Music Therapy M.M.E. Program
Master of Music Education
Music Therapy
The division’s graduate programs include advanced professional and scholarly study for music educators and music therapists, licensure/certification programs for those with baccalaureate degrees in other fields who plan to enter either the music education or music therapy professions (these initial licensure/certification programs typically also require collateral undergraduate study) and advanced study for individuals in related disciplines. Areas of emphasis, curricula, examinations, and regulations and procedures are described in the MEMT Master's Graduate Handbook available online.
M.M.E. in Music Therapy Admission
Admission requirements are as follows:
- An undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- An appropriate baccalaureate degree to support the individual’s goals for master’s study. Students seeking entrance into the graduate initial certification program in music education or the graduate equivalency program in music therapy should have substantial backgrounds in music regardless of the undergraduate major. Degree patterns include:
- A bachelor’s degree with a major in music education.
- A bachelor’s degree with any music major plus any state certification as a music teacher (for MME in music education).
- The equivalent of a music minor plus a bachelor's degree in an appropriate related field.
- Final official degree-conferred transcripts must be sent directly from all previous colleges or universities.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation regarding the applicant's qualifications for graduate study in their selected program.
- Submission of an unlisted YouTube video recording link. The video should include:
- 5-minute teaching/rehearsal video
- 5-minute performance on primary instrument
- Submission of resume.
- Other supporting materials are required.
Additional detailed admission requirements and information are found online (https://music.ku.edu/graduate-programs/).
Graduate Admission to the School of Music
Application procedures and program requirements can change. Please visit the School of Music Admissions webpage (https://music.ku.edu/ graduate-programs/) for current information.
Graduate programs in the School of Music are open to students with acceptable baccalaureate degrees, as specified by the admitting areas, whose academic records indicate that they can do successful work at the graduate level. Regular admission requires a bachelor's degree and a grade-point average of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale), from KU or from another regionally accredited institution or foreign university with substantially equivalent bachelor's degree requirements.
Programs of study leading to the Master of Music (M.M.), Master of Music Education (M.M.E.), Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) are offered through the School of Music. Specific admission procedures and degree requirements for the M.M. and M.M.E. programs are described under division headings. Specific admission procedures and degree requirements for the D.M.A., Ph.D. (musicology/music theory), and Ph.D. (music education/music therapy) are listed in the appropriate sections.
Program Areas
Graduate study in the School of Music is organized into program areas within 2 units:
- Music includes programs in composition, conducting, musicology, music theory, and areas of performance.
- Music Education and Music Therapy (MEMT) includes programs in music education or music therapy.
At least a 3.0 grade-point average, overall and in the major area, is required for all coursework counted toward any graduate degree in the School of Music. If the overall grade-point average falls below 3.0, the student is placed on probation for one semester; if the cumulative average is not 3.0 or higher after the next semester, the student is dismissed from the program. Students must also achieve at least a grade of B or better in thesis, lecture-recital, document or dissertation, and on each recital for satisfactory completion of degree requirements.
M.M.E. in Music Therapy
Course and Proficiency Requirements
The degree requires a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit. At least one-half of the required credit hours must be in courses open only to graduate students. At least 20 of the hours must be in regularly scheduled classes excluding directed study, research, and thesis or comprehensive examination (as applicable).
Course Distribution
- The program must include at least 17 hours of graduate work in the division, including MEMT 812 Research in Music Education and Music Therapy (3 hours), MEMT 864 Philosophy and Theory of Music Therapy or equivalent (3 hours), MEMT 890 Practicum in Music Therapy (2 hours).
- MEMT 899 Master’s Thesis (thesis option, 3 hours) OR MEMT 898 Master's Oral Examination (non-thesis option, 1 hour), and additional hours to reach the minimum elected from 600 through 800-level MEMT courses, subject to the advisor’s approval.
- At least 10 hours in supportive studies outside MEMT.
The work is distributed as indicated in the categories on the appropriate Degree Program Plan found online. All of these selections are subject to the advisor’s approval.
The M.M.E. in music therapy may be earned only by individuals eligible to sit for the national examination offered by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT).
Final Master's Examination (Thesis)
The student must be enrolled at the time the final master’s exam is held. The exam will be scheduled for a period of 2 hours. The examination committee shall be comprised of the student’s major advisor and 2 other graduate faculty members jointly selected by the student and major advisor. It is the student’s responsibility to give the final thesis copy to each committee member 2 weeks in advance of the scheduled exam date.
The candidate will begin by giving a twenty-minute oral presentation on their thesis, but the exam is not confined to that topic. Thereafter, the candidate will address questions posed by the committee arising from the candidate’s presentation and the thesis document.
Master's Oral Examination (Non-Thesis)
The non-thesis option typically functions as a terminal degree and the work must be distributed as indicated in the categories shown on the appropriate Degree Program Plan. This option culminates with enrollment in a 1-credit hour comprehensive final examination (MEMT 898 Master's Oral Examination) and the subsequent project/portfolio and presentation.
The student must be enrolled at the time the final non-thesis master’s exam is held. The non-thesis master’s exam includes presenting a project/portfolio and will be scheduled for a period of 1 hour. The examination committee shall be comprised of the student’s major advisor and 2 other graduate faculty members jointly selected by the student and major advisor. It is the student’s responsibility to give the final project/portfolio to each committee member 2 weeks in advance of the scheduled examination date.
More information about the thesis or non-thesis option is available online in the MEMT Graduate Handbook.
Plan of Study
The Master of Music Education degree in Music Therapy (MME-MT) requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level coursework, distributed into the categories listed below (thesis and non-thesis options are available). Selections must be approved by your academic advisor. A list of all course offerings can be found on the Schedule of Classes. To track progress, please download the degree progress check sheet.
Contact Information
- Area Coordinator: Cindy Colwell, ccolwell@ku.edu, 785-864-9635
- Graduate Student Academic Services: musicgrad@ku.edu
MME in Music Therapy Program of Study: Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Research in MEMT | ||
| MEMT 812 | Research in Music Education and Music Therapy (or equivalent course) | 3 |
| Core Music Therapy Courses | ||
| MEMT 864 | Philosophy and Theory of Music Therapy | 3 |
| MEMT 890 | Practicum in Music Therapy | 2 |
| MEMT Electives (minimum of 6 hours) in any MEMT course, 700-level or above. | 6 | |
| Open Electives (minimum of 3 hours) in any course, 600-level or above. | 3 | |
| Supportive Studies (minimum of 10 hours) outside of MEMT. | 10 | |
| MEMT 899 | Master's Thesis | 3 |
MME in Music Therapy Program of Study: Non-Thesis Option
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Research in MEMT | ||
| MEMT 812 | Research in Music Education and Music Therapy (or equivalent course) | 3 |
| Core Music Therapy Courses | ||
| MEMT 864 | Philosophy and Theory of Music Therapy | 3 |
| MEMT 890 | Practicum in Music Therapy | 2 |
| MEMT Electives (minimum of 8 hours) in any MEMT course, 700-level or above. | 8 | |
| Supportive Studies (minimum of 10 hours) outside of MEMT. | 10 | |
| Open Electives (minimum of 3 hours) in any course, 600-level or above. | 3 | |
| MEMT 898 | Master's Oral Examination | 1 |