You will typically need higher education to go into music psychology. Usually, you will have to start by earning a bachelor's degree in a music- or psychology-related field and then go on to earn a graduate degree in music psychology or psychology of music. After earning an undergraduate degree, you can complete the education requirements by earning a master's degree in this field, which may require you to complete about two years of additional study, or you can pursue a doctoral degree, which could require several more years of schooling. You can pursue a career in music psychology with either of these graduate-level degrees, but earning a doctoral degree may translate into the most attractive job opportunities.
A college education is a requirement for those interested in going into music psychology careers. As such, you will likely have to start by finishing high school or earning a General Educational Development® (GED®) diploma and then gaining admission to a college or university. Typical college majors for those interested in a career in this field include music or psychology, or even those that involve double majoring in music and psychology. It is important to note that the undergraduate background you need will typically depend on the graduate school in which you hope to enroll, as each program may have somewhat different admission requirements.
In most cases, a graduate degree is required to work in this field. Though you may find some entry-level positions available to you with a bachelor's degree, most opportunities are for those who have earned master's or doctoral degrees. A master's degree program will likely last for one or two years. A doctoral program, on the other hand, can last from three to seven years, depending on the program and your educational background. Additionally, many doctoral programs will require you to earn a master's degree before you can gain admission.
Each educational program that leads to a degree in music psychology will likely differ somewhat. You may find, however, that many of the course topics are similar. Among the types of topics usually covered in a music psychology program are those in music theory and history, music performance and composition, music therapy and psychotherapy, music therapy research, and psychology. Your course of study might also include the study of ethics in music therapy, music in medicine, and music technology. Graduate-level programs may also include research, internship, and dissertation components.
