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Music is a popular major and Pennsylvania is the 8th most popular state for students studying this major. 985 of the 25,616 Music degrees awarded last year were given by colleges in Pennsylvania. With so many options it can be a challenge finding the best fit for you. This year’s Best Colleges for Music in Pennsylvania ranking analyzed 9 colleges and universities that offer a bachelor’s degree in music. We look at over 20 factors to determine the top 15% of schools for Music students in Pennsylvania.

How To Become a Music Therapist

In order to become a music therapist, students first need to have a degree in music therapy or some sort of equivalency degree or certification. (This article will focus explicitly on the pursuit of a traditional undergraduate, bachelor”s degree and the best schools for that pursuit.)

Most preparation programs provide a combination of academic and clinical preparation. It is common for many universities to advertise that their program takes “four years, plus a six-month internship.” Thus, students embarking on this path should realize that this isn”t a standard four-year degree. Following the successful completion of undergraduate coursework and clinical training, candidates are then eligible to sit for the national board exam and receive the MT-BC status.

Characteristics of Solid Music Therapy Programs

Curriculum

Strong curriculum—AMTA approved should be a given, and all the schools on the list below have AMTA-approved curriculum.

Types of degrees

It should be noted that each college or university has its own path towards different degrees in music therapy. It seems that the most common degree is the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Music Therapy, but you”ll also find a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Music Therapy, a Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) in Music Therapy, and even the B.M.T. degree (Bachelor of Music Therapy).

Rigorous admissions requirements

It takes the right kind of person to become a music therapist. You can”t only be a skilled musician; you must also have compassion as well as keen observation skills. Likewise, you can”t only be a talented therapist; you need to be able to lead songs and perform music. With that in mind, we favored programs that required more than the standard music school audition for admission into the music department or music therapy program.

Highly-trained faculty

The more MT-BC on staff, the stronger the program. The MT-BC credential is one that requires recertification, so having faculty members keep their certification current suggests that those faculty members are staying current in the field.

Proximity to training facilities

It is critical for music therapy students to have access to clinical opportunities. The closer, the better, whether the opportunity affords itself through an on-campus clinic, a hospital within walking distance from the university, or a school near the campus community.

Bonus material

Is the school affordable? Well, that answer varies from family to family, but any school becomes more affordable when it offers scholarships, so we”ve noted which programs provide scholarship opportunities.

Programs and offerings

Another item that falls under this category includes unique programs and offerings. Does the school have any study abroad opportunities to music therapy students, any special programming that distinguishes these from other music majors? We also considered the added benefits of these programs when compiling the list.

Best Music Therapy/Therapist colleges in Pennsylvania for 2021

Temple University Philadelphia, PA

Temple University offers 3 Music Therapy/Therapist degree programs. It’s a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 25 Music Therapy/Therapist students graduated with students earning 17 Bachelor’s degrees, 5 Master’s degrees, and 3 Doctoral degrees.

Seton Hill University Greensburg, PA

Seton Hill University offers 2 Music Therapy/Therapist degree programs. It’s a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 8 Music Therapy/Therapist students graduated with students earning 8 Bachelor’s degrees.

Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA

Duquesne University offers 2 Music Therapy/Therapist degree programs. It’s a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 7 Music Therapy/Therapist students graduated with students earning 7 Bachelor’s degrees.

Drexel University Philadelphia, PA

Drexel University offers 2 Music Therapy/Therapist degree programs. It’s a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2019, 9 Music Therapy/Therapist students graduated with students earning 9 Master’s degrees.

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania offers 2 Music Therapy/Therapist degree programs. It’s a medium sized, public, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2019, 13 Music Therapy/Therapist students graduated with students earning 7 Bachelor’s degrees, and 6 Master’s degrees.

Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown, PA

Elizabethtown College offers 1 Music Therapy/Therapist degree programs. It’s a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2019, 9 Music Therapy/Therapist students graduated with students earning 9 Bachelor’s degrees.

Mercyhurst University Erie, PA

Mercyhurst University offers 1 Music Therapy/Therapist degree programs. It’s a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2019, 4 Music Therapy/Therapist students graduated with students earning 4 Bachelor’s degrees.

The Best Online Bachelor’s in Music Therapy Programs

University of Georgia

LocationAthens, GA2

Arizona State University

LocationTempe, AZ3

Montclair State University

LocationMontclair, NJ4

Appalachian State University

LocationBoone, NC5

Immaculata University

LocationMalvern, PA6

Western Michigan University

LocationKalamazoo, MI7

Florida State University

LocationTallahassee, FL8

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

LocationMinneapolis and Saint Paul, MN9

Utah State University

LocationLogan, UT10

Eastern Michigan University

LocationYpsilanti, MI11

Cleveland State University

LocationCleveland , OH12

University of Miami

LocationCoral Gables, FL13

Nazareth College

LocationRochester , NY14

Converse College

LocationSpartanburg, SC15

University of Kansas

LocationLawrence, KS16

Molloy College

LocationRockville Centre, NY17

Purdue University – Fort Wayne

LocationFort Wayne, IN18

Wartburg College

LocationWaverly, IA19

Seattle Pacific University

LocationSeattle , WA

SLIPPERYROCK UNIVERSITY

MUSIC THERAPY

Offered by:Music

If you have a love of music and a passion for helping others, music therapy is an excellent career choice. In the Music Therapy program at SRU, you’ll learn to provide therapeutic musical experiences with individuals with diverse needs, helping them to reach optimal health and achieve personal growth. Through SRU’s accredited Music Therapy program, you’ll receive dedicated, individualized instruction and mentorship from highly skilled faculty members, not from graduate assistants.

WHY CHOOSE MUSIC THERAPY?

In the Music Therapy program at SRU, you’ll develop the required musicianship and clinical skills to provide therapeutic support to people of all ages with a wide range of physical, intellectual, emotional, behavioral, developmental, sensory, and social needs. Through your coursework, you will develop the competencies required of today’s music therapists to work in special education, nursing homes, psychiatric treatment centers, correctional facilities, rehabilitation centers, day programs, and in private practice.

The knowledge you’ll acquire in your classes will be applied through a six-stage clinical experience program. You will participate in at least 200 hours of real-world music therapy experiences with young children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. You’ll gain valuable skills through our on-site music therapy clinic, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and a wide array of musical instruments. Your classes will involve experiential learning at every level, and this program is also unique in its focus on issues of diversity and social justice.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

SRU’s Music Therapy program will give you the knowledge, skills, and abilities to work as a professional in healthcare, education, and community settings. Upon completion of the program, you’ll be eligible to take the national Board Certification Exam for Music Therapists by CBMT.

You’ll become skilled in:

Music therapy interventions such as improvisation, re-creation, song writing, and receptive techniques
Assessing client functioning
Developing and implementing a clinical treatment plan
Evaluating client progress

CAREERS IN MUSIC THERAPY

Our alumni hold music therapy positions in a variety of settings, including:

Early Intervention
Group Homes
Medical Hospitals
Private Practice
Psychiatric Hospitals
Shelters
Special Education / Diverse Learner Classrooms

CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

American Music Therapy Association for Students
Mid-Atlantic Region American Music Therapy Students
Slippery Rock University Music Therapy Club

Schools Offering Music Therapy

Did you know that 9 schools in Pennsylvania currently offer an undergraduate degree in music therapy? These include:

Drexel University
Duquesne University
Elizabethtown College
Immaculata College
Marywood University
Mercyhurst University
Seton Hill University
Slippery Rock University
Temple University

Of these universities, 4 also offer graduate music therapy programs:

Drexel University
Immaculata College
Slippery Rock University
Temple University

Facilities Offering Music Therapy

A wide variety of stakeholders offer music therapy, including:

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC (Pittsburgh)
Children’s Institute (Pittsburgh)Community LIFE (Pittsburgh)
Dauphin County Early Intervention
Easter Seals of Southeastern Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
Masonic Villages (Elizabethtown & Sewickley)
M3 Music Therapy (Beaver County)Penn State Hershey Medical Center
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute (Harrisburg)
Roxbury Treatment Center
Shriner’s Hospital for Children (Philadelphia)
Springfield School District
UPMC Palliative Medicine (Pittsburgh)
VA Hospital of Pittsburgh
Watson Institute Friendship Academy (Sewickley)
WB Music Therapy (video link) (Harrisburg)
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic (UPMC, Pittsburgh)

Music Therapy Schools In Pennsylvania