Art Therapy and Counseling

Major: Art Therapy and Counseling
Degree Awarded: Master of Arts (MA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 90.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.2301
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1129

About the Program

The Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program educates students for creative, responsive and effective therapy practice, in which art making is the essential mode of transformation. Through a balance of classroom education and clinically supervised practicum and internship experiences, students develop a strong foundation for skilled clinical practice. The 90.0 quarter-credit curriculum includes specific art therapy coursework in areas such as assessment and treatment planning for children, adolescents, adults, older adults and families; trauma approaches; creativity, symbol and metaphor; digital media use; mindfulness, and addictions and recovery. Students also take classes in general mental health counseling topics including human development; psychopathology; social and cultural foundations; clinical appraisal and assessment, and group dynamics. Graduates are eligible for the ATR-Provisional, ATR, and ATR-BC credentials, as well as professional counseling licensure in Pennsylvania (upon completion of post-graduation requirements).

Art therapy uses the creative process of making art to help improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. Art therapy and counseling can help clients explore their behaviors, thoughts and feelings, reconcile conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage coping with addictions, develop social skills, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem to build on strengths. Upon graduation, students from Drexel’s MA in Art Therapy and Counseling go on to work in a variety of settings, including but not limited to, medical and psychiatric hospitals, in-patient and out-patient behavioral health and recovery programs, community health and wellness centers, schools and after-school programs, trauma-informed settings, correctional facilities and halfway houses, elder care facilities, and private practices. Students also pioneer new frontiers in therapy application through their clinical work and research. 

For additional information about the program, visit the College of Nursing and Health Professions' Art Therapy and Counseling website.

Degree Requirements

Sample Plan of Study

Creative Arts Therapies Department Faculty