Graduate Studies

Music Therapy
2024-2025

Admission | Courses | Program | Requirements |  Profile

Interim Director of the School of Music:  Anita Hardeman
Assistant Director of the School of Music: Jason Hawkins
Graduate Committee Chairperson: Jennifer D. Jones
Office:  Browne Hall 122
Telephone: (309) 298-1544
Fax: (309) 298-1968
E-mail: music@wiu.edu
Website:  wiu.edu/music
Location of Program Offering: Macomb

Graduate Faculty

Professors

  • Matt Bean, D.M., Indiana University
  • Richard Cangro, Ph.D., University of Hartford
  • Michael Fansler, Ed.D., University of Illinois
  • Anita Hardeman, Ph.D., University of Western Ontario
  • Jennifer D. Jones, Ph.D., Florida State University
  • Brian Locke, Ph.D., State University of New York-Stony Brook
  • James Romig, Ph.D., Rutgers University

Associate Professors

  • Jason Hawkins, Ph.D., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
  • Brian Winnie, D.M.A., University of Washington

Assistant Professor

  • Gina Yi, Ph.D., Michigan State University

Associate Graduate Faculty

Professors

  • Terry Chasteen, M.M., Indiana University
  • Eric Ginsberg, M.M, Juilliard School
  • Richard Kurasz, D.M.A., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
  • István Szabó, D.M.A., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
  • Matt Thomas, Ph.D., Florida State University

Associate Professors

  • Matthew Hughes, M.M., Western Michigan University
  • Julieta Mihai, D.M.A., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
  • Kevin Nichols, D.M.A., University of Iowa
  • George Turner, D.M.A., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign

Assistant Professors

  • Whitney Ashe, D.M.A., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
  • Andrea Baker, D.M.A., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
  • Charles Chadwell, D.M.A., Michigan State University
  • Hong-Da Chin, D.M.A., Bowling Green State University
  • Paul Chinen, D.M.A., University of Miami
  • Alfonzo Cooper, Jr., D.M.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Jena Gardner, D.M.A., Northwestern University
  • Nicole Gillotti, D.M.A., University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
  • James Land, D.M.A., University of Memphis
  • Natalie Landowski, D.M.A., University of Iowa
  • Nicholas Miguel, D.M.A., University of Iowa
  • Jett Walker, D.M.A., University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Learning Outcomes

For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes.

 Program Description

The School of Music offers coursework leading to the Master of Music Therapy degree. The School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The Master of Music Therapy degree is approved by the American Music Therapy Association. For students pursuing the music therapy equivalency in addition to the master of music therapy, your degree plan will include the required coursework for certification eligibility with the Certification Board for Music Therapists. These courses will be offered in person on the Macomb campus.

The capstone project (MUS 600 Master’s Project or MUS 601 Thesis) will be directed by a faculty member from the student’s area of specialization. If the thesis option is chosen, an advisory committee will be chosen by the student in consultation with the graduate advisor and thesis director. All degree candidates will be given written comprehensive exams (MUS 603). Core courses must be completed before the comprehensive exam can be taken.

 Admission Requirements

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 OR 3.0 or higher GPA for the last two years (60 s.h.) of undergraduate work

  • An earned bachelor’s degree or an equivalency in Music Therapy from an accredited institution. The undergraduate major is subject to approval by the Graduate Committee.

  • Two letters of recommendation

  • A personal statement indicating goals and reasons to pursue a degree in music therapy (written or spoken/video)

  • Music Skills Demonstration on relevant musicianship for clinical practice. See http://www.wiu.edu/cofac/music/mmt/index.php

  • An interview with music therapy faculty

  • International students whose native language is not English, a TOEFL score of 79 IBT, 550 PBT, or an IELTS score of 6.5 overall is required.

Competency Evaluation

Prior to entrance, a competency evaluation for music skills related to the professional competencies in music therapy is required. The student will be advised to take specific courses to remedy any apparent deficiencies.

 Degree Requirements

To fulfill the requirements for the Master of Music Therapy degree, a student must complete 34 semester hours.

I. Required Core Courses: 15 s.h.

Foundations, Assessment, Advanced Practicum:

MUS 551 Assessment, Measurement, and Evaluation in Music Therapy (3)
MUS 552 Foundations, Principles, and Theories of Music Therapy (3)
MUS 553 Advanced Clinical Practicum in Music Therapy (2)

Research course:

MUS 554 Advanced Research in Music Therapy (3)

Advanced Practice:

MUS 555 Advanced Practice in Music Therapy (4)

Other degree requirements:

MUS 603 Comprehensive Examination in Music (0)

II. Music Therapy Electives: 4 s.h.

MUS 556 Supervision and Teaching in Music Therapy (2)
MUS 557 Clinical Supervision of Music Therapy (1-2)
MUS 558 Treatment Contexts and Music Therapy (2)
MUS 559 Special Topics in Music Therapy (1-2)
MUS 500 Independent Study (1-3)

III. General Electives: 11 s.h.

Graduate Music courses or Clinical Foundations courses from other departments: Psychology, Education, Statistics (if thesis option), RPTA, or others as approved. (At least 6 s.h. of coursework should be non-music therapy courses that support the student’s interests in advanced music study and/or clinical foundations.)

IV. Capstone Experience (select one): 4 s.h.

MUS 600 Master’s Project (4)
or
MUS 601 Thesis (4)

TOTAL PROGRAM: 34 s.h.

 Course Descriptions

Music (MUS)

500 Independent Study. (1–3, repeatable to 6) An investigation of problems related to the student’s major or area. Students will arrange the topic, procedures, and methods of reporting with the instructor. An appropriate written report will be required. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and department chairperson required.

551 Assessment, Measurement, and Evaluation in Music Therapy. (3) Students advance their knowledge of clinical assessment and evaluation in music therapy through critical review of assessment literature. Students will design and evaluate an assessment tool relevant to an area of clinical practice. Prerequisite: Completion of at least one Practicum in Music Therapy Course: MUS 258, MUS 358, or MUS 458).

552 Foundations, Principles, and Theories of Music Therapy. (3) A comprehensive exploration of the foundations, theories, and principles of music therapy. Areas addressed include historical and philosophical foundations, in-depth exploration of music therapy theories, approaches, and human musical responsiveness. Clinical strengths and limitations of each approach will be discussed. Prerequisites: MUS 151, MUS 158, or permission of the instructor.

553 Advanced Clinical Practicum in Music Therapy. (1-2, repeatable to 6) Supervised advanced clinical practicum in music therapy designed to broaden clinical skills or provide opportunity for application of advanced music therapy methods. Students will pursue achievement of advanced competencies in clinical practice. Prerequisite: Completed internship in music therapy; MT-BC eligible.

554 Advanced Research in Music Therapy. (3) A selected research paradigm utilized in music therapy practice will be presented. Epistemological, methodological, and ethical foundations for selected paradigm are studied. Students select a research problem and design a study within that model. Prerequisite: MUS 452 or equivalent research methods course approved by instructor.

555 Advanced Practice in Music Therapy. (2, repeatable to 6 with different topics) A selected clinical population or treatment method in music therapy will be presented. Examination of current trends in music therapy and related treatments including synthesis and translation of research and advanced techniques in music therapy. Prerequisite: MUS 453, MUS 454, MUS 455, or MUS 258; or permission of the instructor.

556 Supervision and Teaching in Music Therapy. (2) This course introduces students to theories, concepts, and styles of supervision, clinical administrative structures, and surveys issues and methods related to college teaching. Prerequisite: MUS 258 or equivalent experience or permission of the instructor.

557 Clinical Supervision of Music Therapy. (1-2, repeatable to 4) Mentored practice in clinical supervision including direct on-site observation of undergraduate music therapy practicum students, evaluation of assigned supervisee’s progress toward clinical competencies, support and assistance in session implementation, and participation in consultation meetings with sponsoring faculty on supervision techniques. Prerequisites: MUS 556, MT-BC or MT-BC eligible, and permission of the instructor.

558 Treatment Contexts and Music Therapy. (2) Students will advance their knowledge of treatment contexts, collaborative and co-facilitated treatment, reimbursement and financing of music therapy, staffing, and other aspects within clinical service systems. Prerequisite: Access to clinical setting.

559 Special Topics in Music Therapy. (1-2, repeatable to 4 with different topics) Exploration of selected topics relevant to current music therapy practice, such as administration, research, theory, musical skills, or clinical techniques, per student interest and needs. Content/instruction may be supplemented by specialists, consultants, and visiting professors or other tutorial material. Prerequisites: MUS 151, MUS 158, and graduate standing; or permission of the instructor.

600 Master’s Project. (1-4, repeatable to 6) Project direction under the guidance of a professor in their area of specialization in order to meet the needs of the student engaged in a master’s project. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

601 Thesis. (1–4, repeatable to 6) Thesis direction under the guidance of a professor in their area of specialization, in order to meet the needs of the student engaged in a research project. A written thesis will be presented to the Graduate Committee.

603 Comprehensive Examination in Music. (0) The student will satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination covering content of the courses and specializations of the student’s program. Graded S/U.