University of Dayton Music Therapy Degree Program Professional Skills, Characteristics, and Dispositions A. Introduction The undergraduate Music Therapy (MUT) curriculum at the University of Dayton culminates with MUS 489 - Music Therapy Internship. This off- campus, full- time training period leads to eligibility for the board certification exam toward the professional credential: Music Therapist Board Certified (MT- BC). All students must have the recommendation of the MUT program coordinator prior to making application for internship. Recommendation is dependent on demonstration of certain professional skills, characteristics, and dispositions (PSCDs). These PSCDs are enumerated in section B of this document. More generally, in order to be recommended for internship, each student must: 1. Complete requisite coursework and be in good academic standing at the time of application. Good academic standing means that the student has earned a C- or better in each core MUT course and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all Music, Music Therapy, and Psychology courses. 2. Achieve (or, in some cases, approximate) the Professional Competencies of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) (see www.musictherapy.org). Competency evaluations occur commensurate with practica courses in which clinical competencies are addressed. The undergraduate MUT degree program is approved by the AMTA. To that end, all students are expected to adhere to ethical and clinical standards of this association during their training. In order to be recommended for internship, each student must: 3. Demonstrate behavior that is consistent with the AMTA Code of Ethics (see www.musictherapy.org). 4. Demonstrate behavior that is consistent with the AMTA Professional Standards of Practice (see www.musictherapy.org). Moreover, because music therapy clinical practice poses unique professional demands and involves significant and sometimes life- changing interactions with clients with various vulnerabilities, all MUT students are expected to demonstrate psychological/emotional maturity and competence. In order to be recommended for internship, each student must: 5. Demonstrate appropriate self- knowledge and understanding for a given level of academic training. 6. Demonstrate psychological/emotional maturity and competence in interactions with clients, peers, and faculty. 7. Engage in personal therapy or similar endeavors when academic, clinical, or 1
interpersonal performance is impaired by unresolved personal issues. Note: Because the client s safety and wellbeing is always of paramount concern, students who demonstrate significant deficits in self- knowledge or psychological maturity and competence, or who refuse to engage in personal therapy when indicated or advised may be disallowed from enrolling in or removed from practica courses or other curricular or co- curricular activities involving direct contact with clients (e.g., Music Therapy Club service learning activities). PSCDs are developmental; that is, with typical maturation, education and training, supervision, and/or personal therapy, most MUT students are able to acquire these requisite skills, attributes, and attitudes. Some students enter the program with fully developed PSCDs; others will need to work diligently to develop them. Evaluation of each student s PSCD status occurs informally on a regular basis through the mechanisms of academic advising, classroom interaction, practica observation, and department faculty consultation. Formal evaluation of each student s PSCD development will be made by a full- time MUT program faculty member (using section B, below) no fewer than three times during that student s stay: 1. At the end of the first academic year. 2. In conjunction with the Department of Music Second Year Review, which normally occurs at the midpoint of the second semester of the second academic year. 3. At the end of the third academic year. If a student is demonstrating marginal performance at the end of the third academic year, a fourth formal evaluation may be conducted in conjunction with a student s request for internship recommendation, which normally occurs at the midpoint of the final academic year. Also, at any time throughout any academic year, a full- time MUT program faculty member may complete an evaluation of a student s PSCD development. This may occur if problems are observed in the expected level of performance. In this case, the faculty member will notify the student that a PSCD form has been completed and will ask to conference with the student. During the conference, the faculty member will provide the student with a copy of the evaluation form and will provide oral feedback on dimensions of concern. Also at this conference, the student will be asked to develop specific strategies for improving the dimension(s) identified as unacceptable. A deadline for remediation will be established. Follow- up will occur during the next regularly scheduled evaluation or during a specially scheduled conference, if warranted. At the third academic year evaluation, each student will be expected to have achieved a minimum of Level 3 or Level 4 on each dimension, as noted in section B, below. Students who fail to achieve the minimum standard will not be recommended for internship. 2
B. Evaluation of Professional Skills, Characteristics, and Dispositions Student: 1. Academic Standing: maintains minimum required grades and GPA (see above) 2. Ethics: Acts with integrity; adheres to the AMTA Code of Ethics. 3. Attendance and Punctuality: attends as expected; is punctual 4. Oral Communication Skills: uses vocabulary appropriate to the situation and demand(s); uses correct grammar; expresses self clearly; listens attentively to others 5. Quality of Written Work: turns in work that is complete, free of error, and organized logically; uses vocabulary appropriate to the situation and demand(s) (e.g., clinical terminology); uses available resources to improve written work 3
6. Quality of Participation in Learning Activities: is well prepared; demonstrates interest and motivation; makes significant contributions (e.g., engages meaningfully in classroom discussions) 7. Critical Thinking Skills: poses thoughtful questions; analyzes, interprets, and explains; is able to make and defend conclusions 8. Collegiality: encourages others growth; invests in collaborative work (e.g., clinical team) 9. Respect for Others: is courteous; demonstrates sensitivity to the feelings and needs of others; follows rules of social etiquette; demonstrates self- control in difficult interactions 10. Initiative: is resourceful; is assertive and self- directed as necessary; assumes leadership as needed 4
11. Response to Constructive Feedback: regularly seeks supervision; is receptive to client, peer, and faculty feedback; shows change in response to feedback 12. Stress Management: recognizes problematic responses to stress; seeks support as warranted; employs strategies to reduce stress responses Note: Level 3 must be achieved by the end of the student s third year 13. Time Management: prioritizes activities toward academic success; makes effective use of available time; meets deadlines 14. Commitment to Diversity and Equity: demonstrates commitment to understanding issues of diversity; attempts to incorporate multiple perspectives in practice 15. Boundaries: demonstrates healthy physical and emotional boundaries with clients, peers, and faculty 5
16. Professional Dress: follows established dress code(s) (see UD MUT Practicum Manual); dresses in a manner appropriate to the situation or demand(s) Comments: SUMMARY (including strategies and deadline for remediation): SIGNATURES Evaluator MUT Student Date 6