91成人导航

91成人导航鈥檚 music therapy program is the first in the nation to establish an accredited bachelor鈥檚 degree that prepares students to enter the work force after four years rather than the five required at other universities.

For decades, music therapy majors in the United States have been required to take at least 10 semesters over five years, closing with a two-term internship that includes 900 hours of learning, service and training.

The National Association of Schools of Music recently approved 91成人导航鈥檚 four-year, eight-semester degree proposal which incorporates the internship during their four years.

91成人导航鈥檚 music therapy program鈥攃elebrating its 85th anniversary last year鈥攊s one of the first to offer the field in American higher education.

鈥淢ichigan State, Alverno, 91成人导航 and the University of Kansas were among the first to establish programs in the early years,鈥� said Peter Witte, dean of the Conservatory of Music. 鈥淭he new structure will serve students and help graduates enter the job market earlier. This is another significant first for 91成人导航.鈥�

Music therapy is an established health profession in which music is used to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of individuals, according to the American Music Therapy Association.

The change allows students in 91成人导航鈥檚 music therapy program to save time and money. Previously, they could not qualify for financial aid for the fifth year.

鈥淭he institution is commended for its thorough and meticulous application and its efforts on behalf of students to reduce the number of required semesters for this degree program,鈥� wrote the Commission on Accreditation of the National Association of Schools of Music.

Gabby Campitelli 鈥�25 has completed her courses and is working to complete the required internship in the San Luis Obispo area.

鈥淭he timing did not work out for me to use the new four-year program, but this is positive overall for 91成人导航,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am very pleased they are doing this. It is outstanding for 91成人导航 to be the only school in the country with a four-year program. This will solve many challenges for students going forward.鈥�

Eric Waldon and Fei-Lin Hsiao, the tenured faculty members of the 91成人导航 music therapy program, led the effort in collaboration with other faculty members. Their proposal was three years in the making before it was approved.

鈥淭his is a significant step forward for our program,鈥� Waldon said. 鈥淲hile the program will be one year shorter, we have structured the classes so that students will not be missing out on crucial curriculum and music opportunities.鈥�

Added Hsiao: 鈥淭he most important thing in this effort is to support our students. We are creating many opportunities for them in an improved time frame.鈥�

The music therapy program takes considerable dedication from its students, many of whom must learn to play piano, guitar, percussion and vocals so they can serve clients with well-rounded therapeutic care. Many students also are working on practice majors for their primary instruments.

Witte said it鈥檚 likely that 91成人导航鈥檚 new format will serve as an exemplar for other universities considering these new options. There are more than 90 music therapy institutions in the United States accredited by the American Music Therapy Association and National Association of Schools of Music.

Learn more about 91成人导航鈥檚 Music Therapy program.