Program

The Master of Arts in Music Therapy & Counseling is a 90 quarter-credit program that integrates advanced music therapy and general counseling coursework with hands-on clinical experience and research opportunities, preparing graduates for a variety of career paths in the music therapy profession. Faculty include dedicated, knowledgeable music therapists as well as other creative arts therapists, clinical psychologists and counseling educators, offering a curriculum focused on in-depth study of foundational and innovative music therapy and mental health theories and approaches. The program can be completed in a minimum of two years (seven quarters) of full-time study, although some students may take longer to complete all program requirements, or opt for a decelerated plan of study. Classes held during the regular academic year (Fall, Winter and Spring quarters) are taught in-person at our Center City Philadelphia campus, while coursework in the Summer term can be completed remotely.

Founded in 1975, the MA in Music Therapy & Counseling is one of the few music therapy academic programs in the country housed on a health sciences campus. This setting provides a unique perspective on the merging of arts and health sciences, with an emphasis on culturally responsive interprofessional education. Students have opportunities for clinical experience, research and more at several University- related facilities, including Parkway Health & Wellness, the Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services Center and the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships.

Our program is designed both for students who have a Bachelor's degree in another field, and are seeking the required education and clinical experience to become a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC), as well as current Bachelor's-level music therapists who wish to pursue advanced study in music therapy and counseling. All courses are taught at the graduate level; we do not offer an equivalency program.

The Music Therapy and Counseling Curriculum is approved by the American Music Therapy Association. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to sit for the examination of the Certification Board for Music Therapists, to earn the MT-BC credential. Our program also meets the Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) education requirements. Please note that licensure requirements vary from state to state, and may change at any time. Therefore, if you are considering counseling licensure in the future, you are strongly advised to review educational requirements for any state(s) in which you may seek counseling licensure. It is the student's responsibility to know and understand the requirements for any type of future licensure.

What you'll learn

• Integration of music therapy methodologies with mental health counseling and medical sciences theories and approaches.
• Daily interaction with music, art and dance/movement therapists, psychologists, neuroscientists, physicians and other health professionals as teachers and supervisors.
• Clinical applications of instrumental and vocal improvisation, composition, re-creative and imagery methods within music psychotherapy and counseling, medical music therapy and developmentally-focused treatment models.
• Multiple supervised adult and child clinical placement opportunities in a variety of settings, including medical and psychiatric hospitals, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities, schools, continuing care facilities, community health centers, correctional facilities and more.
• Basic understanding of art and dance/movement therapies and their relationship to music therapy.
• Interaction with students and educators representing all the health sciences.
• A culminating project (traditional research thesis or capstone project) focused on a student's chosen area of interest, and guided by a multidisciplinary advisement committee.
• Student presentation of research at local, regional, and national conferences.

What makes the Drexel Music Therapy and Counseling program unique?

• Housed in Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions, on the University's health sciences campus.
• Mental health counseling component of curriculum, which covers topics such as Human Psychological Development, Clinical Diagnosis, Group Dynamics, Theories of Psychotherapy, and Social and Cultural Foundations in Counseling and Psychotherapy, and prepares students for professional counseling licensure in Pennsylvania.
• A strong emphasis on multicultural perspectives and social justice.
• The opportunity to study alongside art therapy and dance/movement therapy students, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary engagement and collaboration.
• Students complete coursework and clinical experiences simultaneously, allowing for synthesis of theoretical and practical knowledge throughout the program.

Compliance

The College of Nursing and Health Professions has a compliance process that may be required for every student. Some of these steps may take significant time to complete. Please plan accordingly. Each program and plan of study has specific compliance requirements. Students should wait to receive information about their program’s specific requirements before starting with the compliance process.

Visit the Compliance pages for more information.

Deadline:

Applications are reviewed in the two cycles based on the following dates:

• Early Deadline: January 15, 2025
• Regular Deadline: April 15, 2025

Please note that applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage you to submit completed applications by the early deadline for full interview and scholarship consideration. We will continue to review applications after the early deadline until the class is full or the date listed above, whichever should come first.

Admission Requirements

Degree:
Bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited institution, and a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or above on all previous coursework.

Standardized Tests:
N/A

Transcripts:

• Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all the colleges/universities that you have attended. Transcripts must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the college/university seal over the flap to Drexel University, Application Processing, P.O. Box 34789, Philadelphia, PA 19101, or submitted through a secure electronic delivery service to enroll@drexel.edu. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of the number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
• Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If your school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.
• If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency
• Use our Transcript Lookup Tool to assist you in contacting your previous institutions

Prerequisites:
Instrumental and vocal music experience is needed. All instrumental backgrounds are welcomed and will be considered for admissions. Applicants can have backgrounds in varied styles and genres with working knowledge in applied musical concepts. Volunteer or paid experience in a helping relationship is preferred.

References:
Three letters of recommendation are required. At least one recommendation should refer to your musicianship or musical skills. Letters of recommendation should be requested and submitted electronically through your online application.

Personal Statement/Essay:
Submit a 500-1250 word essay that focuses on your relationship with music, what led you to pursue a career path in music therapy and additional information that informs your application to this program. Essays may be submitted with your application or through the Discover Drexel portal after your online application is complete.

Audition/Interview: Invited applicants will be asked to participate in a 45-minute audition/interview with faculty members of the graduate music therapy program. The audition/interview will explore applicants' personal, academic, interpersonal and creative attributes and review musical knowledge and skills. Applicants are asked to prepare the following for review:
1. Two pieces from different musical styles or genres that demonstrate proficiency on applicants' primary instrument(s).
2. Two popular, folk or original songs, sung while accompanying yourself on piano.
3. Two popular, folk or original songs, sung while accompanying yourself on guitar.
4. Demonstration of musical knowledge and skills. This includes playing chord progressions (I-IV-V-I; I-vi-ii-VI) in varied keys on piano and guitar, providing chordal accompaniment and transposition of familiar songs and improvisation on instruments of choice.

Invited applicants who cannot participate in an in-person interview may submit recorded material demonstrating items 1-3 above. A virtual interview will be scheduled to review additional criteria for program admissions.

CV/Resume:
Required. Include relevant education, work and service/volunteer experience.

Work and Volunteer Experience:
Social service work or volunteer history is highly valued.

Projected Tuition and Fee Rates:
Amounts might vary by year and plan of study

*Charged once upon admission
**Assuming full-time student

Additional Requirements for International Applicants

Background checks:

As a student of the College of Nursing and Health Professions you will be required to satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, child and elder abuse checks, drug test, immunizations, physical exams, health history, and/or other types of screening before being permitted to begin clinical training.

You will not need to submit documentation of these requirements as part of your application to the master's program. Failure to fully satisfy these requirements as directed upon enrollment may prevent assignment to a clinical site for training. A background check that reflects a conviction of a felony or misdemeanor may affect your ability to be placed in certain facilities, and later, to become board certified and licensed.

Curriculum

• Degree Requirements
• Course Descriptions
• Plan of Study

The MA in Music Therapy & Counseling is a 90-quarter credit program. The program can be completed in a minimum of two years (seven quarters) of full-time study, although some students may take longer to complete all requirements, or opt for a decelerated plan of study. The majority of classes are taught in-person on Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions campus in Center City, Philadelphia with select classes offered online.

The coursework consists of both Music Therapy-specific and general mental health counseling coursework. Music Therapy-specific topics include:

• Music Therapy theories and methods for child, adolescent, adult and older adult populations
• Clinical musicianship and improvisation skills
• Social and cultural foundations in music therapy
• Technological applications
• Imagery methods
• Group dynamics in music therapy
• Theories of music psychotherapy

Mental health counseling coursework covers theories and skills in:

• Human psychological development
• Psychopathology and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• Social and cultural foundations in counseling
• Behavioral research
• Group dynamics in counseling
• Theories of counseling and psychotherapy
• Career counseling
• Clinical appraisal and diagnosis
• Professional ethics
• Foundations of Creative Art Therapies

Clinical experience is integrated with classroom learning, with students participating in two practicums and one internship throughout the course of the program. For more information on the clinical education component of the Music Therapy program, click on the "Clinical Practices" tab above.

A Culminating Project rounds out the curriculum. Second-or third-year students conduct a Culminating Project that integrates practice with theory and/or research. Under the guidance of their Culminating Project advisor, students design a project that explores aspects of both their respective Creative Arts Therapies discipline and counseling. Examples of Culminating Projects include development of a method, a community engagement project, research thesis or artistic project. Culminating Projects may be connected to a student's internship, but it is not a requirement. At the end of each academic year, students present their Culminating Projects to peers, faculty, friends and family at their respective program's Colloquium. Students are also encouraged to submit projects to regional and national conferences when applicable.

Accreditation

The Music Therapy and Counseling program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association.

http://www.musictherapy.org/

Clinical Practice

Students complete more than 1,200 hours of graduate clinical practicum and internship experiences under the supervision of a board-certified music therapist. Placements include pediatric and adult psychiatric and general hospitals, recovery and wellness programs, therapeutic day care, preschool intervention programs, rehabilitation settings, long-term care facilities, forensic settings, schools, and community music therapy programs.

Students begin their clinical experience as soon as they enter the program. The clinical education is enhanced by 3 to 3.5 hours of individual and group supervision per week.

First-year students gain practical and theoretical knowledge regarding a range of clinical populations across two placements assigned by the Director of Field Education. During practicum experiences supervised by on-site board-certified music therapists, students are guided through observation, assisting and co-leading of music therapy sessions in preparation for the second-year internship.

Clinical internship lasts the entire second year and offers an opportunity for students to mature and develop advanced skills with one or, in some cases, two populations. The internship is chosen by the student with assistance from the Director of Field Education and approved by the Music Therapy Program Director. The practicum and internship fulfill the clinical training requirements of the American Music Therapy Association.

Katy Hutchings, MA `15 - Music Therapist

Michael Mahoney MA `10 - Alum, Practicum/Internship Supervisor