Your Future in Music Therapy

Music therapy is the use of music to address a nonmusical therapeutic goal. Music therapists work in a variety of settings: special education, preschools, residential facilities for adults with developmental disabilities, general medical hospitals, children’s hospitals, hospice, rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes/assisted living facilities, community centers for senior adults, and domestic violence shelters. In addition to the liberal arts and music classes, in order to perform well on the national music therapy board exam, students need psychology, sociology, education, criminal justice, anatomy and physiology courses, and music therapy courses in MT Methods, behavior modification, research methods, guitar; proficiency in piano, voice, and guitar; and at least 1200 hours of clinical experience.

CSU is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

Jennifer Whipple

Jennifer Whipple

Professor and Director of Music Therapy
Whittington Hall
P843-863-7782
Ejwhipple@csuniv.edu

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Music Therapy: it's a calling

Faith integration, small class sizes, the close-knit nature of our students' relationships with one another and the clinical experiences we plan for Charleston Southern students are what set us apart from other programs nationwide. Our graduates also have 100% internship completion, 100% job/graduate school placement and high first-attempt board certification pass rates for the past five-plus years.

As a Music Therapy major, you’ll take courses like…

  • Musicianship
  • Music Therapy Clinical Experience
  • Behavior Modification in Music Therapy
  • Child Psychology
  • The Influence of Music on Behavior
  • Psychology of Music 

Graduates are equipped for a variety of career paths.

  • Music Therapist
  • Case Manager
  • Social Worker
  • Rehabilitation Therapist
  • Activity Director
  • Music Teacher 

You can choose from these emphases.

The Bachelor of Arts in music therapy (instrumental and piano) degree is for students who wish to pursue extensive instrumental study. Both emphases will help specialize and hone your individualized skill sets and equip you for the career you want to pursue after graduation. The emphasis in either instrumental or piano will be partnered with internships that allow you to practice your skills in the real world to get experience and potential jobs in your desired industry.

This degree program offers students an opportunity to perfect their craft, delving into technique, stage presence, multilanguage diction and acting. Students are afforded many opportunities to work in various ensembles and stage productions as well as solo and chamber recitals to hone their abilities. Students prepare two solo recitals and also have opportunity to work with area ensembles such as the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Summerville Orchestra, Lowcountry Voices and more. Additionally, students have many opportunities to perform both on and off campus at regional festivals, churches, and schools.

The Bachelor of Arts in music therapy (vocal) degree is for students who wish to pursue extensive voice study. This emphasis will help specialize and hone your individualized skill sets and equip you for the career you want to pursue after graduation. The emphasis in voice will be partnered with internships that allow you to practice your skills in the real world to get experience and potential jobs in your desired industry.

You will have opportunity to perfect your craft, developing technique, tone, musicianship, repertoire, stage presence, pedagogy and professionalism. Students are afforded many opportunities to perform in various ensembles as well as solo and chamber recitals to hone their abilities. You will prepare two solo recitals and also have opportunities to perform in the community at various venues and on regional, national and international trips.

 

A view from above a Horton School of Music concert on the Lightsey Chapel Auditorium stage.

Horton School of Music and Performing Arts

The Horton School of Music and Performing Arts prepares students for careers as professional musicians, educators and music therapists as well as serving as a center of musical art and culture for the Charleston region and beyond. We also provide numerous courses and performance opportunities for nonmusic majors, as well as opportunities for members of the community to learn about music as a part of human culture and experience.

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An exterior drone view of horton school of Whittington Hall at CSU.
explore our facilities

Lightsey Chapel Auditorium & Lightsey Music Building

The chapel seats 1,500 and is a multipurpose facility equipped with a modern stage and support equipment. The Margaret Kelly Hamrick Prayer Room is located at the front of the building. Named for W. Norris and Nell Peeples Lightsey.

The music building, located behind Lightsey Chapel, houses faculty offices for the Horton School of Music, music practice facilities and the theatre program’s Black Box Theatre. Named for Nell Peeples Lightsey.

explore our facilities

Whittington Hall

The building houses music classrooms, a rehearsal hall, music practice rooms, a music technology lab and faculty offices. Named for Jeff and Bernice Whittington.

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Excellence. That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of CSU’s music therapy program. The professors are topnotch and known nationally for their leadership in music therapy, but more than that, they know you as an individual, care for you, and celebrate with you when you reach milestones in your career. At CSU, I was pushed to learn the history of music therapy, hone my musical and therapeutic skills, and most importantly, become an advocate for the music therapy profession. If I had to go back and redo my college career, I wouldn’t change a single thing. All of my experiences, clinical and in the classroom, led me to become a board certified music therapist (MT-BC). Now working in the healthcare profession, I am proud to say I graduated from CSU with a music therapy degree. I’m well-prepared, well-educated and passionate about the work I get to do every day.

Sarah Altman Gaddy / music therapy, ’17Music Therapist, Amos Cottage Therapeutic Day Program, Wake Forest Baptist Health

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