Music Therapy

BAMajor

A Music Therapy student sings and plays guitar.

If you want to combine your love of music with the love of helping others, Montclair State University’s Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy will prepare you for a meaningful career in healthcare, education or community settings. With access to the David Ott Lab for Music and Health, you will learn about the role of digital music in health-promoting practice and research.

Approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), this 4½-year program blends music, psychology and clinical training with extensive performance study on your primary instrument. In addition to coursework, you’ll complete a supervised internship. These placements, some offering stipends or housing, provide the hands-on experience and mentorship you need to refine your clinical skills before entering the profession.

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the Music Therapist–Board Certified (MT-BC) exam, opening doors to careers in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, nursing care and private practice.

Program Highlights

  • AMTA-approved program established in 1969
  • Combines music, psychology and clinical training
  • 4-year program with final year as a 1,020-hour, supervised internship at one of more than 150 sites nationwide
  • Experienced faculty and strong academic advising
  • Pathway to Music Therapist–Board Certified (MT-BC) credential
  • Access to the David Ott Lab for Music and Health, an innovative space for research and education on the role of digital music technologies in the promotion of human wellbeing in its various forms.

Primary Instrument Areas

  • Guitar
  • Keyboard
  • Strings, Brass, Woodwind, and Percussion
  • Voice

See the curriculum.

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Admissions and Audition Requirements

All music applicants must complete an audition for the Cali School of Music. Your audition may consist of one or more of the following: a formal audition, an interview, a portfolio submission. The combination differs for each program.

Review application and audition requirements here, paying special attention to both the program requirements and the repertoire.


What our students say!

“The music therapy program is incredible. All of our professors are literally in the textbooks we read, and the profession is blooming. Montclair did a great job of helping me stretch, expand and find my voice again.”

Alyssa Muñiz
Program: Music Therapy, 2025

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Questions? We’re Here to Help.

If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please contact Undergraduate Admissions.

Office of Undergraduate Admissions

The office of Undergraduate Admissions will guide you every step of the way on your journey from learning about the University and its offerings, to applying for a program through to acceptance and enrollment.

John J. Cali School of Music

The John J. Cali School of Music is a comprehensive, professional school of music centered on preparing the creative leaders of tomorrow. The school is dedicated to a premier artistic and academic education offering exceptional conservatory-level training in best-in-class facilities.

Next Steps

Wherever you learn—on campus or online—Montclair State University offers the programs, community and support to help you reach your goals. Take the next step today.

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