Music student playing for another person

Music Therapy Degree

Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

Explore how the healing power of music can open doors to a career in healthcare and therapeutic professions.

UND’s Music Therapy program is the only one of its kind in North Dakota, offering hands-on education in a rapidly growing field. With strong regional partnerships, experienced faculty and a blend of music and clinical training, you'll be prepared for impactful careers in health, education and beyond.

Program type:
Major
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
4.5 years
Credit hours:
123

Why earn a Music Therapy degree?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 15
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

 

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

With a Music Therapy degree from UND, you’ll help people and make a difference in many ways, working in industries at the intersection of healthcare, psychology and performing arts. Plus you'll have a creative outlet through music that gives you the skills to make a difference in peoples' lives.

The bulk of your learning in the Music Therapy program will be hands-on. From the keyboard lab and guitar class to practicums (student music therapy sessions) in the community, to anatomy lab, song writing and tech courses, you will consistently be engaged in active learning tasks designed to shape you into a well-rounded professional by the time you graduate. 

Music Therapy Applications

Helping people of all ages and walks of life, music therapy can benefit many different aspects of a person’s well-being, including: 

  • Mental: Music therapy can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
  • Emotional: It can help individuals express and process complex emotions, leading to greater emotional stability and resilience.
  • Physical: Engaging in music therapy can improve motor skills, coordination, and overall physical health.
  • Social: Music therapy fosters social interaction and communication, helping individuals build stronger relationships and social networks.
  • Cognitive: It can enhance memory, attention, and cognitive functioning, particularly in individuals with neurological conditions.

When you complete your undergraduate degree in Music Therapy, you will be eligible to take the national CBMT Board Certification exam. After successful completion of the exam, you will have the board certified credential and be ready to enter the workforce.

The Music Therapy program at UND is approved by the American Music Therapy Association, the National Association of Schools of Music and the Higher Learning Commission.

Music Therapy Degree at UND

  • Join the only Music Therapy bachelor's program offered in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Idaho and Wyoming.

  • Gain on-the-job experience through field internships in popular settings such as senior centers/assisted living facilities, hospitals and schools. 

  • As the field of music therapy continues to expand, you can engage in research alongside faculty who are active in the field. 

  • The Music Therapy program at UND welcomes students from any major, including music education, nursing, psychology and other pre-med areas. Our flexible programs make it easy to transition between fields. We also support returning professionals and dual-career educators.

  • You will be eligible to take the national board certification exam to obtain the credential MT–BC (Music Therapist – Board Certified) upon completion of your undergraduate coursework and subsequent six-month internship. Completion of both the exam and then internship is required for professional practice. 

  • The Department of Music awards many generous scholarships on the basis of superior musicianship. Learn more about how to audition and scholarship deadlines here.

What can you do with a Music Therapy degree?

4%

Projected job outlook for recreational therapists through 2033

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

51k

Median annual salary of music therapists

American Music Therapy Association

Put simply, music therapists use music to help others heal. Using a variety of instruments, songs and styles, music therapists help their patients to achieve their therapeutic goals.  

Music Therapy Employers

Music therapy is utilized in many settings, including: 

  • Hospitals: medical hospitals, psychiatric hospitals and cancer centers 
  • Treatment centers: rehabilitative facilities, detoxification and relapse prevention programs as well as drug and alcohol programs 
  • Other facilities such as nursing homes, senior centers, outpatient clinics, community mental health centers, correctional facilities and residences for people with developmental disabilities 

Treatments using Music Therapy

As a music therapist, you’ll be able to assess a patient’s emotional well-being, physical health and other factors through musical responses and then design a music intervention based on those needs. Music therapy can help people with a variety of conditions, including: 

  • Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders 
  • Bipolar and related disorders 
  • Depressive disorders 
  • Anxiety disorders 
  • Substance-related disorders 
  • Trauma and stressor-related disorders 
  • Personality disorders 
  • Insomnia 
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) 
  • Stroke and neurological disorders 

Music Therapy Degree Courses

MUSC 180. Introduction to Music Therapy. 3 Credits.

An overview of the field of music therapy, an introduction to its history and principles, different therapy models and techniques, and common populations served by the discipline. This course is open to all students interested in learning more about the field. On demand.

MUSC 280. Music Therapy Clinical Skills. 3 Credits.

An introduction to basic counseling skills and group leadership skills, study of the specific therapeutic uses of music, of the components of the treatment plan, and ethical considerations in the field. Prerequisite: MUSC 180 and the successful completion of the Sophomore Review as described in the Academic Catalog; department consent required. On demand.

MUSC 281. Music Therapy Techniques I. 2 Credits.

Basic therapeutic instrument mastery of guitar, autoharp, percussion and Orff instruments, tuning and maintenance, repertoire learning, developing basic vocal and percussion improvisation and songwriting skills, designing therapeutic interventions. Prerequisite: MUSC 180 and the successful completion of the Sophomore Review as described in the Academic Catalog; department consent required. On demand.

MUSC 381. Music Therapy Techniques II. 2 Credits.

Students will work on developing musical skills and techniques for the design and implementation of music therapy activities in a variety of clinical settings. Prerequisite: MUSC 281. On demand.

PSYC 111. Introduction to Psychology. 3 Credits.

A survey of the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, with consideration of the nature and scope of psychology as a science and a profession. F,S,SS.

MUSC 480. Psychological Foundations of Music Learning. 3 Credits.

An in-depth study of the psychological foundations of musical behavior including human response to music, music preference and ability; psychoacoustical parameters; and research in the field. Prerequisite: MUSC 383 and SOC 326. On demand.

FAQs

Music therapy coursework will take four years to complete, after which you must finish a six-month music therapy internship. 

Commitment to the designed coursework and making time for immersing yourself in the course content. This degree you’ve chosen is an exciting field-but there’s a lot to learn. Take every opportunity you can here at UND to dive into the world of music therapy.

UND music therapy will provide a wide variety of practicum experiences. You’ll have opportunities to work with folks across the age span, and in settings ranging from Altru Hospital to Grand Forks Public Schools to Valley Senior Living Facilities.

Yes, each music therapy major will need to choose a primary instrument for which they will receive individual lessons for at least six semesters. 

Music therapy majors must be proficient in voice, guitar, piano, and percussion. Knowing the basics on all of these instruments is helpful, but the curriculum has been designed to support your development on these instruments.

No, buying a guitar is not required, but it would be helpful to have one so that you can have greater access to practice when not at UND. 

Explore More Options

Looking to add a double major or connect with the department?

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