Music: Music Therapy

We welcome your interest in the Music Therapy Program at SPU!

In August 2009, Seattle Pacific University became the first academic institution in the state of Washington to offer the undergraduate music therapy degree program, accredited by the national American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). The Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy program is now well established, and many opportunities await those who seek to use their gift of music to serve others.

The program is designed for you to develop entry-level competencies required as a professional music therapist, prepare you for a six-month clinical internship, and, ultimately, pass the national board certification exam to earn your Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC) designation.

Our goal is to provide you with a personalized education of classroom and practical clinical experiences that will allow the music therapist within you to develop to meet professional standards. In this shared journey, you will become increasingly aware of who you are as a musician and how your music can affect the spiritual, mental, physical and psychological well-being of others.

We hope to inspire you with a passion to learn about music therapy and yourself — a passion that will propel you into the profession and sustain you throughout your professional career.

Is a career in music therapy for you?

We are looking for musicians who have, or are willing to work toward, an advanced level of musical ability; who are creative, empathetic, motivated learners, and possess a sincere desire to pursue a vocation toward service of others.

Benefits

When you major in Music Therapy at SPU, you will take academic courses that focus on core music and music therapy classes, as well as the balance of a comprehensive university education.

You will also have the opportunity for practicum experiences within diverse health care and educational institutions in the Seattle area. And you will have the close supervision by board-certified music therapists in an educational climate that nurtures the discipline of being a strong musician, the heart to serve others, and the focus to help you reach your goals.

Distinctives of the SPU Music Therapy program are 1) students are engaged with clients as early as freshman year, which means by the senior year, music therapy students have a strong resume before the required Internship, 2) all music therapy students are encouraged to take classes in music production / audio engineering, as well as gain competencies with iPad apps and music technology through use of SPU Nickerson Studios, and 3) offering our students a broad spectrum of clinical settings within the Seattle area, including Seattle Children’s Hospital, Swedish Multiple Sclerosis Center (Seattle, WA), and Music Works Northwest (Bellevue, WA). 

The SPU Music Therapy program accepts students as freshman, transfer and post-baccalaureate (for more information, see FAQ insert).

As a Freshman: Consult the Undergraduate Catalog for complete information on how and when to apply to the program. 

Transfer Students: Follow this link – Undergraduate Catalog. 

Post-baccalaureate Students: Here is information to apply to SPU – Undergraduate Catalog.

Major Courses and Degree Requirements

The SPU Music Therapy Program is an integrative, rigorous, multidisciplinary curriculum. Music Therapy students are required to do the following:

• Fulfill the requirements of a Music degree as accomplished musicians, including a junior recital on your major instrument.
• Take classes in core music therapy, psychology, special education, and biology/physical education, as well as fulfill University required courses.
• Pass proficiency exams on piano, guitar, and voice.
• Fulfill 180 hours of practicum experience during undergraduate training. A six-month clinical internship is required once you have completed your major's courses in order for you to be eligible to sit for the national Board Certification Exam.

The minimum total credits required for a major emphasis is 124 quarter credits. The minimum total credits required for the degree is 180 quarter credits.

Entering the Major

As a Music Therapy major, you can choose from three emphases: 

• Music Therapy: Emphasis in Physical Therapy and Exercise Science 
• Music Therapy: Emphasis in Psychology
• Music Therapy: Emphasis in Special Education

The SPU Music Therapy program accepts students as freshman, transfer and post-baccalaureate (see FAQ insert for more information). The Music Therapy program is a competitive degree that typically accepts eight to 10 students per year.

Career Opportunities

Nationwide, Board-Certified Music Therapists are employed in many settings, including clinical, educational, and social-service agencies, such as:

Faculty Contact

Carlene J. Brown

Professor of Music; Director, Music Therapy Program
PhD, University of Washington

Email: browncj@spu.edu
Office: Crawford 206

Instructors

Wendy Woolsey

Adjunct Instructor of Music Therapy
MA, University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music

Email: woolseyw@spu.edu
Office: Crawford 102

Evelyn Stagnaro

Adjunct Instructor of Music Therapy
M.M. Music Therapy, Florida State University

Email: stagnaroe@spu.edu