Master of Arts in Music Therapy

Pacific’s Master of Arts in Music Therapy is a graduate-level program designed for students with an undergraduate degree in music or fields related to music therapy (e.g., psychology, special education, etc.) who seek both entry- and advanced-level training in music therapy. This popular and flexible learning option starts with strong basic musicianship and adds specific knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) and the American Music Therapy Association.

Interview with Claire Edelmann '19, MA, MT-BC

Notable Program Features

Stockton or San Francisco Campus
Two-years (32 units) for students with undergraduate degree in music therapy
Three-years plus internship (55 units) for students with undergraduate degree in music or music-therapy related field
Fall or spring semester start
Rolling admission
In-person program

Designed for students with an undergraduate degree music therapy
Advanced-level clinical skills or research practice
Limited graduate assistantships available

During the first two years, students focus on the completion of all entry level music therapy courses, fieldwork, and competencies, as well as some graduate-level courses.
Next, students complete a clinical internship and sit for the CBMT exam.
After the internship, students return to the university to complete graduate coursework, advanced clinical work, and a culminating graduate project (e.g., thesis or clinical clerkship portfolio).

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in music or music therapy related field
General GRE (Not required for applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or higher)
Resume
Personal statement
Official transcripts
Three letters of recommendation
Musical Skills Assessment (live or video recording):
- Perform two contrasting pieces on primary instrument/voice.
- Sing one piece from a traditional or contemporary musical repertoire with self-accompaniment on piano.
- Sing one piece from a traditional or contemporary musical repertoire with self-accompaniment on guitar. (You may use sheet music or a lead sheet.) Examples: You Are My Sunshine, This Land is Your Land, This Little Light of Mine
- Sing one American folk song from memory a capella. Examples: Oh Susannah, Home on the Range, Aura Lee
For international students, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required.

Tuition

Tuition and fees are set annually: the per-unit graduate tuition rate for the 2020-21 academic year is $1,528 plus applicable fees.

Graduate Assistantships

The Conservatory of Music offers a limited number of graduate assistantships for students applying to the two-year program. Interested applicants should contact Program Director Fei-Lin Hsiao at fhsiao@pacific.edu.

Federal Students Loans

Graduate students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens may apply for federal student loans.

Outcomes

Our graduates enter the field equipped to use music-based interventions in a focused and concentrated manner to address health-related, psychological, educational, and other rehabilitative needs. Advanced study in various research, theoretical, philosophical, and multicultural orientations further prepares graduates for work in research, higher education, and complex clinical settings.