BACHELOR OF MUSIC THERAPY

Drury University offers the Bachelor of Music Therapy degree. Music therapy offers a rewarding, exciting, and challenging career opportunity for musicians interested in using music to help persons with physical, psychological, cognitive, and social needs. Music therapists are employed in a wide range of facilities serving both adults and children. Types of settings employing music therapists include psychiatric hospitals, special education programs, rehabilitation hospitals, correctional facilities, general hospitals, facilities for senior citizens, veterans' hospitals, and various types of special service agencies. Also, music therapists occupy civil service positions at both federal and state levels of government. 

The prospects for employment in music therapy are excellent. According to Shelly Field, author of 100 Best Careers for the 21st Century, music therapy, among other allied health professions listed, is a promising career. Employment in the health care sector is expected to continue growing well into the twenty-first century.

The standard preparation is a bachelor's degree in music therapy followed by a six-month clinical internship in an approved clinical setting. Following internship the Board Certification examination is administered by The Certification Board for Music Therapists (http://cbmt.org). Board Certification is a national credential qualifying one to accept employment in any state.

The Drury music therapy program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and approved by the American Music Therapy Association (www.musictherapy.org). Four main components of the curriculum are music therapy courses, music courses, behavioral/health/natural science courses, and general education courses. Music therapy course work and clinical experience are integrated throughout the music therapy curriculum. 

The goal of the Drury music therapy program is to provide students with an education that will enable them to excel in the field of music therapy. To achieve this goal, a strong emphasis is placed on research, functional musicianship, and clinical skills at the undergraduate level. The research, functional music and related academic skills are taught by Michael Cassity, PhD, MT-BC while music therapy clinical activities are supervised by Julie Cassity, MS, MT-BC. This combination of classroom experiences and continuous clinical supervision by Board Certified Music Therapists provides Drury students with the unusual opportunity to excel in both clinical and experimental music therapy. 

The 6,183 square-foot Drury University Center for Music Therapy and Wellness is an on-campus music therapy clinic. Outstanding features of this clinic include both large and small activity rooms with adjoining observation rooms. The clinic serves a growing number and variety of clients both on and off campus including children with autism and learning disabilities, assisted living residents, palliative care, and persons with behavioral health needs. A branch of Drury Center, funded by a grant from Lawrence and Barry counties is scheduled to open this year in Monett, Missouri. Clinical services at Drury Center are maintained through the private practice of Julie Cassity, who in turn provides continuous supervision to music therapy practicum students.