“I am very pleased by this and very grateful to the music faculty for all of the devotion they give to their teaching and for the hard work they gave to preparing for this accreditation visit,” said Dr. Michael Garrett, head of the Division of Fine and Performing Arts.

“My thanks to Dr. (Rick) Montalto, Dr. (Richard) Bailey, Dr. (Bruce) Lesley, Mr. (James) Allen, Dr. (Cherry) Dunn, Ms. (Kristen) Cole and Ms. (Linda) Segrest and to all of the others on campus who contributed to the success of this effort.”

MUW was the first public institution in the state to receive NASM accreditation in 1936. The W currently reapplies every 10 years.

The process consisted of preparing a self study, having a site visit by a visiting team appointed by the association, getting the report back, evaluating it, preparing a response and then sending it to NASM's Commission on Accreditation where it was considered at their annual meeting in November 2002.

The music therapy program approval process consisted of preparing a plan approval application that went to the Commission on Accreditation.

Garrett said NASM accreditation is very important to the university and its music programs.

“NASM members are generally recognized as having stronger programs with a higher standard of accountability than those that are not accredited,” he said. “It means we can publicize that all of our programs are fully accredited by both SACS and NASM, and therefore our graduates will be better positioned to apply for graduate school, necessary internships and professional licensing.”

The W offers a bachelor of arts in music with emphasis in general music or in commercial music, a bachelor of music in music education and a bachelor of music in music therapy.

The only public university in Mississippi with this unique program, music therapy is the use of music activities, experiences and interactions by a board-certified music therapist in a therapeutic setting to restore, improve or maintain mental and physical health.

In order to maintain a clinical practice, music therapists must complete an approved bachelor’s-level degree program in music therapy, complete at least a 1,020-hour approved music therapy internship and pass the National Board Certification Exam in Music Therapy.

In addition to receiving approval from NASM, MUW’s music therapy program also has received approval from the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). Full accreditation will not occur until The W has its first graduate in the program.