Outline for Reviewers Comments
Review of Proposal for Master of Science in Music Therapy Documents reviewed: Summary of New Degree Program Proposal Master of Science Degree in Music Therapy (Full Proposal) Tables 1-3 (Excell Spreadsheet) Appendix I –Faculty CVs
Summary:
This proposal is for a 30-credit hour Master of Science in Music Therapy (MSMT) degree program that will offer training in advanced research and clinical practice in music therapy with an emphasis on the use of music technology. The emphasis on music technology is touted as a cutting edge feature that will distinguish this program from existing graduate programs in music therapy. The program would complement the existing Masters Degree in Music Technology offered by the IU School of Music. The proposal also emphasizes the unique opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration available to potential MSMT students at IUPUI, stating “there is no other combination of expertise of this range on one campus for the music therapist anywhere in the country” (p. 3). While some new resources are needed, the proposal emphasizes that the program builds on existing interdisciplinary resources at IU. The connection with Clarian Health, and particularly, the two “strong research teams exploring the benefits of music therapy in various clinical populations” (p. 13) is an attractive feature of the proposal.
Recommendation: Accept pending revisions Discussion: While the proposal makes a strong pitch for the unique nature of the proposed program, there are a number of issues I would like to see clarified.
1. Fall 2004 is noted as the projected date of implementation. This seems overly ambitious considering the time needed to: develop and approve 4 new courses, recruit for and hire a new faculty member, and recruit students into the program. What is the anticipated timeframe for completing these developmental tasks? 2. There are some inconsistencies in different parts of the proposal. On p. 1, for example, the demand for the program is justified by the availability of 23 music therapy positions in the Midwest in the past year. Elsewhere in the document (p. 6 & p. 15) the demand was noted to be 14 positions. Which is accurate? Also, on pp. 1-2 there is a statement claiming “there is no other graduate music therapy program in the Midwest,” yet later it is noted that there is a graduate music therapy program at St. Mary’s College in Indiana (p. 3). A third inconsistency has to do with the need for new financial resources. On p. 2 the statement appears “No new funds are being sought for personnel” alongside the statement “Some new resources will be needed for the new faculty member…” Is the proposal implying that the current School of Music budget can handle the salary costs of a new faculty member, but not the supplies and other resource costs for the new faculty member?
3. A 30-credit hour Masters program seems kind of “light.” (at least in comparison to the Masters degree in Social Work which is 60 credit hours). I wonder how this number of credits compares to other MSMT programs. 4. Partly in relation to number of credit hours, I was curious to note the lack of an internship and the requirement of only 1 course in clinical skills. This seems sketchy in terms of preparation for clinical practice and considering that the title of the degree includes the word “therapy.” Perhaps the comparison is not fair, but in Social Work the undergraduate students complete 10 credit hours (720 clock hours) of internship and the Masters students complete 12 credit hours (960 clock hours) of internship. In Social Work, having completed an internship at the Bachelor’s level is not taken as justification for omitting an internship at the Masters level. It seems the standards are different in music therapy and perhaps I am comparing apples to oranges. Nonetheless, I would like to know more about why an internship is seen as not necessary. The connection with Clarian Health seems like a great opportunity for clinical and/or research internships that could greatly enhance student learning. 5. Under “New Courses to be Developed” on p. 11, I did not see “cultural competence” listed as a topic covered in any of the courses. Assuming that music therapists work with clients from a range of backgrounds, wouldn’t this be critical content to address? 6. Just a point of clarification, who is considered part-time and who is considered full-time? Does a student need to register for 15 credit hours to be considered eligible for financial assistance in the proposed program? 7. Given that the 3 existing undergraduate music therapy programs in Indiana are presented as the major source of applicants, I was curious to know how many students graduate from these three programs annually. I also wondered why the proposal stated on p. 3 that the graduates of the proposed program would be qualified to work in various settings “in Indiana.” Would graduates not be qualified to work in other states? 8. I think it would be helpful to have more concrete data about Student Demand (p. 14) for the program. Has there been any type of market survey? 9. I am not sure if a literature review of national trends in relation to music therapy graduate programs is required for this proposal; however, I think it would have been much more useful to provide a brief overview of those trends instead of simply listing the journals that might address this topic (p. 15). 10. Under “Comparable Programs” on p. 16, the proposal states that there are currently 26 graduate degree programs in music therapy in the US. It would be helpful to know if the existing graduate programs are in high demand, or if they have steady or declining enrollments. 11. The program director might consider assembling a community advisory board of music therapy professionals to advise the program. 12. The letters of support that were noted to be in Appendix IV were absent.