Graduate Course Descriptions

This course provides an overview of the theory, literature, and practice of vocal and instrumental models and methods of individual and group improvisation as they relate to advanced clinical practice. Pertinent clinical improvisation techniques will be presented and practiced in class. Students will learn to assess and evaluate individual and group levels of functioning in order to structure and facilitate improvisations to treat various populations, taking into consideration their cultures, ages, functioning levels, and therapeutic needs.

This course provides an overview of the theory, literature, and practice of the use of pre-composed, composed, and improvised songs in individual and group psychotherapy. Students will gain a theoretical and practical understanding of how to assess and evaluate clients using advanced techniques that incorporate song forms. Students will develop methods for the use of receptive and creative techniques with songs with different populations, cultures, and in various clinical settings from sing-a-longs and supportive therapy to group and individual psychodynamic therapy.

Students develop an understanding of all aspects of professional functioning, including history, roles, organizational structures, ethics, standards and credentialing. A particular emphasis is placed on ethical thinking, using ethical decision making processes to discuss, solve and apply to clinical practice. In addition to HIPAA, students developed an understanding of AMTA’s Code of Ethics, and further their knowledge of ethical issues related to consent, research, work with minors, and work with dangerous clients.

Students are introduced to multicultural issues in counseling practice and survey the multicultural music therapy literature in order to understand the roles and functions that music plays in a multicultural and diverse society. Includes the design and implementation of music experiences for clinical populations of diverse cultures.

Supervised clinical practice of music therapy at an advanced level, consisting of a minimum total of 100 hours. Includes an orientation to models and practices of music therapy clinical supervision to help prepare the student to supervise others. Prerequisite: MUT 522 or (when applicable) MUT 523 (prerequisite does not apply to students entering program with advanced standing).

Students are trained in fundamental concepts of bio-guided music therapy, providing a rationale and theoretical basis for understanding how music therapy treatments affect the physiological manifestations of stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, ADHD, and other disorders. In workshop format, students participate in live experiences to create musical environments and measure real-time physiological output of muscle tension, heart-rate, skin conductance and EEG brainwaves.

This course introduces students to the basics of program proposal and development, as well as grantsmanship to fund both music therapy programs and research. Students practice their skills either through completing a marketing plan and presentation, or preparing an original proposal to submit to a funding agency. Instruction will include strategies to propose and obtain funding from government, private, and public sectors, to search for and match programs/projects with appropriate funders, finding collaborators, writing a strong proposal, and preparing compelling presentations.

The course will focus on the theory and evidence base of mindfulness-based therapies into music therapy practice. Students will learn about mindfulness-based theories and practices to promote therapeutic change and well-being for a variety of client populations in music therapy and mental health counseling. This course will also explore the professional development of students in areas of self-awareness and wellness towards supporting burnout prevention and cultivating dispositional characteristics as related to their professional role. This course will offer students the opportunity to learn about mindfulness and self-care, evaluate the causes and effects of burnout, and apply/integrate learning through experiential activities.

This course explores the principles and practices of trauma-informed care within the context of music therapy and counseling practice. Students will gain an understanding of how trauma affects individuals across various dimensions of wellbeing and learn how to use music therapy as a therapeutic tool to support healing and resilience. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, experiential learning, and hands-on practice, this course will explore fundamentals of trauma and its impact on the brain and body; core principles of trauma-informed care and how to integrate them into music therapy practice; techniques for creating safe, supportive, and empowering therapeutic environments; and strategies for using music therapy to address trauma-related symptoms. Ethical considerations and self-care practices for therapists working with trauma survivors will also be explored.