Cal State San Bernardino will offer a new Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy, starting in fall 2026. The program prepares students for careers in an expanding healthcare field that uses structured musical activity to support physical rehabilitation, emotional well-being, and developmental growth across the lifespan.

Students who are considering this degree should apply through the Cal State Apply website by March 31 and complete the Music Therapy Entrance Form by March 31.

Music therapy is a healthcare profession that uses structured musical activity to promote growth, physical rehabilitation, and emotional health in children, adults, and the elderly. Therapists often work in hospitals, physical therapy and mental health clinics, assisted living centers and rehabilitation centers, community programs, and schools as part of coordinated care teams, serving their clients through continued assessment, treatment planning and evidence-based care.

The Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy program is accredited by the American Music Therapy Association and the National Association of Schools of Music. The program requires four years of on-campus coursework (or two years for transfer students who enter with an Associate of Arts in Music), followed by a two-semester clinical internship after completion of academic requirements.

Coursework integrates music performance and theory with psychology, human development and hands-on clinical practice. Together, these components are designed to prepare graduates to sit for the Board Certification in Music Therapy (MT-BC), the professional credential required for practice in the field.

To learn more about this program, visit the CSUSB Music Therapy webpage.