Music Therapy, MM
Education, Health, Therapy, arts
Seize the chance to further your career, whether or not you are board-certified, and participate in community partnerships in areas concerning care of elders, young children, people who are neurodivergent and people with physical disabilities.
The Master of Music program in music therapy provides students with rigorous studies in the theory, practice and research of music therapy.
There is a two-year track for students who have completed either the undergraduate music therapy degree or its equivalent and who are board-certified or hold a similar international music therapy credential. Additionally, a three-year track is offered for students who have an undergraduate degree in music but not in music therapy.
The master's degree program fosters an expanded research perspective in music therapy, emphasizing community partnerships and program development with a concentration in the student's area of choice, drawing from a number of possible options. Cognate areas include counseling and counseling psychology, education for people with disabilities, gerontology, social work, audiology and speech-language plus other areas.
- College/school:
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
- Location: Tempe
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
33 credit hours including the required applied project course (MUE 586) and a written comprehensive exam, or
33 credit hours, a thesis and a written comprehensive exam, or
63 credit hours including the required applied project course (MUE 586) and a written comprehensive exam, or
63 credit hours, a thesis and a written comprehensive exam
The degree credit requirements for the two-year track are as follows:
Music therapy core (16 credit hours)
Other studies in music (8 credit hours)
Clinical cognate (9 credit hours)
Three-year track: In addition to the requirements stated above, the three-year track requires 30 credit hours of deficiency coursework for a total of 63 credit hours, including completion of an internship required for certification.
Additional Curriculum Requirements
Completion of diagnostic exams in musicology and music theory are required of all new graduate-level music students before enrolling in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre.
Additional information on degree requirements for this degree is available on the curriculum check sheet located at the bottom of the school's program page.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the music therapy certification examination given by the Certification Board for Music Therapists.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.
Applicants must have earned a U.S. bachelor's or master's degree in music or music therapy from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's or master's degree from an institution in another country that is officially recognized by that country.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- School of Music, Dance and Theatre application, including a resume and personal statement
- official transcripts
- three letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. The School of Music, Dance and Theatre does not offer conditional admission under any circumstances. To meet English proficiency requirements, students should have a TOEFL iBT score of at least 80, or an IELTS overall band score of at least 6.5, or a Pearson Test of English score of at least 60.
All applicants are required to perform a live audition or submit an audition recording. Auditions are scheduled only after complete application materials have been received.
Applicants to the three-year track must complete the prerequisite courses listed below, which are not a part of the coursework for the MM program in music therapy (three-year track) but are required for eligibility to sit for the board certification exam (cbmt.org). These prerequisites may be taken during undergraduate study, at a community college or other university before beginning the MM program in music therapy (three-year track), during summer sessions at ASU, or online through an accredited institution recognized by ASU. An applicant is eligible to apply to the MM program in music therapy (three-year track) while completing these prerequisites and may finish these courses during the first year in the program, although this additional work may present a hardship. The prerequisite courses must be completed before a student begins the internship at the end of their first year of study at ASU, unless prior arrangements have been made. Completing the prerequisite courses before beginning the MM program in music therapy (three-year track) is highly recommended.
- Introduction to Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Overview of Exceptional Children/Special Education
Applicants should visit the program website for more information on application deadlines. To ensure prompt processing of the application, applicants should email MDTAdmissions@asu.edu after submitting an application. An in-depth interview emphasizing the applicant's music therapy philosophy, research activities and clinical interests is scheduled after receipt of complete application materials. A phone interview may be arranged.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Final |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Students will be able to apply advanced musicianship skills across voice, guitar, piano, percussion and technology related tools and instruments to facilitate therapeutic goals for clients.
- Students will be able to evaluate existing literature for gaps in research and then develop and execute a research process to fill an identified gap.
- Students will be able to critically assess music therapists through clinical supervision.
The School of Music, Dance and Theatre graduate programs inspire and empower students to become creative leaders who transform society through music.
Musicians with expertise in performing, composing, teaching, researching, arts advocacy and serving as therapists are in high demand across many sectors and industries, including performing arts organizations, educational institutions, entertainment companies, health and wellness industries, and community arts organizations. Skills such as creativity, collaboration, innovation, entrepreneurship and the focused discipline needed for success as musicians are all highly valued by a wide range of companies and professions.
Career examples include:
- arts administration
- community arts advocate
- music therapist
- performing musician
- public or community school teacher
- university professor
ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.
School of Music, Dance and Theatre
|
MUSIC E167
mdtadmissions@asu.edu
480-965-5069
Admission deadlines
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
