Our comprehensive Professional Studies Program for Music Therapy Certification Eligibility is for people who hold an undergraduate degree in music or a related field (e.g. music education, psychology, liberal studies, etc.) and wish to become Board Certified Music Therapists (MT-BC). Full-time, two-year professional studies program allows you to develop your skills and clinical expertise in a supportive, creative learning environment at the oldest music therapy degree program in Virginia.
Music Therapy Certification Eligibility
Admission Requirements
1. Complete the Graduate Application
- All applicants must meet the English language proficiency requirements.
- International applicants must comply with all federal regulations governing documentation of financial eligibility in order to obtain an I-20 and visa. Applicants should plan to submit official evaluations and transcripts for initial admission.
- Applicants who need to provide test scores as proof of English Language Proficiency should be aware that a TOEFL score of at least 83 is required for this program.
2. Application Requirements: Rolling – Recommended to submit the following using the Application Portal by April 15, 2025.
- Unofficial transcripts from all baccalaureate and master’s degree studies, documenting successful (or pending successful) degree completions and a minimum bachelor’s GPA of 3.0. (All post-secondary institutions where a degree or relevant credit has been earned.) The baccalaureate degree may be in a wide variety of fields, though a degree in music is most common. Applicants who have a degree in a field other than music are encouraged to consult with Director of Music Therapy Dr. Anthony Meadows (ameadows2@xgcr.net) for further guidance regarding core music requirements.
- Applicants can choose to submit unofficial transcripts for initial review. If admitted, the applicant must submit an official transcript for each unofficial transcript upload. See our full policy for more details.
- Upload one copy of the unofficial transcript from each institution attended.
- Admitted applicants must provide official transcripts from each institution from which they previously supplied unofficial transcripts.
- Transcripts from non-U.S. institutions must also be submitted for a course-by-course academic credential evaluation to obtain U.S. equivalency information regarding courses, grades and GPA.
- Curriculum Vitae/Résumé.
- Essay of 500–700 words addressing your interest in the program, the experiences that have contributed to your preparation for further study in your intended field, your research interests (if any) and professional goals.
- One letter of recommendation addressing the applicant’s academic abilities, professional experiences and readiness for the program.
3. Audition & Interview Requirements: Firm deadline to register for a Graduate Audition is April 15, 2025.
- Performance of two pieces each on guitar and piano (sing and play) showing a range of popular music styles (rock, folk, pop, R&B, children’s songs, etc.).
- Applicants may be required to complete a music fundamentals evaluation, depending on their background and experience.
- Optional: Performance of one piece on the applicant’s primary instrument (does not need to be from memory).
Applicants who are unable to complete the guitar or piano requirement will be required to complete three semesters of lessons to meet professional competencies.
- An audition and interview will be scheduled after all other application materials are submitted. On-campus interviews and auditions are scheduled at a time mutually agreeable to the applicant and music therapy program director. Applicants unable to travel to campus may elect to complete the audition and interview via Zoom, after discussion with the program director.
Admission decisions are not made until all application materials are received and the audition has been completed.