Program Overview

The Fundamentals of Music Care: Theory and Context

The Fundamentals of Music Care: Theory and Context is a microcredential course designed for professionals in healthcare, caregiving, education, and community roles. This foundational online course explores the core principles, real-world impact, and practical applications of music care.

Program Highlights

• Earn a microcredential to recognize your understanding of music care
• Fully online course designed to fit your schedule
• Gain practical skills to confidently use music in care settings

Course Features

• Receive a non-academic Microcredential in The Fundamentals of Music Care: Theory and Context
• 14 hours, asynchronous, online course
• Learn from leading industry experts

What You'll Learn

• Understand the goals and impact of music care in today’s healthcare and community settings
• Explore music fundamentals, sound environment, and the voice as instruments of care
• Apply music care strategies and develop a real-world music care initiative

Program Overview

• Online
• Approx. 3-4 hours per week
• Microcredential
• Open enrolment

Who Should Take This Course

• Recreational Therapists and other activity professionals
• Personal Support Workers (PSW) and Health Care Aides (HCA)
• Nurses
• Social workers
• Chaplains
• Educators
• Volunteer and Family Caregivers
• Musicians
• Anyone interested in music in care

Career Opportunities

• Educator
• Recreational Therapist
• Activity Professional
• Personal Support Worker (PSW)
• Nurse
• Social Worker
• Chaplain
• Volunteer and Family Caregiver
• Musician
• Music Care Volunteer
• Wellness Facilitator
• Healthcare Practitioner/Coordinator
• Hospice and Palliative Care

Academic Learning Outcomes

• Describe the goals of music care and how they can be applied to care settings
• Discuss the context and impact of music care within a changing health care system
• Situate music care as an approach rather than a scope of practice
• Recognize various music fundamentals in care
• Demonstrate a sensitivity to the impact of sound and music in care space
• Utilize the music care strategies and brainstorm a proposal for a music care initiative in a real-life care setting
• Build confidence using the voice as an instrument of care
• Outline how musical strategies can be used for wellness and self-care

Admission Requirements

This program is open enrolment, which means there is no formal application or admission procedure. To enrol in a course, simply register online.

Requirements

• Have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent OR
• Be a mature student as defined in the Undergraduate Calendar of McMaster University OR
• Be deemed an exceptional case

Language Requirements

If English is not your native language, you must meet McMaster University’s English proficiency requirements by either qualifying for an exemption or passing a McMaster-approved English test.

Tuition Fees

The tuition fee for the course is $395.00, which does not include HST.

Course Schedule

The course is offered online, with a duration of 14 hours, and is available in the Winter term.

Registration

Registration is open, and payment must be made in full at the time of enrolment. Accepted payment methods include online credit card or debit payments, with Visa, MasterCard, and American Express being accepted credit cards, and Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard being accepted debit cards. Google Pay is also available for faster checkout. Payments can be made from a Canadian Financial Institution, but please note that it may take 2 to 4 business days to arrive in your McMaster student account. Once payment has arrived, you can register for your course. If the amount of the course fees owing is more than what was transferred to your student account, you will be dropped from the course. If you encounter any issues with payment processing, please contact your credit card company if your payment was declined, or wait two hours before attempting your registration again.