Whether you are looking to advance in your current career path or perhaps make a career change, our graduate programs provide the opportunities to focus your studies even further. Take your education to the next level in one of dozens of programs available.
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Pursuing a passion for music along with other academic interests.
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Building careers using music in service to and rehabilitation of others.
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Music Therapy Admissions
Training professionals through sophisticated teaching, counseling, and psychological therapeutic skills.
Music Therapy
Key Admission Dates
Fall 2022
- Priority application deadline December 1
- Application deadline for consideration for merit-based financial assistance. February 28
- Final Admissions Deadline; The College of Music reserves the right to close admission earlier (and often does) if warranted by enrollment limitations and the number and quality of applications. June 1
Music Therapy
Application Requirements
1 Apply to Florida State University
Complete the Florida State University Application and pay the $30 application fee.
Select “Music Therapy – MM” even if you intend to complete the Music Therapy Equivalency Program prior to starting the Master’s coursework.
Select “Music Education – PhD” as your degree program.
In order to meet the Florida State University requirements for graduate admission, applicants must have earned a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree. Applicants not meeting this requirement may be considered for admission, but only by special exception. To determine your upper-division GPA, please consult the GPA calculation worksheet. If your upper-division GPA is below a 3.0, please be sure to address this deficiency in your Statement of Purpose. You are also encouraged to have your referees address your academic preparedness for graduate study in their letters of recommendation.
The College of Music admissions requirements exceed University minimum standards. Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English, including applicants who have already studied in an English speaking country for any length of time.
For admission, attain the minimum required score on one of the following exams:
- TOEFL
- Written Test = 590
- Internet-based Test = 97
- International English Language Testing System (Academic IELTS) = 7.5
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) = 68
- Duolingo = 120
- Cambridge C1 Advanced Level = 191
- Michigan Language Assessment = 64
Additionally, to be eligible for a graduate assistantship:
- Students must score a minimum of 26 on the speaking portion of the IBTOEFL or;
- Achieve a score of 50 on the SPEAK Test (offered by FSU) to qualify for a graduate assistantship.
2 Apply to the College of Music
Complete the College of Music Supplemental Application and any additional materials required for your program. The Supplemental Application will be added to your Application Checklist within 1-2 hours of submitting your application to FSU.
- Vita/Resume
- Include education, background, experience, honors and awards, publications, names of former teachers, and any other important information.
- Statement of Purpose
- Applicants for the Music Therapy Equivalency Program should compose an essay on the following prompt: Compose Personal Statements addressing the following points:
- How did you learn about the Music Therapy profession and the FSU program?
- Why do you want to major in Music Therapy?
- How is the Music Therapy major different from other music majors?
- What part of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) website do you find the most interesting? Why?
- Do you have experience accompanying yourself singing with the guitar and piano? If so, please describe your repertoire and performance experiences with each instrument.
- Please describe community volunteer service you have completed.
- Please describe part-time work experiences you have completed.
- What are some personal qualities you have now that are related to majoring in Music Therapy?
- Only applicants with the MTBC credential will be required to interview.
- Applicants for the Music Therapy Equivalency Program should compose an essay on the following prompt: Compose Personal Statements addressing the following points:
- Letters of Recommendation (3 required)
- You will enter your recommenders’ contact information through the Application Status Check.
- Schedule an Interview (MM applicants only, Equivalency applicants are not required to interview)
- Once your application materials (including transcripts) have been submitted, please contact Dr. Jayne Standley to schedule an interview.
Professional Experience
It is expected that applicants will have earned the MT-BC credential prior to applying for the Master of Music Therapy Program. Those who have not, but have earned an undergraduate degree in music, may still apply for the Masters degree but must complete the Music Therapy Equivalency Program as a prerequisite.
Applied Music Assessment
Please know that an applied music assessment is a part of most master’s and doctoral programs in the College of Music. Non-performance graduate applicants are not assessed until actually arriving on campus for course enrollment and placement. Many non-performance students choose to complete this requirement during orientation week, prior to the start of the semester along with other curricular placement activities. This requirement must be completed by the end of the first term.
- Vita/Resume
- Include education, background, experience, honors and awards, publications, names of former teachers, and any other important information.
- Statement of Purpose
- There is no required format or prompt for the Statement of Purpose. Most are 1-2 pages in length and discuss the applicant’s background, career goals, and potential for success in the program. This may be formatted as a cover letter to accompany the Vita/Resume.
- Letters of Recommendation (3 required)
- You will enter your recommenders’ contact information through the Application Status Check.
- Schedule an Interview
- Once your application materials (including transcripts) have been submitted, please contact Dr. Jayne Standley to schedule an interview.
Professional Experience
Applicants must have at least 3-5 years of clinical experience to qualify for admission to this program.
Applied Music Assessment
Please know that an applied music assessment is a part of most master’s and doctoral programs in the College of Music. Non-performance graduate applicants are not assessed until actually arriving on campus for course enrollment and placement. Many non-performance students choose to complete this requirement during orientation week, prior to the start of the semester along with other curricular placement activities. This requirement must be completed by the end of the first term.
3 Submit transcripts from all previously attended institutions.
For the purposes of the admission review, transcripts may be official or unofficial. Prior to matriculation, entering students are required to submit final, official transcripts.
Common Questions
Expand AllEveryone who completes the application process (including interview and/or audition, if required) is automatically considered for scholarships and assistantships, and no additional application is necessary. Only graduate students interested in auditioning for accompanying or group piano teaching assistantships are required to take an additional audition. Contact College of Music Admissions for further details.
Prescreenings are required for the following instruments/degree programs:
- MM or DM in Brass Performance (Trumpet, Euphonium and Tuba only)
- MM or DM in String Performance (Violin only)
- MM or DM in Voice Performance
- MM or DM in Piano Performance
- MM in Piano Pedagogy
- MM or DM in Accompanying
- MM in Opera Coaching
Prescreening submissions are due by December 1 and results will be released by December 15. Applicants who are successful in this first round will be invited to campus for a full audition on one of the dates listed above. (Music Theatre will have a second round via Zoom, followed by a final round on campus).
An accompanist is provided, free of charge, for all voice and music theatre auditions on campus. Rehearsal time is not provided, however, and scores should not be submitted in advance. Please bring neat copies, in a book or organized in a binder, in the appropriate key(s). Students may bring their own accompanist to the audition if they wish.
Instrumental auditions will be unaccompanied.
Students are allowed a maximum of three audition attempts per instrument/voice, per degree level (bachelors, master’s, doctoral). Applicants are allowed one audition per application.