Music Therapy (M.M.T.)

Chair, Chesley Mercado

Professor: Douglas Keith and Chesley Mercado

Department Contact Information

Department of Creative Art Therapies

Music Therapy Programs

Georgia College

College of Health Sciences

Campus Box 67

Milledgeville, GA 31061

Phone: 478-445-2645

Fax: 478-445-4532

Chair: Dr. Chesley Mercado, chesley.mercado@gcsu.edu

Administrative Assistant: Tammie Burke, tammie.burke@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

The Master of Music Therapy Degree Program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA).

Change in Tuition Rate:

All students accepted in the Master of Music Therapy Program are eligible for in-state tuition.

Online Course Fees

All programs that provide at least 95% of a program through online delivery methods will charge a $50 per credit hour course fee. Click here for information about special fees.

Admission Requirements

REGULAR ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Music Therapy
• Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (20 points)
• In-person or video interview and audition submitted with application (30 points)
• Provide 2 letters of recommendation (10 points)
• Essay "What is Music Therapy?"  Use three scholarly references and APA style. (10 points)

Regular admission: 60 points and above.

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Admissions scores lower than 60 points (see regular admission criteria)
• To gain regular admission, provisional students must complete 12 semester-hours of graduate coursework at GC with no less than a "B" in each course approved by the Graduate Coordinator and by the Chair of the Department of Music Therapy.
• 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 a 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.

Requirements of Interview and Audition (in Person or Via Video)

Interview:

• Discuss your motivation for applying to Georgia College Master of Music Therapy Program.
• Discuss your previous experiences in Music Therapy or other helping professions.
• Discuss your professional and/or clinical areas of interest.
• Discuss your experience in areas of research.

Audition:

• Perform three (3) pieces using guitar and singing while playing. Should demonstrate a variety of picking styles and chord structures. Minimum of three (3) different chords and demonstration of bar chords*
• Perform three (3) pieces using piano and singing while playing. Should demonstrate a variety of accompaniment patterns. Minimum of three (3) different chords.
• Perform two (2) 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

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 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. (http://www.gcsu.edu/mtherapy/docs/MMTHandbook.doc)

Equivalency/Master 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 GC 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)
• Have completed a bachelor's degree in a music related field
• Provide 2 letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional references
• Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (20 points)
• In-person or video interview and audition submitted with application (30 points)
• Essay "What is Music Therapy?" Use three scholarly references and APA style. (10 points)
• Regular admission 60 points and above

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. 

Graduation requirements for all Bachelor's degrees can be found at: Undergraduate Graduation Requirements.

Students choosing this option will apply for Admission as graduate students.

Students may choose transient courses to meet the minimum of 9 credits from supportive fields in consultation with advisor.

Areas of Concentration

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

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 & State University. 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.

Steps in Completing the Master of Music Therapy

• Submit a complete application for graduate study and all supporting documents to the Graduate Admissions Office
• Consult with the faculty advisor for development of a program of study and area of concentration
• Complete courses 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 written application for graduation 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 Department of Music Therapy 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.