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Apply NowMusic Therapy, Ph.D.
Course Delivery: 100% Online
Total Credits: 90
In-State Tuition Per Credit: $530.50
Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit: $705.00
Cost of attendance may vary by campus. View the total cost calculator
Earn your doctorate online
Offered through the Herron School of Art + Design, this program helps you develop advanced research and clinical skills based on the competencies of the American Music Therapy Association.
During your time in the program, you’ll launch your own independent research agenda, expand your theoretical knowledge, and prepare to lead in academic, research, or clinical settings. Whether you're pursuing a music therapy research degree or planning to become a university professor, this degree offers the foundation you need.
An applicant must already be a board certified music therapist, or hold the internationally equivalent certification, prior to applying. We cannot accept anyone into the degree program who does not already have their music therapy credential.
Students in the program declare an area of concentration and can earn their master's degree in music therapy as they complete their Ph.D. requirements. All students complete 90 credit hours, including 18 to 24 hours of dissertation research credits, culminating in an original scholarly contribution to the field of music therapy. Students who have already earned a master’s degree may be able to transfer up to 30 credits into their plan of study.
To be accepted to this program, you must have:
- Evidence of current board-certification status (MT-BC)
- A minimum of three years (or its equivalent) of clinical practice as a music therapist
To apply to this program, complete an online application that includes:
- Three letters of recommendation from professionals familiar with your academic, clinical, or research background
- A statement of purpose
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students only)
Application Dates
Fall (priority date, financial aid)
Jan 2
Fall (applicants outside continental US)
May 1
Fall (applicants within continental US)
July 1
Spring (applicants outside continental US)
Sep 1
Spring (applicants within continental US)
Nov 1
Summer (non-international applicants)
Apr 1
Advanced Competencies (18 credits):
- MUS-N530: Philosophy and Theory in Music Therapy
- MUS-N531: Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Music Therapy Research
- MUS-N532: Music and Medicine
- MUS-N533: Advanced Clinical Techniques in Music Therapy
- MUS-N534: Arts-Based Research
- MUS-N535: Clinical Supervision in Music Therapy
Other (in Music; 9 credits):
- MUS-A540: Music Engineering Technology
- MUS-E536: Autonomous Music Systems
- MUS-N 512: Foundations of Sound Production
- MUS-N 513: Principles of Music Technology
- MUS-N 514: Music Technology Methods
- MUS-N 522: Techniques for Music Performance, Teaching, and Production at a Distance
- MUS-N527: Advanced Digital Music Systems
Minor (12 credits)
Life Science (12 credits)
Electives (12 credits)
Research/Dissertation (33 credits)
PhD students are also required to enroll in MUS-A500 (Graduate Seminar) each semester.
For applicants who have already completed a master’s degree:
- A transcript review by the graduate committee will determine if any of your credits are applicable to the PhD requirements.
- If you completed a thesis-based master’s degree, up to 30 credits can be transferred. Specifically, up to 21 credits of graded graduate coursework can be applied and up to 9 credits of appropriate master’s thesis-level research credit can be applied.
- If the applicant completed a “coursework only” master’s degree, up to 21 credits of graded graduate coursework (equivalent to 500-level or higher) can be applied.
For applicants without a master’s degree:
- Applicants will be advised to take appropriate coursework and, if applicable, master’s thesis-level research credit that applies toward the PhD in Music Therapy requirements.