Current Students
Undergraduate
Graduate
Nonmajors

Graduate Degrees - Music Therapy

Graduate Music Therapy Programs

Combined Equivalency and MA in Music Therapy

Students may apply for a combined Equivalency and MA program. In this program, students complete both certification requirements and master's degree requirements. In this program, students must complete all undergraduate clinical requirements including the internship prior to application for graduation. Continuation in the graduate program requires a grade of at least a B in core music therapy courses taken in the first semester of the equivalency program. Advanced clinical courses require completion of undergraduate prerequisites in music therapy prior to enrollment. For example, three semesters of practicum must be completed before the student can enroll in graduate practicum. Completion of both the equivalency plus master's is likely to take between 2 to 3 years of full-time study.

MA in Music Therapy (prior certification in Music Therapy)

Applicants who already hold professional certification as a music therapist take courses that focus on advanced clinical skills, advanced knowledge in areas of specialization, research methodology, and administrative aspects of music therapy. The hours required in the undergraduate curriculum's music therapy core courses and internship may not be included in the master's degree program in music therapy. As a culmination to graduate study, the student must complete a comprehensive examination and a clinical and/or research project (capstone project) in music therapy. A full-time student is likely to take 1 to 2 years of full-time study.

Combined MA in Music Education and Equivalency Program

Students with an undergraduate degree in music education, and who are interested in graduate studies may work toward the MA in Music (concentration in Music Education) while completing the requirements for the equivalency program. Several courses required for the equivalency program are also requirements for the MA in Music Education. Applicants interested in this degree program should contact the director of Music Education for further information about that program. This arrangement is most applicable for those persons interested in employment in the public schools.

Back to Top

Applicant Qualifications

Applicants for graduate study must have successfully completed

  • an academic curriculum for the undergraduate music therapy degree or a certification “equivalency” program, OR
  • may enroll concurrently in the combined Equivalency and MA in Music Therapy program.

Those students who plan concurrent completion of the equivalency requirements with the master’s degree must complete all undergraduate clinical requirements prior to application for graduation. Advanced clinical courses require completion of undergraduate certification requirements in music therapy prior to enrollment (e.g., students must complete the sequence of three semesters of practicum, 25:94, as prerequisites to the proposed semester of graduate practicum).

The hours required in the undergraduate curriculum’s music therapy core courses and internship may not count toward semester hour requirements in the master’s degree program in music therapy. At least one-half of credit required must be in courses open to graduate students only. As a culmination to graduate study, the student must complete a comprehensive examination and a clinical and/or research project in music therapy.

Back top Top

Admission Requirements

  1. Minimum grade point average of 3.0.
  2. Must be a certified music therapist, or in the process of completing certification requirements through the equivalency program. A 3.0 grade-point average must be achieved during the first semester of music therapy equivalency courses in order to continue in the master’s program.
  3. Three letters of recommendation
  4. A term paper or research paper completed in prior academic work that demonstrates scholarly accomplishments and potential.
  5. A 3-page essay by candidates outlining
    • why they are interested in graduate study in music therapy
    • their scholarly and personal characteristics that contribute to potential success as a clinician or music therapy instructor
  6. Because we plan to limit enrollment to only 10 students, we will determine the final selection of students (from those who have successfully fulfilled the requirements 1-5 noted above) by conducting a phone or on-campus interview.
  7. Students enrolling in the equivalency program must demonstrate adequate functional skills on folk guitar and functional piano by passing a competency test in each of these areas. Students who fall short of the basic competency will be required to complete instruction in these areas as part of their equivalency program.

Back to Top

Enrollment Limits

In order to provide high-quality and individualized instruction, we limit enrollment of active (that is, students enrolled in classes on campus and students actively working on the capstone project from off campus) master’s candidates to 10 students in any academic year. We will admit additional students into the equivalency program without the master’s degree. As slots open up in the master’s program, students enrolled in the equivalency-only program because of limits on the enrollment in the master’s program, and who are making good progress in core courses in the major, can be considered for admittance to the master’s program.

Students should clearly indicate in their application whether they wish to apply for

  1. the equivalency program only,
  2. the combined equivalency and MA program, or
  3. the MA program for certified music therapist. Students interested in the combined equivalency and MA in Music Education should apply to the Music Education area and specify their interest in concurrent enrollment in the equivalency program.

Residence Requirements

A minimum of 24 s.h. after admission to the Master’s program must be completed at the University of Iowa, of which, 8 must be completed on campus.

Capstone project

In the field of music therapy, research papers and presentations are the primary outcome for graduate and post-graduate scholarship. In lieu of a formal thesis, we require a capstone project, a written paper that is suitable for submission to a major professional journal. This can either be an independent project, or a collaborative project. However, in the case of collaboration, the individual must be able to demonstrate adequate contribution to the project (that is equivalent to the scholarship required for an independent project or first authorship on a paper), and this plan must be approved by the major project advisor as suitable for the capstone project. Students begin the initial planning of the project in research seminar and complete the project in subsequent semesters as independent study with the direction of the advisor. The capstone project is due to the major advisor at the time of completion of the required internship for those students in the equivalency program, and by the final semester of enrollment for MA student with prior certification.

Final Examination

The master’s degree requires a written final examination. Such an examination will not duplicate course examinations. It will be evaluated by an examining committee consisting of at least three members of the graduate faculty, two of whom are from music therapy or music education. Criteria for judgement are outlined in the School of Music graduate student’s handbook.

Grade requirements

Grade requirements will reflect those of the School of Music. In addition, students must achieve a grade of “C” or higher in all core music therapy courses in the equivalency program in order for them to count toward professional certification.

Transfer of credits

Students may transfer up to 6 s.h. from another accredited university (if accepted by the registrar) of credits not required for undergraduate degree completion. [more information]

Assistantships

Because the assistantship in music therapy requires some clinical supervision, it will be available only to applicants who have already completed undergraduate programs and certification requirements in music therapy. Students interested in the combined equivalency program and MA in Music Education should contact the head of Music Education for information about assistantships in that area.

Applicants should contact the Office of Financial Aid for information regarding other sources of financial support (e.g., work study, loans, etc.)

The primary faculty members for music therapy requirements include:

• Kate Gfeller, Professor, Music and Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology.
• Mary Adamek, Clinical Professor, Music, and Director of the Music Therapy Program.
• Don Coffman, Professor, Teaching and Learning.
• David Nelson, Professor, Teachning and Learning
• Joey Walker, MA, MT-BC

.

Areas of research excellence include: music perception and clinical rehabilitation of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, issues relating to older adults, clinical supervision, music in special education, music perception and cognition. In 1997, the combined faculty in the Music Education and Music Therapy area was ranked fifth nationally in research productivity among research institutions. Dr. Gfeller has been the 1996 recipient of the Research and Publication Award of her professional association.

Back to Top

Last updated 13-nov-07