Students entering this program should have a strong background in music. This should include performance experience with a specific instrument or voice type.
Admission into the Major
All students must pass an audition in order to declare a music therapy major. To schedule an audition, students must fill out a separate application to the School of Music, which is available online at music.ua.edu/apply-audition.
Auditions typically take place between January and March prior to fall enrollment. Upon successful audition, students are expected to declare a major formally no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or at 61 semester hours for transfer students). Students can declare a major by completing the Change of Major/Minor Application online under the Student tab of myBama.
Students earning the bachelor of music (BM) degree with a major in music therapy must complete all University, College and departmental degree requirements. These include the general education requirements, the following major requirements and other sufficient credits to total a minimum of 132 applicable semester hours.
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Major Courses | ||
| MUA 010 | Music Convocation (five semesters) | 0 |
| MUS 115 | Theory I: Voice Leading | 4 |
| MUS 117 | Theory II: Diatonic Harmony | 4 |
| MUS 215 | Theory III: Chromatic Harmony | 4 |
| MUS 217 | Theory IV: Advanced Harmony | 4 |
| MUS 180 | Intro Music Therapy | 3 |
| MUS 181 | Music Therapy Practicum | 1 |
| MUS 250 | Music In World Cultures | 3 |
| MUS 251 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUS 252 | Music History II | 3 |
| MUS 323 | Music History III | 3 |
| MUS 280 | Music Therapy Rep | 3 |
| MUS 281 | Music Therapy Techniques | 3 |
| MUS 282 | Music Therapy Practicum (two semesters) | 1 |
| MUS 283 | Obs & Orient to Music Therapy | 3 |
| MUS 382 | Music Therapy Practicum (four semesters) | 1 |
| MUS 351 | Fund Of Conducting | 2 |
| MUS 380 | Intro Psychology Music | 3 |
| MUS 480 | Music in Therapy I | 3 |
| MUS 481 | Music Therapy II | 3 |
| MUS 482 | Music Therapy III | 3 |
| MUS 488 | Comp Exam Music Therapy | 0 |
| MUS 489 | Music Therapy Internship | 6 |
| MUE 251 | Intro To Winds, Str, Per | 3 |
| Principal Course Requirements | ||
| Additional study | 5 | |
| MUA Major Applied (six semesters) | 6 | |
| MUA 220 | Beginning Class Guitar | 2 |
| Ensemble Course Requirements | ||
| MUA ensembles (six semesters) | 6 | |
| Ancillary Courses | ||
| Grades in ancillary courses are not computed in the major GPA. The major in music therapy requires the successful completion of the following courses outside the major: | ||
| PY 101 | Intro To Psychology | 3 |
| PY 358 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| BSC 108 | Intro Biology Non Maj I | 4 |
| BSC 109 | Intro Biology Non Maj II | 4 |
| Credit Hours Subtotal: | 99 | |
| Total Hours | 99 | |
Grade Point Average
A 2.0 grade point average in the major is required for completion of the degree. Please see the Grades and Grade Points section of this catalog for an explanation on grade point average calculations.
Upper-level Residency
A minimum of 12 hours of 300- or 400-level courses in the major must be earned on this campus.
Required Minor
The music therapy major does not require the completion of a minor.
Additional Major Requirements
MUS 121 Intro To Listening does not satisfy the fine arts (FA) general education requirement for music majors. Piano and guitar proficiencies must be passed prior to the internship. Admission to any music therapy course at the 300 level or above is contingent upon:
- the successful completion of MUS 217 Theory IV: Advanced Harmony
- a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0
- grades of C- or higher in all previous music therapy courses or, for equivalency students, acceptance into the program; all requirements must be completed prior to enrollment in MUS 489 Music Therapy Internship
Students are responsible for ensuring that they have met all University, College, major and minor requirements. However, each student must meet with an adviser in the major department for academic planning and to be approved for registration each semester. College advisers are also available for additional assistance with minor, College and University requirements.
MUA Principal Courses
Students must earn a minimum of 6 hours and six semesters in a single instrument or voice. These courses should be chosen from the following courses:
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| MUA 171 & MUA 271 & MUA 371 | Piano (Majors) and Piano (Majors) and Piano (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 172 & MUA 272 & MUA 372 | Organ (Majors) and Organ (Majors) and Organ (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 174 & MUA 274 & MUA 372 | Voice (Majors) and Voice (Majors) and Organ (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 175 & MUA 274 & MUA 375 | Violin (Majors) and Voice (Majors) and Violin (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 176 & MUA 276 & MUA 376 | Viola (Majors) and Viola (Majors) and Viola (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 177 & MUA 277 & MUA 377 | Cello (Majors) and Cello (Majors) and Cello (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 178 & MUA 278 & MUA 378 | Double Bass (Majors) and Double Bass (Majors) and Double Bass (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 179 & MUA 279 & MUA 379 | Flute (Majors) and Flute (Majors) and Flute (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 180 & MUA 280 & MUA 380 | Oboe (Majors) and Oboe (Majors) and Oboe (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 181 & MUA 281 & MUA 381 | Bassoon (Majors) and Bassoon (Majors) and Bassoon (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 182 & MUA 282 & MUA 382 | Clarinet (Majors) and Clarinet (Majors) and Clarinet (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 183 & MUA 283 & MUA 383 | Saxophone (Majors) and Saxophone (Majors) and Saxophone (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 184 & MUA 284 & MUA 384 | Trumpet (Majors) and Trumpet (Majors) and Trumpet (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 185 & MUA 285 & MUA 385 | French Horn (Majors) and French Horn (Majors) and French Horn (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 186 & MUA 286 & MUA 386 | Trombone (Majors) and Trombone (Majors) and Trombone (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 187 & MUA 287 & MUA 387 | Euphonium (Majors) and Euphonium (Majors) and Euphonium (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 188 & MUA 288 & MUA 388 | Tuba (Majors) and Tuba (Majors) and Tuba (Majors) | 6 |
| MUA 189 & MUA 289 & MUA 389 | Percussion (Majors) and Percussion (Majors) and Percussion (Majors) | 6 |
Additional Study Courses
In addition to the principal voice, piano or other instrument, students must earn a minimum of five hours of additional study:
Voice Principal
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| MUA 121 & MUA 122 & MUA 123 & MUA 124 or | Class Piano I and Class Piano II and Class Piano III and Class Piano IV | 4 |
| MUA 299 | Piano Proficiency | |
| MUA 271 | Piano (Majors) | 1-4 |
Piano Principal
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| MUE 381 | Vocal Methods Lab | 1 |
Other Instrument Principal
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Select four semesters of the following: | ||
| MUA 121 & MUA 122 & MUA 123 & MUA 124 or | Class Piano I and Class Piano II and Class Piano III and Class Piano IV | 4 |
| MUA 299 | Piano Proficiency | |
| Piano (Majors) | ||
MUA Ensemble Courses
Six semesters of ensembles should be chosen from the following courses:
| Code and Title | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| MUA 150 | Huxford Symphony Orchestra | 1 |
| MUA 250 | Huxford Symphony Orchestra | 1 |
| MUA 350 | Huxford Symphony Orchestra | 1 |
| MUA 152 | Wind Ensemble | 1 |
| MUA 252 | Wind Ensemble | 1 |
| MUA 352 | Wind Ensemble | 1 |
| MUA 153 | Marching Band | 1 |
| MUA 253 | Marching Band | 1 |
| MUA 353 | Marching Band | 1 |
| MUA 154 | Symphonic Band | 1 |
| MUA 254 | Symphonic Band | 1 |
| MUA 354 | Symphonic Band | 1 |
| MUA 156 | Percussion Ensemble | 1 |
| MUA 256 | Percussion Ensemble | 1 |
| MUA 356 | Percussion Ensemble | 1 |
| MUA 158 | Contemporary Ensemble | 1 |
| MUA 258 | Contemporary Ensemble | 1 |
| MUA 358 | Contemporary Ensemble | 1 |
| MUA 159 | Jazz Ensembles | 1 |
| MUA 259 | Jazz Ensemble | 1 |
| MUA 359 | Jazz Ensembles | 1 |
| MUA 160 | Opera Workshop | 1 |
| MUA 260 | Opera Workshop | 1 |
| MUA 360 | Opera Workshop | 1 |
| MUA 161 | Opera Production | 1 |
| MUA 261 | Opera Production | 1 |
| MUA 361 | Opera Production | 1 |
| MUA 162 | University Chorus | 1 |
| MUA 262 | University Chorus | 1 |
| MUA 362 | University Chorus | 1 |
| MUA 163 | University Singers | 1 |
| MUA 263 | University Singers | 1 |
| MUA 363 | University Singers | 1 |
| MUA 167 | Jazz Combo | 1 |
| MUA 267 | Jazz Combo | 1 |
| MUA 367 | Jazz Combo | 1 |
| MUA 157 | Concert Band | 1 |
| MUA 257 | Concert Band | 1 |
| MUA 357 | Concert Band | 1 |
Career opportunities include full-time work as a performing musician, full-time opportunities as a licensed music therapist, and many other opportunities within the music industry.
Types of Jobs Accepted
Recent graduates from The University of Alabama are very successful in major symphony orchestras, military bands and jazz, as freelancers, and as working music therapists.
Learn more about opportunities in this field at the Career Center