Job Responsibilities
Position: The Department of Music at Truman State University seeks applicants for a tenure-track position in Music Therapy. This is a nine-month, full-time appointment that will begin in August 2024. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to organize and implement the newly created Master of Science in Music Therapy, which will be supported by the Greenwood Center, a new Interprofessional Autism Center located on the Truman campus.

Responsibilities to include:
Guide the application process to secure approval by the American Music Therapy Association for the Master of Science in Music Therapy degree program. (AMTA approval is currently in place for the Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy.)
Coordinate and supervise clinical practica.
Serve as the primary instructor in the graduate program, teaching all courses specific to that major, with core music support provided by other faculty.
Teach undergraduate Music Therapy courses as needed.
Recruit, advise, and mentor students in the program.
Additional duties as assigned, according to the candidate’s area of specialization and needs of the Music Department.

Program: The Department of Music offers degrees of Bachelor of Music with emphases in Composition and Performance, Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy, Master of Arts in Music (Conducting, Composition, Performance and Research
emphases), and minors in Music, Jazz Studies, Musicology, and Musical-Theatre. Additionally, the Department provides content support for the Master of Arts in Education (MAE in Music) degree, the degree by which music students pursue certification to teach in the public schools. Seventeen full-time and six part-time faculty members provide instruction to approximately 140 majors studying music education, vocal and instrumental performance, theory and composition, conducting and musicology. A full complement of ensembles provides training for students and cultural resources for the community. Truman State University is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, and the Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy degree is fully approved by the American Music Therapy Association. For more information visit http://music.truman.edu.

The University: Truman State University is home to a vibrant educational community. The approximately 3,500 students who make up its student body are well prepared for the challenging academics in a supportive environment. More than 25% engage in significant undergraduate research and creative projects. Nearly 40% gain leadership experience, and nearly half plan to go on to graduate or professional school.
Founded in 1867, Truman is known for its focus on student learning and outcomes and places an emphasis on high-impact experiences such as internships, research, and study abroad opportunities. Truman has the highest overall graduation rate among the state’s public four-year colleges and universities. For more than two decades, Truman has been recognized as the No. 1 public university in the Midwest regional category by U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly consistently ranks Truman as one of the best master’s universities in the nation. For more information regarding additional rankings and acknowledgments, visit truman.edu/about.

The Community: Located in northeast Missouri, Kirksville is a cultural and economic hub in the region. In addition to being the home of Truman, Kirksville is the birthplace of osteopathic medicine and features a medical school, dental school and community college, and the Kirksville School District is consistently recognized for academic excellence. The community takes pride in several annual events including the Red, White and Blue Festival and the FLATS Trail Half-Marathon. The charming downtown area features an arts center, as well as several local shops and restaurants. It is also the site of numerous community events including weekly farmers’ markets from May through October, as well as the Red Barn Arts and Craft Festival each fall. Just a few minutes outside of town is beautiful Thousand Hills State Park with hiking and biking opportunities surrounding the 700-acre Forest Lake. Kirksville offers easy access by car to Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago and Des Moines. Daily flights from Kirksville Regional Airport to Chicago O’Hare provide quick access to one of the country’s major metropolitan areas. More information about Kirksville can be found at visitkirksville.com.

Application: Applications must be submitted electronically at http://employment.truman.edu/. For assistance with submitting an application, please contact Human Resources at 660-785-4031 or [email protected]. Completed applications must include:
a letter of application that clearly addresses the qualifications and evaluative criteria listed above
current curriculum vitae
a statement of teaching philosophy for Music Therapy that considers our program’s liberal arts and sciences setting
contact information for at least three references
official or unofficial undergraduate and graduate college transcripts.

Review of applications will begin on March 21, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. If hired, applicants must provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States, official graduate transcripts, or documentation of degrees if transcripts are not available. Final candidates are required to undergo and successfully pass a background check. Questions about this position may be directed to Dr. Jocelyn Prendergast, [email protected].
Required Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Doctorate or ABD in Music Therapy or closely related field. Faculty hired ABD will receive a 10% reduction in salary until the doctorate is completed, which must be before the beginning of a second-year contract.
Board-certified as Music Therapist (MT-BC).
Five years of full-time clinical experience in music therapy or its equivalent in part-time work.
Strong oral, written, and interpersonal skills.
Commitment to collegiality within the learning community.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications:
Completed doctorate in Music Therapy or closely related field.
Clinical experience in behavioral health or a similar healthcare setting, especially with children on the Autism spectrum.
Documented experience supervising music therapy students
Documented teaching experience and a record of student achievement
Commitment to the liberal arts and sciences as a teacher-scholar
The awarding of tenure and promotion is based on success in the University’s teacher-scholar model.