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Music Therapy Major

Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy

Learn how music can help people improve or maintain their cognitive, emotional, physical, social and spiritual well-being with the Bachelor of Music (BM) in Music Therapy in Temple's Boyer College of Music and Dance. Designed to prepare you for entry-level clinical positions in music therapy, you can pursue work in a variety of settings, including general hospitals, geriatric facilities, hospice programs, prisons, private practices, psychiatric facilities, rehabilitation centers, schools and community settings.

This 130-credit Bachelor of Music will take you four and a half years to complete, including postacademic clinical training. Over the course of your studies, you will follow a sequence of academic coursework and clinical training including a supervised postacademic clinical internship. In the final two semesters of study, you will work part or full time in an approved clinical site for a total of 1,000 hours, learning to assume the complete range of professional responsibilities of a music therapist.

Fully approved by the American Music Therapy Association, you will learn the importance of interpersonal skills, musicianship and self-understanding through courses in applied music, history, psychology and theory, with functional instrument lessons and clinical methods. In order to align your studies with your particular career goals, you can choose the Jazz or Traditional concentration. After successful completion of the Music Therapy BM, you’ll be eligible to take the national examination of the Certification Board for Music Therapists and, in turn, qualify for professional certification in the field.

    Classes & Curriculum

    Classes in the Music Therapy BM focus on ethics, methods and research used in practice. In this program, some of your courses will include

    • Developmental Music Therapy,
    • Music Therapy Overview,
    • Medical/Rehabilitative Music Therapy and
    • Secondary Piano.

    Learn more about required Music Therapy BM courses.

    Related Graduate Degrees

    A Music Therapy student sits on a hospital bed next to a patient while playing the guitar.

    Tuition & Fees

    In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, the Bachelor of Music offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

    Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

    These tuition costs apply to the 2025–2026 academic year.

    Pennsylvania resident: $22,248.00 per year
    Out-of-state: $39,072.00 per year

    Our Academic Advisors

    The Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts has a centralized advising office with five staff members. This advising team serves all undergraduate students in the Boyer College of Music and Dance and the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts.

    Advisors help students navigate the undergraduate curriculum for each degree program. The academic advising team for music, dance, theater, and film and media arts majors is located in Mitten Hall, Suite 200 West.

    To schedule an advising appointment based on your individual needs or for more help, contact the advising team.
    Phone: 215-204-2227

    Schedule an advising appointment.

    Program Contact

    Reach out to the following staff members regarding questions on Music Therapy programs. 

    Michael Zanders is an assistant professor and the coordinator for the Music Therapy Major.
    Phone: 215-204-5085
    Email

    Helen Shoemark is the director of the Music Therapy Program.
    Phone: 215-204-8311
    Email

    Alison Reynolds is the chair of the Department of Music Education and Therapy.
    Phone: 215-204-1660
    Email:

    Student Clubs & Organizations

    Participating in student groups provides peer support and future professional contacts. There are more than 200 student organizations at Temple University.

    • Music Therapy Club raises money for charity organizations and performs community service projects. The club also raises funds to send students to the American Music Therapy Association Mid-Atlantic Conference.
    • National Association for Music Education is a conservatory chapter of the national organization of music educators. Semester activities include creating projects, presenting guest speakers and workshops, attending the PMEA All-State conference, participating in outreach activities, and learning to use various online music education resources.
    • OwlCappella is a coed a cappella group—one of seven student-run a cappella ensembles on campus—that provides a musical outlet for non-music and music majors alike.

    Learn more about clubs and organizations.

    Study Away

    Temple’s study away programs offers all full-time, degree-seeking students the opportunity to spend an academic year, semester or summer abroad. Host countries include Germany, Italy, Japan and Spain.

    Study abroad advisors will help you with your study abroad plans for either a Temple program or an external program.

    Learn more about your options for studying away.

    Concentrations

    This degree program can be completed with or without a concentration. Your concentration options include

    • Trombone
    • Viola
    • Clarinet
    • Percussion
    • Voice
    • Oboe
    • Flute
    • Bassoon
    • Trumpet
    • Double Bass
    • Harp
    • Harpsichord
    • Euphonium
    • Cello
    • Violin
    • Saxophone
    • Tuba
    • Piano
    • French Horn
    • Classical Guitar

    Additional Program Information