Creative Arts Therapies PhD

Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)
Minimum Required Credits: 32.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.2399
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1129

About the Program

The PhD in Creative Arts Therapies is a research degree program for creative arts therapists and expressive therapists who are interested in pursuing advanced scholarship and assuming academic leadership in their discipline. The primary mission of the program is the cultivation of scholars and academic leaders in the creative arts therapies who can:

• Generate and disseminate relevant, rigorous, and impactful research
• Contribute to theory building and evaluation
• Develop evidence-based clinical practices
• Educate and mentor the next generation of creative arts therapists and expressive therapists.

The PhD program emphasizes the exploration and critical evaluation of interdisciplinary knowledge relative to creative arts therapies origins, philosophy and theory; training in a wide range of traditional and innovative research methodologies; the exploration of intrinsic intersubjective therapeutic processes emergent through artistic inquiry; and extensive hands-on research experience in faculty’s research labs including the design and conduct of research, collaborative teamwork, grant writing, data analysis and writing of research reports and publications. The PhD training culminates in a dissertation, an original robust research project that directly relates to the development of and contribution to the theory and practice of the students' creative arts therapy specialization. The dissertation not only advances knowledge in the student’s field but also positions them for career opportunities in academia and research.

The PhD program uses a cohort-based training model in which students receive close mentorship for research and academic development, as well as career development and professional networking.

Additional Information 

For more information about this program, please contact the College of Nursing and Health Professions

Admission Requirements

Degree:
A Master's degree in art therapy, dance/movement therapy, music therapy or expressive therapies.

GPA:
Minimum Master's GPA of 3.5 or international equivalent.

Research Education and Training:
• Documented graduate level research courses with a minimum grade of "B."
• Documentation of having conducted or collaborated on a research project.
Clinical Experience and Credentials:
• At least 2 years of full-time equivalent of creative arts therapies clinical practice preferred.
• Professional credentialing in discipline required.

Transcripts:
Official transcripts from all institutions attended for Master's and Bachelor's degree studies

Letters of Recommendation:
Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can address the applicant's aptitudes for research and scholarship. Recommendation letters should also address the applicant's maturity, initiative and commitment to higher level education.

CV/Resume:
Should provide a concise overview of relevant professional and education experience.
Admissions Essay:
The admissions essay consists of two parts:
• Reasons for Application: Briefly describe 1) your professional background, 2) your reasons for applying to the PhD program and 3) your academic and career goals. Please limit this section to one page, single-spaced.
• Research Interests: Please write a brief paper describing 1 or 2 areas of interest for your own research. Please include references to scholarly publications related to your areas of interest. This paper should be written in academic voice, adhere to APA style and be no more than two pages, single-spaced.

International Students:
• English Proficiency Requirement: a TOEFLiBT exam score (minimum of 100), Duolingo English Test score (minimum of 130), or IELTS score (minimum of 7.0).
(Test scores may be waived if your bachelor’s or master’s degree is from a college in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland; or your bachelor’s degree is from one of the following countries where English was the language of instruction: Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British West Indies, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Eswatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad/Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), United States territories (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands), Virgin Islands, Zambia and Zimbabwe)
• Transcript Evaluation: If you previously attended college outside of the United States, an official course-by-course transcript evaluation is required. You are responsible for contacting your previous schools and requesting that official transcripts be sent to a current NACES-member agency for evaluation.

Interview:
Following the initial screening of the application materials, qualified applicants may be invited for an interview with the PhD in Creative Arts Therapies faculty. Interviews are scheduled in-person at our University City Philadelphia campus or remotely via Zoom.

Deadline:
Applications received by January 15 will receive priority in admission decisions.

Degree Requirements

¹

Dissertation Sequence: Students are required to complete the following courses: CATX 9996, with faculty advisement, writing and defensing the dissertation proposal; CATX 9997, data collection; CATX 9998, data analysis and writing of the dissertation; and CATX 9999, final stages of the dissertation in which the student completes writing the final dissertation and the oral defense. Courses in this sequence can be repeated multiple times until the stage of the dissertation process is complete for each course, and students must complete each course in the sequence. A minimum of 4 credits is required.

²

Other 5000 level or above courses at the discretion of the advisor and program director, including CATX 8350 and CATX 8900.

Program Learning Outcomes