music therapy Bachelor of Arts at SRH Hochschule Heidelberg

Studied music therapy in Heidelberg

Are you passionate about music? Are you interested in a social profession? Then a career as a music therapist is just the thing for you! We offer you the only undergraduate bachelor's degree with state recognition at a university in Germany.

Contents, goals and course of study

Teaching, practice and research under one roof

The music therapy course comprises a total of 3.5 years, in which two intensive internship phases are integrated. Practical music lessons, therapeutic techniques as well as psychological and scientific content are part of the course offer.

Music therapy is the targeted use of music in the therapeutic treatment of people of all ages. As a scientifically based approach, music therapy in acute intervention, rehabilitation and prevention contributes to the activation, stabilization and recovery of various patient groups. In practice and research there is a growing interest in artistic-therapeutic methods as an important addition to standard treatment.

The bachelor's degree at SRH Heidelberg University is the only basic music therapy course with state recognition at a university in Germany and ends with the academic degree Bachelor of Arts. After completing the course, there is the option of continuing to complete a master's degree.

This course is for you if you ...
... want to deal with therapy and health.
... strive for a social profession.
... are interested in medical and psychological questions.
... want to bring their passion for music to work. 

Our philosophy is to combine teaching, practice and research under one roof. Music therapy, musical and psychological / medical course content is imparted in an application-oriented manner. In the music therapy campus outpatient clinic and internships, the knowledge and skills acquired are practiced and trained under the guidance of mentors. Students have the opportunity to actively participate in the faculty's ongoing research projects and to implement their own application-related research questions under supervision in the in-house psychophysiological laboratory, thereby testing their theoretically acquired skills in scientific work.

Medical-psychological course content
You will acquire a sound specialist knowledge in the fields of psychology, medicine, therapy and neurosciences. We offer an overview of the most important psychotherapeutic approaches.

Therapeutic course content
Both specific music therapy and speech therapy techniques are taught for different target groups from the adult, adolescent and children's area. Students learn to plan, carry out and document a therapy process.

Practical music content
All students of the course receive lessons in the mandatory instrument percussion and in the optional instruments piano and / or guitar. In addition, the students expand their skills in joint voice training and in ensemble playing.

Self-experience / supervision
The bachelor's degree comprises approx. 200 hours of group self-experience and 30 hours of group supervision to support the development of a therapist personality

Project phases integrated into the course (internships)
The first block of internships, the “clinical project phase”, includes guided practice and practice (under continuous supervision and supervision) with external partners. Students gain insights into practical fields of application of music therapy based on specific clinical collaboration. In the second internship block, the "In-depth project phase", the students work in typical music therapy fields. In addition to in-depth practical application areas, these can also include collaboration on research projects and other practice-related activities. The in-depth project phase can also be completed abroad! 

Career, prospects

Musically active - therapeutically effective - scientifically supported

The scientific foundations, methodological skills and professional qualifications acquired in the bachelor's degree in music therapy enable graduates to work in a clinical, curative or special education context.

The typical fields of work of our graduates are:

• Psychiatric clinics
• Psychosomatic, psychotherapeutic clinics
• Facilities for mentally and / or physically retarded people
• Neurological specialist clinics
• Pediatric clinics including neonatology
• Geriatric facilities, senior residences
• Music schools, special schools, kindergartens
• Oncological departments and aftercare facilities
• Pain and palliative care centers
• Vocational rehabilitation facilities
• Psychosocial counseling centers

After completing the course, there is the option of continuing to complete a master's degree and thus acquiring the scientific skills for an academic career with the option to do a doctorate.