Earning board-certification in music therapy (denoted by the credential MT-BC) is required to practice as a music therapist. It is also required prior to completing master’s coursework in music therapy at UK. To become board-certified, students must have completed appropriate coursework in music foundations, clinical foundations, and music therapy, either during undergraduate studies or as part of a post-baccalaureate music therapy equivalency program. There are certain courses that you can take during your undergraduate training or prior to entering the equivalency program. We encourage you to talk with Dr. Reschke-Hernandez and/or Dr. Yinger to learn what courses you should take to prepare for an equivalency in music therapy.
A student who is not a board-certified music therapist but who studied music during their undergraduate training (either as a music major or, in some cases, as a music minor) may apply to the combined equivalency/master's degree program at UK. This program enables a student to complete all entry-level music therapy coursework, clinical practicum training, and clinical internship, which are required to take the board-certification exam administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (to learn more about the MT-BC credential, please visit the Certification Board for Music Therapists website). Then, students may complete the master’s in music therapy degree requirements.
Areas in which students must demonstrate competency in order to become eligible for board-certification and subsequent completion of master’s level coursework include: music foundations, clinical foundations, and music therapy. Music foundations and clinical foundations requirements may be completed at UK or during undergraduate coursework. Students in the equivalency program at UK must take all music therapy core courses at UK. Please note that currently equivalency students at UK are billed at the graduate tuition rate.
Music Foundations (54 credits)
- Music theory (aural and written)
- Music history
- Conducting
- Improvisation, movement, and percussion courses (Example: Orff Schulwerk)
- Arranging
- Applied lessons on primary instrument
- Ensemble participation
- Proficiency in guitar, piano and voice
Clinical Foundations (18 credits)
- Intro to psychology
- Abnormal psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Anatomy and physiology
- Other behavioral science courses
Music Therapy (18 credits)
* Equivalency students must complete all music therapy core courses at UK, which includes a minimum of 1,200 hours of pre-internship and internship clinical training.
- Music therapy principles and foundations
- Music therapy applications
- Psychology of music
- Music learning and behavior
- Music therapy clinical internship: The bulk of clinical training occurs during internship, which is 6-months, full time, and typically January-June or February-July. It is often unpaid but depends on the internship site – some internships offer a small stipend, and some are starting to pay interns an hourly rate. The internship is not guaranteed to be in Lexington.
A music therapy faculty advisor will work with each student in the combined equivalency/master's degree program to create an individualized program of studies based on the entry-level coursework that the student needs to take. Courses taken to satisfy equivalency requirements do not count toward the 30-credit hour Master of Music in Music Therapy degree. Students who are interested in UK’s music therapy program may request a transcript review from Dr. Reschke-Hernandez and/or Dr. Yinger to determine how much equivalency coursework is needed.