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MUSC 155

MUSC 155: Professional Foundations II

Prerequisites: MUSC 154, a declared major of music therapy, or permission of instructor  

Credit Hours: (3)

This lecture-based course is a continuation of Professional Foundations I and will serve to deepen students’ knowledge of the professional requirements and dispositions of an ethical and competent music therapist. The course will focus on music- and non-music-based assessment, treatment planning, and evaluation of client progress, writing clinical goals and objectives, an introduction to music therapy research and an introduction to research writing/thinking in the discipline. Students will have the opportunity to observe upper level students in their music therapy clinical practicum placements and continue to develop clinical musicianship skills on piano, voice, guitar, and percussion.

 

Detailed Description of Course Content

  • Music and non-music-based assessment measures
  • Treatment planning and collecting and evaluating clinical data
  • Writing client-centered goals and objectives
  • Evaluation of client-progress in therapy
  • Reading and interpreting current research in the discipline
  • Compiling strong research evidence into a literature review that will inform clinical thinking/understanding
  • Professional ethics, dispositions, relationships, and expectations within professional settings
  • Cultural evaluation, awareness, and sensitivity within therapeutic and working environments
  • Introduction to clinical musicianship

 

  • Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

    This course may include the following instructional strategies: lecture, experientials, field-experiences, student presentations, cooperative/group learning, writing-to-learn activities, oral and musical communication activities, and role-playing/simulation.
     

    Goals and Objectives of the Course

    The following professional competencies as outlined by the American Music Therapy Association will be introduced in this course.

 

  • A basic knowledge of the potential, limitations, and problems of populations specified in the Standards of Clinical Practic
  • Philosophical, psychological, physiological, and sociological basis of music as therapy.
  • Strategies for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships with clients and team members that are appropriate and conducive to therapy
  • An awareness of the influence of race, ethnicity, language, religion, marital status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, ability, socioeconomic status, or political affiliation on the therapeutic process
  • Clinical and research ethics as outlined by the American Music Therapy Association Code of Ethics
  • The importance of accepting criticism/feedback with willingness and follow through in a productive manner
  • The importance of expressing thoughts and personal feelings in a consistently constructive manner
  • The ability to be critically self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses.
  • The importance of having knowledge of and respect for diverse cultural backgrounds.
  • Foundational skills leading toward the ability to understand and interpret information in the professional research literature
  • Basic knowledge of the purpose and methodology of historical, quantitative, and qualitative research
  • Ability to perform a data-based literature search

 

 

Assessment Measures

Mid-term and final exams, a series of papers across the semester designed to develop writing in the discipline, music playing experiences to evaluate music skills and abilities, reflections on readings and quizzes on readings, and literature review.
 

Other Course Information

 

Review and Approval

April, 2019