Earn your MA in Music Therapy

The music therapy program at Iowa is approved by the American Music Therapy Association and provides those course requirements necessary to become professionally certified as a Music Therapist. The School of Music also offers other music therapy education opportunities for individuals already holding undergraduate degrees, and for those interested in doctoral studies.

The program at Iowa has several distinct advantages:

  • The School of Music at Iowa has a long tradition of artistic excellence
  • Music therapy students receive a comprehensive education in music, and participate in a variety of performance opportunities including vocal and instrumental ensembles
  • The University of Iowa is a regional center for the arts and offers many exciting artistic events
  • The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics comprise the largest university-based teaching hospital in the United States. As a result, music therapy students learn about health care in a variety of interesting and unique treatment settings right on campus.

Students at Iowa enjoy benefits of a large university, such as comprehensive course offerings, extensive artistic opportunities, and large library holdings. At the same time, the music therapy classes are generally small in size (approximately 5 to 25 students per class) and are taught by professors in the music therapy and music education area. Music therapy students also have numerous opportunities to observe practicing clinicians as well as to learn clinical techniques through supervised practical experiences in health care settings. A program of outside speakers, typically practicing music therapists from a variety of clinical settings, broadens the students' knowledge of the profession at large. Students enjoy the fellowship of other students and a variety of workshops and pre-professional experiences through activities sponsored by the Student Music Therapy Club.

Our faculty's 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.

How to apply to the program

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.

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 three-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.

View full requirements and apply

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 semester hours 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, which is typically a written, clinical project, or conference presentation. 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 final outcome of 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 M.A. 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 judgment 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 “B-” 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 semester hours from another accredited university (if accepted by the registrar) of credits not required for undergraduate degree completion.

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 M.A. 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.)

Requirements and program planning

Download course checklist

Degree requirements and program planning

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 2.5 to 3 years of full-time study, depending upon the number of courses previously taken that can be applied toward this program.

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 1.5 to 2 years of full-time study.


This information is intended to assist in your course planning but is not intended to serve as an official guide to graduation requirements. To confirm progress toward graduation, you should consult your advisor.

Please note that these requirements for the master’s degree do not include certification requirements of the equivalency program, which are required for all students in the combined equivalency-MA program. Equivalency requirements are listed on a separate checklist and are determined by the advisor at the time of admission. All equivalency requirements must be completed prior to awarding of MA degree.

11 to 12 semester hours total

Between 3-5 semesters of MUS:6675 culminating in the MA capstone project and MUS:6685:

  • Research in Music Therapy (MUS:6675), 1 semester hour
  • Research in Music Therapy (MUS:6675), 1 semester hour
  • Research in Music Therapy (MUS:6675), 1 semester hour
  • Capstone completed
  • Theory and Research in Music Therapy (MUS:6685), 1 semester hour
  • Theory and Research in Music Therapy (MUS:6685), 1 semester hour

Research methodology courses:

  • Quantitative Educational Research Methodology (PSQF:6220), 3 semester hours
  • Research Process and Design (PSQF:6206), 3 semester hours
  • Introduction to Music Research (EDTL:4640), 2 to 3 semester hours
    • Note: Only required if this is not completed as part of equivalency.
  • Advanced Research in Music Education (EDTL:7640)

Research electives:

  • Research electives to support capstone (approved by advisor), 5-6 semester hours

Minimum of 6 semester hours of graduate seminars in music therapy (MUS:6690) or music education (EDTL:7600)

Seminar topics for music therapy

  • Music and mental health
  • Music and medicine
  • Music, culture, and society
  • Music as communication
  • Music and affect
  • Music cognition
  • Music, aging, and wellbeing

Seminar topics for music education

  • Measurement and evaluation in music education
  • Philosophies of music education
  • Music in the community

Minimum of 2 semester hours in courses on college teaching, clinical supervision, or graduate practicum

  • College Teaching and Clinical Supervision in Music Therapy (MUS:6680), 2 to 3 semester hours
  • Graduate Music Therapy Practicum (MUS:6670), 1 to 3 semester hours
    • Note: For equivalency and MA program, 2+1 semester hour complete final credit post internship

Select 3 to 6 semester hours from the following course options. Note that alternatives are possible with advisor permission. Courses must be 3000 level or higher.

  • Methods of Teaching Piano (MUS:3400), 2 semester hours
  • Music and Gender (MUS:4320), 3 semester hours
  • Advanced Jazz History (MUS:4350), 3 semester hours
  • American Music (MUS:4355), 3 semester hours
  • Jazz Theory (MUS:4730), 3 semester hours
  • Foundations of Ethnomusicology (MUS:6315), 3 semester hours
  • Other courses as approved by your advisor

Select 2 to 5 semester hours from the following course options. Note that alternatives are possible with advisor permission. Courses must be 1000 level or higher.

  • School of Music ensembles, 1 semester hour
  • Studio lessons, 2 semester hours
  • Courses in conducting or composition, 2 to 3 semester hours
  • Introduction to Jazz Improvisation (MUS:3001), 3 semester hours
  • Intermediate Jazz Improvisation (MUS:3710), 2 semester hours
  • Jazz Band Black Popular Music Ensemble (MUS:3730), 1 semester hour
  • Other courses as approved by your advisor

Select 5 to 6 semester hours from courses in a supporting area outside of music, generally related to thesis topic or areas of clinical interest. Courses require advisor approval and must be 3000 level or higher.

This examination is typically taken in the final semester of courses. If you are not registered for other classes in the semester of graduation, you will enroll in Masters Final (GRAD:6001) for 1 semester hour.

The Graduate College at the University of Iowa requires that graduate students be enrolled in at least 1 semester hour of coursework at the university during the semester that they apply for and officially graduate. Completing an incomplete in a course such as internship (e.g., registering in the fall semester for MUS:4670, and then taking an incomplete and finishing up in the spring semester) will not fulfill this requirement.

Therefore, graduate students should leave at least 1 semester hour of credit (most often, MUS:6670 or 6675), during the semester they will apply to and officially graduate.

In order to qualify for practicum-based insurance, an equivalency student must be signed up for at least one class during their internship semester.

Because the courses in this checklist may not always be offered, appropriate course substitutions that still fulfill the category may be chosen with advisor permission.

Example course sequence for MA program

Fall first year (total 7 to 9 semester hours)
Course number Name Semester hours
MUS:6675 Research in Music Therapy 1
MUS:6690 Special Studies in Music Therapy 2
PSQF:6206 or PSQF:6220 Research Methods 3
MUS:6680 College Teaching and Clinical Supervision (TA requirement) 2
MUS:---- Music elective for performance, ensemble, and composition 1
Spring first year (total 10 semester hours)
Course Number Name Semester Hours
MUS:6675 Research in Music Therapy 1
MUS:6690 Special Studies in Music Therapy 2
MUS:6685 Theory and Research in Music Therapy 1
MUS:---- Music elective for sociocultural, historical, theoretical, or educational 3
  Supporting area elective 3
Fall second year (total 7 to 10 semester hours)
Course number Name Semester hours
MUS:6675 Research in Music Therapy 1
MUS:6690 Special Studies in Music Therapy 2
  Research elective 3
  Supporting area elective 3
MUS:---- Music elective for performance, ensemble, and composition 1
Spring second year (total 6 to 9 semester hours)
Course Number Name Semester Hours
MUS:6675 Research in Music Therapy 1
MUS:6690 Special Studies in Music Therapy 2
MUS:6685 Theory and Research in Music Therapy 1
MUS:6670 Graduate Music Therapy Practicum 1 to 3
MUS:---- Music elective for performance, ensemble, and composition 1

 

Create your academic path

You'll find degree overviews, requirements, course lists, academic plans, and more to help you plan your education and explore your possibilities.

Current course list

The MyUI Schedule displays registered courses for a particular session and is available to enrolled students. The list view includes course instructors, time and location, and features to drop courses or change sections.

Other music therapy educational opportunities

Music therapy equivalency program

The equivalency program in Music Therapy is designed for those persons who already hold an undergraduate degree (most typically in music performance or music education), but who wish to complete requirements for professional certification as a music therapist.

Doctoral studies in music therapy

Doctoral studies in music therapy at Iowa are completed within the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education (PhD). Information about degree requirements, application procedures, and application procedures can be found on that degree page.

Add a minor

Any student admitted to a graduate degree program in the School of Music may add a theory pedagogy minor by completing the required courses.

Music therapy faculty

Portrait of Abbey Dvorak

Abbey Dvorak

Title/Position
Music Therapy
Associate Professor
Music Therapy Area Head
Portrait of Hae Sun Kim

Hae Sun Kim

Title/Position
Music Therapy
Assistant Professor
Portrait of Kirsten Nelson

Kirsten Nelson

Title/Position
Music Therapy
Assistant Professor of Instruction

Practice and perform

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