An associate\u2019s degree awarded by a community college is generally the shortest college degree program you can complete. However, this two-year degree isn\u2019t enough to work in many careers, including music therapy. That doesn\u2019t mean, though, that aspiring music therapists can\u2019t reap the benefits of beginning their studies at a community college. Usually, community college students who wish to become music therapists will begin their studies with an associate\u2019s degree in music, rather than a specialized program in music therapy, with the goal of subsequently completing a bachelor\u2019s degree in music therapy at a four-year school. Before they decide to go for a two-year music degree, aspiring music therapists should carefully consider what the transfer process will entail and weigh the benefits and drawbacks of going to community college.<\/p>\n
The two-year curriculum of an associate\u2019s degree is simply not long enough to encompass all of the coursework needed to get a grasp of the clinical practice of music therapy. As a result, you\u2019re unlikely to find a community college that offers an associate\u2019s degree program in music therapy specifically. At the minimum, you will need a bachelor’s degree, with a curriculum that includes extensive fieldwork requirements, to become board-certified as a music therapist<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, the curriculum of an Associate of Arts<\/a> (A.A.), Associate of Fine Arts<\/a> (A.F.A.) or Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in music will often serve the dual purpose of helping you complete your general education requirements and start building your knowledge of music foundations. In an associate\u2019s degree program in music, you will typically take classes in music theory, applied music, piano, aural skills, ensembles and sight singing and ear training.<\/p>\n As you work toward your associate\u2019s degree, you will take a series of classes in certain subjects, like music theory and piano, that increase in difficulty over as many as four courses. <\/strong><\/p>\n Although starting your music theory education with an associate\u2019s degree in music is an option, it\u2019s not one that students should choose without considerable research. Otherwise, you could end up taking longer to earn your degree than you expected, wasting time and money in the process.<\/p>\n Although a bachelor\u2019s degree is often referred to as a four-year degree, many music therapy bachelor\u2019s degree programs<\/a> take longer \u2013 often four and a half to five years. This longer timeline to graduation is primarily because programs approved by the American Music Therapy Association<\/a> must include 1,200 hours of clinical training. However, to accommodate the need for fieldwork, which often includes a full-time internship that lasts up to six months, many programs require students to begin taking their major coursework early.<\/p>\n As a result, transfer students may be at a disadvantage and may need to be in school longer to complete the bachelor\u2019s degree requirements. Some bachelor\u2019s programs in music therapy<\/a> encourage students to transfer after one year at community college, rather than completing all 60 credits needed to earn an associate\u2019s degree, so that they don\u2019t fall behind in the curriculum.<\/p>\n Different schools have different transfer policies, with some generously accepting all credits and courses and others being very selective. \u00a0Unfortunately, some four-year schools will not accept a community college music theory course as equivalent to their own. <\/strong><\/p>\n There are both good and bad points of a community college education. On one hand, it is often far cheaper to take classes at a community college. The courses and credits themselves are often only a fraction of the costs that you will encounter at four-year colleges and universities. You may also save money on fees and other costs, including the price of on-campus room and board at a four-year school that may be far from your current living situation.<\/p>\n Despite the advantages, students shouldn\u2019t forget about the hassles of transferring to a four-year school. The process isn\u2019t always seamless, especially if you\u2019re transferring between states, which may have different educational and licensing requirements for music therapists. If you aren\u2019t vigilant about making plans for transfers in advance, you may find yourself having to repeat courses at your university \u2013 which means paying twice and spending twice the amount of time on the same coursework. You may also take longer to graduate. Historically, many community college students who originally intended to transfer to a four-year program instead cut their education short \u2013 which, for an aspiring music therapist, will prevent you from getting started in the career you want.<\/p>\n With many states implementing programs that make community college tuition even more affordable \u2013 and in many cases, free \u2013 it\u2019s no wonder so many students are interested in starting their education with an associate\u2019s degree. <\/strong><\/p>\n Additional Resources <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n What Can I Do With a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Music Therapy?<\/a><\/p>\n Should I Get a Master\u2019s Degree in Music Therapy?<\/a><\/p>\n Who Should Consider a Post-Master\u2019s Certificate in Music Therapy?<\/a><\/p>\n Will a Ph.D. Help Me in the Field of Music Therapy?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\nTransferring to a Four-Year School for Music Therapy<\/h2>\n
The Pros and Cons of Community College<\/h2>\n