| Music Therapy Degree
Music Therapy : Transform Music Into Healing
The Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Music Therapy at the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) is your gateway to a rewarding career. Our professional degree program expertly combines musical skills with specialized training in psychology and natural sciences, preparing you to enter the professional world.
Harnessing the Therapeutic Power of Music
Embark on a journey that seamlessly blends Music courses with behavioral and natural sciences. Our program equips you with the expertise you need to use your musical talents in diverse clinical settings and make a real difference in people's lives.
Music Therapy is a long-known approach to enhancing health and wellness. From alleviating stress, anxiety and depression to supporting immune function and providing pediatric and palliative care, music therapists play a vital role in interdisciplinary healthcare teams. With our program, you’ll develop the musicianship and therapeutic skills needed to impact lives positively.
UIW is proud to be one of the only universities in Texas offering an undergraduate degree in Music Therapy. Become part of an exclusive group of professionals dedicated to transforming lives through the healing power of music!
Invest In Your Future
$57,120
Median annual salary for Music Therapy professionals*
4%
Expected growth for the profession from 2022 to 2032*
13:1
Student-to-faculty ratio - your teachers know you by name
Career Outlook and Opportunities
UIW students working toward a B.M. in Music Therapy have the opportunity for a very rewarding career path following graduation. UIW graduates can work in medical settings, education, rehabilitation centers, hospice, day centers for children and adults, eldercare and memory care facilities.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 9% job growth rate for jobs in the creative arts therapies industry between now and 2032. The median annual income for music therapists was $60,800.
UIW graduates who become music therapists can find jobs at general and psychiatric hospitals, community mental health agencies, rehabilitation centers, day care facilities, nursing homes, schools and in private practices.
Examples of career opportunities in the Music Therapy field:
- Educator
- Hospice Music Therapist
- Music Therapist
- Music Therapist, Behavioral Health
- Music Therapist, Rehabilitative Health
- Program Developer or Supervisor
- Researcher
Source: O-Net Online - 2023.
How It Works
Starting your journey into higher education has never been this easy!
✔ Step 1
Connect with UIW & apply
✔ Step 2
We help you get tuition
✔ Step 3
Start your degree
What You Get by Choosing UIW
At UIW, we believe in providing our students with everything they need to succeed!
Financial Assistance
99% of UIW freshmen received financial assistance! We work with you to save on your tuition.
$24,651
The average amount of need-based scholarships and grants awarded to full-time, first-time freshmen.
Help Your Community
UIW's offers clinical sessions to the community. Students have the opportunity to work in the music therapy suite.
Real Work Experience
As part of your Music Therapy major, you complete a 1,056-hour internship at an approved site in South Texas. We make sure you are fully trained and ready when you graduate!
A Vibrant Community
Music Therapy students at UIW enjoy a vibrant student community. UIW is home to many student organizations, state-of-the-art facilities, opportunities to explore and chances to learn from award-winning faculty and students.
Accredited Programs
UIW's Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy is accredited by the American Music Therapy Association (ATMA).Meet Our Faculty
Cathy Befi-Hensel
Music Therapy Program Director
Dr. Cathy Befi-Hensel is an Assistant Professor of Music at UIW, where she serves as the Director of the Music Therapy program and teaches several music therapy courses. As a Board-Certified Music Therapist and Neurologic Music Therapist, Dr. Befi has worked with clients across a wide range of ages and diagnoses, and she remains an active clinician, facilitating and supervising sessions in the UIW Music Therapy Services Center.
She co-authored the book "Music, Memory, and Meaning: How to effectively use music to connect with aging loved ones," which is available on Amazon. Dr. Befi’s research interests include functional music skill assessment, music therapy student preparedness, and the role of music therapy in interdisciplinary rehabilitative treatment.
Rose Anzel
Lecturer
Rose Anzel is a board-certified music therapist and licensed master social worker. She earned her Bachelor of Music Therapy at Loyola University New Orleans and her Master of Social Work at the University of Southern California.
Rose has spent much of her 15-year career working with children of all abilities. She owns Crescendo Center PLLC, a music therapy practice located in Southtown San Antonio. In 2022, Rose joined the faculty of the University of the Incarnate Word as a Lecturer in Music Therapy.
Christopher Lippke
Instructor
Chris Lippke is a board-certified music therapist, professional musician and music educator. In addition to teaching in the Music Therapy department at UIW, he teaches music lecture courses and individual instruction (percussion) at Central Texas College in Killeen, and is the music therapist for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services unit at Austin State Hospital.
When he's not teaching or providing music therapy services for those in need, Chris can be found playing drums/percussion around the central Texas area in a variety of performance settings.