Music therapy is an allied health profession in which music interventions are used in an interactive clinical process between a music therapist and the people being served to address their therapeutic needs.
The CSUN music therapy program is an evidence-based curriculum that consists of both didactic and experiential courses that develop the students’ creative, intellectual, and intuitive skills. Students gain hands-on experience through hypothetical and experiential clinical cases to successfully prepare for delivering therapeutic music services. The program is designed to cultivate students’ understanding of music, human development and exceptionality, clinical practice, and the music therapy process.
Through coursework and a six-month internship, music therapy students are expected to demonstrate progress toward the American Music Therapy Association Professional Competencies. The CSUN music therapy program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and the National Association for Schools of Music (NASM). The CSUN Music Therapy Program was established in 1984 by Professor Ron Borczon who directed the program for 38 years. Professor Hilary Yip is the current Director of the program.
Music Therapy Tracks at California State University, Northridge
Applicants are required to complete an audition on their primary instrument or voice as well as interview for the music therapy program. During the interview, applicants will be asked to discuss reasons they want to study music therapy as well as demonstrate guitar, piano, and vocal skills.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Therapy Option is designed to prepare students for music therapy careers in therapeutic applications of music with a variety of clinical populations. After the completion of music therapy coursework and a six-month internship, students earn a BA degree in Music Therapy Option.
The Music Therapy Equivalency Program is designed for individuals who have already completed a bachelor’s degree in music and seek training to become a music therapist. After the completion of music therapy coursework and a six-month internship, equivalency students earn a Music Therapy Certificate.
Completion of either the bachelor’s degree or the equivalency program qualifies students to take the Certification Board for Music Therapists exam to earn the Music Therapist Board Certified (MT-BC) credential.
Graduates of our music therapy programs generally find employment in a variety of settings, including various developmental centers and state facilities in the State of California, private hospitals, adult day health care centers, skilled nursing facilities, and private practice.
