Program Overview

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PhD, Music Education with a Specialization in Music Therapy

The Music Education PhD Program with a Music Therapy Focus is designed for music therapy clinicians who wish to develop research skills and enhanced theory knowledge as a preparation for an academic career or as an aid in pursuing research projects as part of a clinical career. This 45-credit degree includes a minimum of 18 credits in research coursework, 24 credits of electives, and a 3-credit dissertation proposal seminar.

Program Description

Graduates of the program will be able to design and implement studies using multiple approaches, such as quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods, as well as arts-based and community-based participatory research methods. Emphasis is placed on studies of contemporary clinical and professional relevance that also reflect the individual student’s areas of clinical expertise. Students will also critically engage with multiple theoretical and philosophical frameworks prevalent in music education/therapy settings. And last, students will develop skills to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, about their own and others’ research and contemporary educational/clinical practice in music education/therapy settings.

Admission Criteria

The degree can be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis and is only open to credentialed music therapists with a master’s degree and 3-5 years of clinical experience.

Course Sequence

This degree is unique in allowing each student to craft an individualized course of study, choosing the research and content courses that meet the student’s personal interests. Elective courses are drawn from a variety of areas including music therapy, applied psychology, musicology, and other related arts and health areas. Students take a combination of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research courses, although the program is weighted towards the qualitative approach as many students find that these methods are better suited to their research interests.

Specialization

While the degree does not have discrete specialization tracks, students will pursue a course of study based upon their prior academic experience and future goals. In some ways, the degree offers as many specializations as there are students, something that reflects the individualized nature of the degree.

Sample Elective Courses

With 24 credits of electives, this typically comes out to eight 3-credit courses. Students can take elective courses in the Steinhardt School, and also the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Silver School of Social Work. Many students opt for courses in the department of Applied Psychology, such as:

• Grant Writing and Grant Management for the Social Sciences
• Issues in Counseling People With Disabilities
• Culture, Context, and Psychology
• Cross-Cultural Research Methods: An Introduction
• Trauma: Theoretical and Clinical Perspectives
• Cross-Cultural Counseling
• Grief and Bereavement Counseling
• Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling

Culminating Experience

Each student will complete a doctoral dissertation under the direction of a chair and two additional faculty members constituting a three-person doctoral committee. The study must be successfully defended in an oral examination led by two outside readers. The study can be empirical, historical, or philosophical but must represent a significant original contribution to knowledge in the field.

Program Requirements

• Major Requirements:
  • Foundations: 6 credits
  • Departmental Content Seminar: 6 credits
  • Cognates: 6 credits
  • Specialized Research Methodology: 3 credits
  • Research Courses: 15 credits
  • Guided Electives: 6 credits
  • Dissertation Proposal Seminar: 3 credits
  • Total Credits: 45

Foundations

All students are required to complete 6 credits (two courses) of course work in foundations during the first 24 credits of doctoral study. Graduate courses qualify for the foundations requirement when they are upper division courses (NYU Steinhardt 2000 level courses or higher) in music education or music therapy.

Cognates

A cognate is a course outside of the student's specialization or a course that combines music with another academic discipline. Graduate courses qualify for the cognates requirement when they are upper division courses (2000 level courses or higher) outside music education or music therapy.

Research Courses

Research courses by advisement are related to the student's proposed topic or area of research interest. These courses are selected to ensure that the student has the appropriate skills and expertise to conduct research and analysis necessary to write a dissertation.

Graduate Music Theory and History Requirements

Proficiency in music theory and history is a requirement for all graduate students in the NYU Steinhardt Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions. Music Therapy students are exempt from the music history requirement. They are required to take the music theory entrance exam. Based on exam results, remediation is determined and fulfilled within the Music Therapy program.

Music Theory Diagnostic Exam

Graduate students in music must complete a music theory diagnostic exam at any point before registering for the first semester of coursework. The diagnostic exam gauges students’ knowledge of written theory, aural theory, and sight-singing.

Music History Requirement

Students who have completed a minimum of two music history courses (equivalent to two 2-credit history courses at NYU) as part of their undergraduate or graduate degrees prior to arrival are exempt from supplemental coursework in music history.

Sample Plan of Study

1st Semester/Term:

• Foundations: 3 credits
• Advised Research Course: 6 credits
• Content Seminar: 3 credits
  • Total Credits: 12

2nd Semester/Term:

• Foundations: 3 credits
• Advised Research Course: 6 credits
• Content Seminar: 3 credits
  • Total Credits: 12

3rd Semester/Term:

• Advised Research Seminar: 3 credits
• Guided Electives: 6 credits
• Cognate Course: 3 credits
  • Total Credits: 12

4th Semester/Term:

• Specialized Research Methodology: 3 credits
• Cognate Course: 3 credits
  • Total Credits: 6

5th Semester/Term:

• Dissertation Proposal Seminar: 3 credits
  • Total Credits: 3

Following completion of the required coursework for the PhD, students are expected to maintain active status at New York University by enrolling in a research/writing course or a Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GE 4747) course. All non-course requirements must be fulfilled prior to degree conferral, although the specific timing of completion may vary from student-to-student.