Music Therapy

Master of Music (M.M.)

Music Therapy (M.M.)

Degree Overview

Advance your career as a neurologic music therapist with our nationally recognized master's degree program in Music Therapy. Through your course of study, you will learn how to use music as a form of therapy to address the physical, psychological, cognitive, and social needs of individuals.

  • Expand your background in neurological sciences, music, and research.
  • Learn to work with people who have neurological disorders such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, autism, developmental disorders, and multiple sclerosis.
  • Earn your master’s degree at your own pace and still maintain full-time employment. The program requires only one on-campus session per year.

You will develop your skills as a music therapist, with focus on neurologic music therapy techniques that promote changes in cognitive, sensorimotor, speech and language, and psychosocial functioning. This degree develops your use of neurologic music therapy techniques to:

  • Rehabilitate individuals with neurologic disease and disorders
  • Maintain functioning with older adults
  • Improve the communication, academic performance, and social skills of children with disabilities
  • Promote cognition and enhance memory
  • Facilitate motor development in children with disabilities
  • Improve treatment outcomes

Requirements

You are required to visit the campus once each year for training that cannot be taught online. In addition, you must complete 30 to 32 graduate-level credits, with a minimum of 24 credits earned at Colorado State University. You may choose between a thesis and non-thesis option. Learn more about the degree requirements

CSU is known around the world for its groundbreaking research and scholarship in the growing field of neurological music therapy.

Curriculum

With this graduate degree, you will take a variety of courses in music theory, music history, and performance, as well as psychology, sociology, and anatomy. Learn more about the curriculum

Course Descriptions

Courses include: Analytic Techniques; Scientific Foundation of Music in Therapy; and Introduction to Research Methods. Learn more about required courses

Career Opportunities

With this master's degree, you prepare yourself for a career in the growing field of music therapy, combining your music skills with your desire to help others. Learn more about career opportunities

How to Apply

Applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree in music therapy from a regionally-accredited institution and board certification in music therapy (or international equivalent). GRE scores are not required. Find out how to apply

The Learning Experience

You will meet with faculty and students on-campus in Fort Collins once per year for an extended weekend. In general, you will learn through online presentations and lectures, which are supplemented by assignments, readings, and online interaction and discussion with faculty and fellow students. Find out more about the learning experience

Questions? Ask us.

We'll be in touch within 2 business days.

- or contact -

Mike Macklin
(970) 491-7583
michael.macklin@colostate.edu

Receive periodic emails about this program.

For admission and advising questions:

Blythe LaGasse, Ph.D., MT-BC
Music, Theatre, and Dance
(970) 491-4042
blythe.lagasse@colostate.edu

Degree at a Glance

Delivery

Online, streaming video, and on-campus. Three extended weekend on-campus visits (Thursday through Sunday), one each year, are required to complete the program.

Total credits

Plan A – 30 credits
Plan B – 32 credits

Tuition

$499 per credit
(financial aid available)

Time frame

Program is designed to be completed in three years, but can also be completed at your own pace.

Designed for

Working music therapists with board certification interested in furthering their knowledge of neurologic music therapy.

What you will earn

You will earn the same regionally-accredited Colorado State University degree that a student on the Fort Collins campus is awarded. Your diploma and transcript are identical to those awarded to on-campus students.