Bachelor of Arts: Music Therapy
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Be able to play and accompany self, using multiple keys and accompaniment patterns on the guitar and piano while singing in a pleasing tone quality.
- Lead and interact with others in a manner that engages them in the music-based therapy experience.
- Be able to sight read simple songs using voice, guitar and piano.
- From a listening experience, transcribe and create a simple, yet complementary harmonic accompaniment pattern to an unfamiliar musical recording of contemporary music.
- Describe the music therapy treatment process for various populations served by music therapists.
- Demonstrate professional business and advocacy skills.
Additional Admission Criteria
- Students should be able to qualify for Applied Lessons, for two hours of credit in their major performance area.
- Emotional stability and good physical stamina are also essential for a music therapist.
- Applicants are required to complete an interview with a music therapy faculty member prior to admission.
Licensure
Graduates may apply for membership by contacting the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). For Board Certification, graduates may contact the Certification Board for Music Therapy (CBMT). All coursework must be completed before beginning CONSVTY 410. Therapy students are required to enroll in a professional liability insurance program.
Program Requirements
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Mathematics For Liberal Arts | ||
| Statistical Reasoning | ||
| Precalculus Algebra | ||
| Precalculus | ||
Any 200-level MATH or STAT course | ||
ACT Math Sub-score of 28 or higher; or SAT Math Sub-score of 660 or higher | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH; Satisfied in program requirements below) | ||
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
Major Requirements
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all major coursework.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CONSVTY 151 (MUSE; satisfies GECRT-AH course requirement) | 3 | |
| Keyboard Skills | ||
| CONSVTY 110 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 |
| CONSVTY 123 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
| CONSVTY 223 | Keyboard Skills III | 1 |
| Applied Lessons and Studio 1 | ||
| Instrument 101 or Instrument 101J (Freshman Instrument I) | 2 | |
| Instrument 102 or Instrument 102J (Freshman Instrument II) | 2 | |
| Instrument 201 or Instrument 201J (Sophomore Instrument I) | 2 | |
| Instrument 202 or Instrument 202J (Sophomore Instrument II) | 2 | |
| Instrument 300 or Instrument 300J (Studio-4 semesters) | ||
| Musicianship | ||
| CONSVTY 141 | Musicianship I | 4 |
| CONSVTY 142 | Musicianship II | 4 |
| CONSVTY 241 | Musicianship III | 4 |
| CONSVTY 242 | Musicianship IV | 4 |
| Music History and Literature | ||
| CONSVTY 350A | Styles and Genres in Music | 3 |
| CONSVTY 350B | Methods in Musicology | 3 |
| Technique | ||
| CONSVTY 315 | Music Therapy Piano Techniques | 1 |
| CONSVTY 316 | Music Therapy Guitar Techniques | 2 |
| CONSVTY 373G | Instrumental Techniques Guitar | 1 |
| CONSVTY 379A | Music Therapy Clinical Applications - Group Leading Techniques | 2 |
| CONSVTY 379B | Music Therapy Clinical Applications - Music Therapy Interventions | 2 |
| CONSVTY 379C | Music Therapy Clinical Applications: Music Therapy Singing Techniques | 1 |
| CONSVTY 379D | Music Therapy Clinical Applications - Music Therapy Repertoire | 1 |
| Ensemble (4 semesters from the following) | 4 | |
| Jazz Band | ||
| Jazz Orchestra | ||
| Orchestra | ||
| Conservatory Wind Ensemble | ||
| UMKC Choral Union | ||
| Wind Symphony | ||
| Conservatory Singers | ||
| Conservatory Concert Choir | ||
| Clinical Foundations | ||
| Music Therapy | ||
| CONSVTY 138 | Music Therapy Foundations | 2 |
| CONSVTY 317 | Music Therapy Improvisation | 3 |
| CONSVTY 344 | Anatomy for Music Therapy Practice | 2 |
| CONSVTY 395 | Clinical Foundations I | 3 |
| CONSVTY 396 | Clinical Foundations II | 3 |
| CONSVTY 410 | Internship | 1 |
| CONSVTY 410A | Advanced Music Therapy Principles and Applications | 3 |
| CONSVTY 407A | Music Therapy Principles and Applications | 3 |
| CONSVTY 435 | Psychological Foundations of Music | 3 |
| PSYCH 210 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Electives (Psychology or counseling) | 9 | |
| Electives (Non-music) | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 91 | |
| 1 | BASSOON, CELLO, CLARINET, Euphonium (EUPHNM), FLUTE, GUITAR, HORN, OBOE, Percussion (PERCSN), PIANO, Saxophone (SAXOPH), String Bass (STR-BASS), Trombone (TROMB), TRUMPET, TUBA, VIOLA, VIOLIN, VOICE |
Minimum GPA: 2.0
Total Credit Hours: 121
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).
