The Master of Music Therapy degree is designed to prepare board-certified or board-eligible music therapists for advanced music therapy practice. In cooperation with their academic advisor, students select Specialty Areas and elective courses that will help meet their individual career objectives. Specialty Areas are Addictions, Expressive Arts, Gerontology, Health Care, Mental Health, Special Education, and General. The General Specialty Area is for students who, in consultation with their advisor, design their own specialty area. This degree is designed to meet the standards established by the American Music Therapy Association and the National Association of Schools of Music for the Master of Music Therapy degree.

The Music Therapy Equivalency

The Music Therapy Equivalency is designed for students who hold undergraduate degrees in fields other than music therapy and who wish to prepare for professional certification as a music therapist. The Equivalency program leads to eligibility to take the national music therapy certification examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists.

Equivalency applicants whose Bachelor’s degree is outside of music will apply for admission to the Bachelor of Music in music therapy as a transfer student. Applicants who hold baccalaureate degrees in music, but not music therapy, are required to complete the requirements for the Music Therapy Equivalency prior to enrolling in advanced music therapy courses.

Combined Equivalency and Master of Music Therapy Degree

Prospective students who hold baccalaureate degrees in music, but not music therapy, may apply for admission to a combined Equivalency and Master of Music Therapy program. In this program, students complete both requirements for eligibility to sit for the examination administered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists and Master’s degree requirements. Students in the combined Equivalency/Master's program may take only equivalency courses in the first year of enrollment and must complete all Equivalency requirements including the internship prior to enrolling in MUS 5050, MUS 5051, or MUS 5900. Continuation in the MMT program requires a grade of at least a B (3.0) in each music therapy course taken in each of the first two semesters of the Equivalency program and a cumulative Equivalency GPA of 3.0. Completion of both the Equivalency and the MMT is likely to require 3 ½ to four years of full-time study, including completion of clinical training.

Applicant Qualifications

Successful applicants for the Master of Music Therapy degree program must have:

• Completed a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
• Acquired proficiency in music theory, music history/literature, music performance and professional music therapy competencies.

Admission Requirements for the Master of Music Therapy Degree

• 3.0 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores from the GRE OR 2.5 GPA in the last earned degree, GRE official scores at the 25th percentile level, and better than 3.0 on the GRE Writing test.
• Be certified or eligible for certification by the Certification Board for Music Therapists, or enrolled in the Music Therapy Equivalency Program. Continuation in the MMT program by Equivalency students requires a grade of at least a B (3.0) in each music therapy course taken in each of the first two semesters of the equivalency program and a cumulative Equivalency GPA of 3.0.
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can address the applicant’s academic, personal and professional suitability for graduate-level work in music therapy.
• Completed Master of Music Therapy Program Questionnaire.
• Live or videotaped audition demonstrating music skills for professional music therapists. (Not required of Equivalency applicants). The audition will consist of three popular, folk, or standard songs, each sung and played on either piano or guitar by the applicant. For the Equivalency/Master's audition, the applicant must demonstrate proficiency on his/her principal instrument, basic piano proficiency, and ability to sing with accurate pitch and pleasing voice quality.
• An interview (live or by web cam) with the Music Therapy Admissions Committee

Students who are neither board-certified in music therapy nor board-eligible should clearly indicate whether they wish to apply for the Equivalency only or the combined Equivalency and MMT. Students who desire the Equivalency only program will apply for undergraduate admission as a transfer (second Bachelor’s degree) student.

Curricular Requirements

• Equivalency
• Master of Music Therapy

In order to maintain a high-quality and individualized program, enrollment in the Master of Music Therapy (MMT) degree program will be limited to 10 students per academic year. Additional students may be admitted into the equivalency-only program. As space become available in the MMT program, students enrolled in the equivalency-only program due to MMT enrollment limits, and who are making good progress in Equivalency program, can be considered for admission to the MMT program.

Transfer of Credits

Students may be permitted to transfer into the MMT degree up to 6 semester hours of appropriate resident work completed in another approved graduate school, provided the work has been included in neither a previous degree nor in a Music Therapy Equivalency.

Assistantships

Graduate assistantships are awarded to full-time graduate students on a yearly basis and carry a $8000 stipend. Responsibilities of qualified graduate assistants in music therapy may include supervision of students completing pre-internship clinical experiences.These music therapy graduate assistantships will be available only to applicants who are board certified music therapists. Finalists for assistantships may be contacted to schedule an interview, either on-site or by phone. (more about MMT assistantships)

Scholarships

The Cratis Williams Graduate School at Appalachian awards several scholarships to outstanding graduate students each year. These scholarships of $1000-$3000 are awarded on the basis of academic excellence, talent, and financial need.

Graduate Faculty in Music Therapy

• Cathy McKinney, Ph.D., MT-BC, Professor, Director of Music Therapy
• Christine Leist, PhD, MT-BC, Assistant Professor, Coordinator of Clinical Training
• Elizabeth Rose, Ph.D., MT-BC, Professor, Music Education and Music Therapy

Clinical and research interests of the faculty include the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music, the interface of music therapy and psychoneuroimmunology, music therapy in mental health, music therapy for older adults, applications of Neurologic Music Therapy, music therapy in cardiac rehabilitation, music therapy in special education, and music in early childhood.

The music therapy program at Appalachian State University is approved by the American Music Therapy Association.

For additional information about graduate study at Appalachian State University, visit the home page on the
Cratis D. Williams Graduate School or contact the office of Graduate Studies at 828-262-2130.

Graduate application materials are available on-line.

For information about the Music Therapy Program at Appalachian State University, contact
Cathy McKinney, Director
Music Therapy Program
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina 28608
musictherapy@appstate.edu