Music Therapy is the therapeutic use of music in the restoration, maintenance, and improvement of mental and physical health. Music of all kinds is used as a tool to help people maintain or improve communication, academic performance, motor development, emotional growth, and social skills.
Music is applied in a therapeutic environment to bring about desirable changes in behavior.
Such changes enable individuals to understand themselves and the world differently. As a member of a therapeutic team, the professional music therapist participates in the analysis of individual problems, in the determination of general treatment aims, and in the evaluation of results. Music Therapy majors take a wide variety of courses in music theory, music history, performance, and conducting. In addition, the program requires courses in psychology, sociology, philosophy, arts, biology, anatomy, physiology plus a clinical core emphasizing the research aspects of music therapy. A total of 120 credits are required for the degree.