Music Therapy M.M.T. (Online)

Laurie Peebles, Coordinator
laurie.peebles@gcsu.edu 

Mission

The Master of Music Therapy degree program prepares students as clinicians, scholars, and leaders in the profession of Music Therapy by providing theoretical research and practical base for meeting the challenging needs of clientele.

Accreditation and Affiliations

Georgia College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and is approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA). 

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Music Therapy Program is highly competitive and may be limited based on availability of qualified faculty and maintaining student to faculty ratios required by accreditation standards. All students may not be admitted.

Many agencies where clinical and practical experiences take place require students to undergo a criminal background check, urine drug screens and to meet the CDC standards for immunizations for health care professionals. Students desiring to enter the music therapy program should consider these requirements. Agencies may refuse any student based on inability to meet these guidelines or other agency guidelines. Refusal of an agency to accept a student may delay or prevent a student from completing a program. Certification agencies may also refuse to license individuals who have committed certain criminal acts or other acts of moral turpitude.

Regular Admission

• Completed bachelor's degree in Music Therapy including an internship in an approved program (if applying for the MMT only) or a bachelor's degree in a Music-related field (if applying for the MMT equivalency program)

• Undergraduate upper-level (300/3000-level and above) GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (transcripts required)

• Names and contact information for three references

• In-person or video interview, discussing your motivation for applying to Georgia College Master of Music Therapy program; your previous experiences in music therapy or other helping professions; your professional and/or clinical areas of interest; and your experience in areas of research.

• Audition in person or by video (see additional details below)

• Current resume with music therapy/health-related field experience, both in work and/or volunteer services

• Essay titled "What is music therapy?" or a writing sample from a previous course (minimum of three APA references).

Audition Requirements

• Perform guitar and singing while playing. Should consider demonstrating a variety of picking styles and chord structures. Minimum of three different chords and/or demonstration of bar chords.

• Perform piano and singing while playing. Should demonstrate a variety of accompaniment patterns. Minimum of three different chords.

• Perform two pieces on principle instrument.

• Selections should reflect a variety of genres (including but not limited to classical, popular, jazz, and different eras).

•  If no guitar experience, please state this during the audition and use another accompanying instrument. Examples include: autoharp, QChord, ukulele.

Provisional Admission

Provisional admission may be granted to a candidate who does not meet all requirements listed above.  For a provisional student to gain regular admission to the program, the student must complete 12 semester-hours of graduate coursework at Georgia College with no less than a "B" in each course.  These courses must be approved in advance by the graduate coordinator and by the Music Department Chair.

Concurrent Degree Equivalency/Master of Music Therapy Admission Requirements

Students may be admitted jointly to the Degree Equivalency/Master of Music Therapy program. The Degree Equivalency Program must be completed on the Georgia College campus and consists of undergraduate preparatory music therapy courses. Courses for the Master of Music Therapy program may be taken concurrently.

Students must be eligible for admission to the degree equivalency program (See Undergraduate Catalog for requirements) and the Master of Music Therapy program. 

Concurrent Bachelor of Music Therapy and Master of Music Therapy

Students may earn the Bachelor of Music Therapy degree in addition to completing the required equivalency courses necessary to be eligible to take the National Board Certification Examination.  Students choosing this option will apply for admission as graduate students.

Transient Coursework

In consultation with their advisor, students may choose transient courses to meet the minimum of 9 credits from supportive fields.

Tuition

All Master of Music Therapy students are charged a distance program flat rate that is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students.  For specific costs, please refer to the Business Office's tuition and fee information for distance programs.

Areas of Specialization

Student may choose to focus on one of the following areas throughout their coursework.  This designation does not appear on student transcripts.

• Developmental Disabilities and Special Education
• Mental/Physical Health
• Women’s Issues
• Multicultural/International
• General/Administration

Time Limit on Coursework

Courses required in the M.M.T. degree program must be completed within a period of 6 years from the date the student begins taking courses at Georgia College. Courses completed more than 6 years prior to completion of the requirements for the MMT degree will be regarded as outdated and will not be applied toward the degree program. This includes courses that may be transferred in from other institutions.

Academic Dismissal Policy

A graduate student will be placed on graduate academic probation if the student's institutional graduate grade point average falls below a 3.00 at any point during his or her graduate studies.

A graduate student will be dismissed if the student is placed on graduate academic probation for more than one semester, receives more than one C during his or her graduate studies, or fails to comply with policy, procedures, and expectations as defined in the current version of the Master of Music Therapy Graduate Handbook.

Completing the Master of Music Therapy

• Consult with the faculty advisor for development of a program of study and area of concentration

• Complete all course work with 3.0 GPA

• Complete the comprehensive written examination

• Choose a graduate committee

• Submit a proposal for the clinical project or thesis

• Complete the final clinical project or thesis defense

• Submit a graduation application by the date specified in the official University Calendar.

Thesis/Final Clinical Project Graduate Committee

After successful completion of the written comprehensive examination, the student will choose a graduate committee to include the student’s advisor, one professor from the Music Therapy program, and one professor or professional from any supportive field area. This committee will review the proposal for the thesis or clinical project and upon acceptance of the proposal the thesis or clinical project may be implemented. Students must enroll each semester for MUST 6500 or MUST 6600 until completion. The student will arrange the defense meeting with the committee when the thesis or clinical project is completed.

Total Credit Hours: 35

Inquiries concerning the nature of the program, the availability of given courses, and the availability of graduate assistantships should be directed to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music Therapy, CBX 67, Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA 31061. Telephone: 478-445-2645. Fax: (478) 445-4532. Other information can be viewed at http://www.gcsu.edu/artsandsciences/music