Students at Marylhurst University in Oregon will now be able to apply for a master of arts in music therapy, school officials announced.

The Catholic school's Board of Trustees approved a new Master of Arts in Music Therapy degree program in October 2014. The program is also approved by the American Music Therapy Association and North America Schools of Music.

The two-year program augments the university's respected Bachelor of Music Therapy degree. Both programs are led by Laura Beer and taught by faculty who are practicing professionals and respected scholars in music therapy.

The new program offers extensive education in music therapy theory, clinical practice and research. In addition, the program is designed to educate therapists to better serve specific populations, such as multicultural and aging clientele.

The master's program is also designed to meet the needs of adult learners, with many classes offered evenings and weekends.

Qualified applicants to the master of arts program in Music Therapy must either hold the "MT-BC designation, be eligible to sit for the CBMT exam, or be in an internship," according to school officials.

Those not yet qualified may apply to one of two programs: a one-year preparatory program for students with a bachelor's degree in a music major, or for non-music majors, the two-year Bachelor of Music Therapy equivalency program.

Classes for the new master' program start September 2015 and the application deadline is Feb. 28, 2015.