MUSC 2371 
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3PSYC 101 (GEF 4)3 
 17 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
Major Ensemble1World or Chamber Music Ensemble1 
MUSC 221-227 Applied Lesson2MUSC 221-227 Applied Lesson2 
MUSC 116 (GEF 7)3MUSC 1452 
MUSC 1442MUSC 1890 
MUSC 1890MUSC 2313 
MUSC 2612MUSC 239A2 
MUSC 2623ENGL 102 (GEF 1)3 
MUSC 230S3PSYC 241 (GEF 8)3 
MUSC 2392  
 18 16
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
MUSC 321-327 Applied Lesson2Vocal Ensemble1 
MUSC 113 (GEF 8)3MUSC 321-327 Applied Lesson2 
MUSC 1890MUSC 3313 
MUSC 2843MUSC 339A2 
MUSC 284S0BIOL 102
& 102L (GEF 2)
4 
MUSC 3303STAT 111 or 211 (GEF 3)3 
MUSC 3392  
PSYC 281 (GEF 8)3  
 16 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
Vocal Ensemble1World or Chamber Music Ensemble1MUSC 4851
Select one of the following (GEF 6):3MUSC 440A2 
MUSC 270
 MUSC 4453 
MUSC 271
 SOWK 1473 
MUSC 4402GEF 53 
MUSC 4443Select one of the following:3 
Select one of the following:2-3
SPED 404
  
MUSC 236
 
DISB 381
  
MUSC 465S
 
DISB 385
  
MUSC 466
   
PALM 2053  
 14 15 1
Total credit hours: 127

Major Learning Outcomes

Music Therapy

Learning outcomes for this degree are directly related to the essential competencies, experiences, and opportunities stated by the National Association of Schools of Music and the American Music Therapy Association. They include:

  • Advanced keyboard skills, including the ability to play at sight, accompany, transpose, and improvise.
  • Ability to sight-sing and take aural dictation.
  • Skills in voice, especially as related to group singing. Ability to communicate using a basic repertory of traditional, folk, and popular songs.
  • Guitar skills sufficient to accompany self and ensembles. Ability to perform a basic repertory of traditional, folk, and popular songs in several keys, with or without printed music.
  • Knowledge of and performance ability on percussion and other instruments sufficient to facilitate rhythm-based musical experiences for individuals and groups.
  • Conducting skills adequate to the therapist¹s needs in providing repertory and leadership to small and large vocal/instrumental ensembles.
  • Composition and arranging skills sufficient to compose songs with simple accompaniment; and to arrange, transpose, and simplify music compositions for small vocal and non-symphonic instrumental ensembles.
  • Movement skills to direct and move expressively in structured rhythmic and improvisatory movement experiences.
  • Knowledge of the basic principles of normal human development, exceptionality and psychopathology, principles of therapy, and the therapeutic relationship.
  • Knowledge of the basic foundations and principles of music therapy, including history and philosophy; the psychological, physiological, and sociological bases for the use of music as therapy; music therapy methods, techniques and materials with their appropriate applications to various client populations.
  • Knowledge of various client populations; client assessment; treatment planning; therapy implementation and evaluation; clinical documentation (both oral and written) and termination/discharge planning.
  • Knowledge of professional standards of clinical practice; professional role and ethics; interdisciplinary collaboration in designing and implementing treatment programs; supervision and administration.
  • Knowledge of research methods to be able to interpret information, demonstrate basic knowledge of historical, quantitative, and qualitative research, and to apply research findings to clinical practice in music therapy.
  • School of Art and Design
  • School of Media and Communications -​ Reed
  • School of Music
    • Music and Health
    • Music -​ BA
    • Music Composition
    • Music Education
    • Music Business and Industry
    • Music Performance
    • Music Therapy
  • School of Theatre and Dance
  • College Wide Degree

WVU Morgantown

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P.O. Box 6878
Morgantown, WV 26506
Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

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