Art Therapy and Counseling MA

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

About the Program

Drexel University's Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling was founded in 1967 at Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital and provides students extensive exposure to current, interdisciplinary practices. This distinctive program teaches students informed skills and integrative theories for diverse therapeutic approaches in various care systems. Working with specified treatment objectives determined through client collaboration and ongoing assessment, students learn to apply art therapy methods alongside counseling skills. In-class experientials and didactic learning inform each student's simultaneous on-site, community and clinical educational experiences with individuals and groups. Students learn by doing, incorporating supervisor and faculty feedback within their sustained and often distinct learning trajectories. This multilayered pedagogy and each student's necessary interpersonal work and professional disposition development provide foundational learning for creative and ethical art therapy and counseling.

Throughout the multi-dimensional learning processes and content areas of the Art Therapy and Counseling program, students study the vital roles of creativity, empathy and cultural humility in professional work and interpersonal growth. In addition, students learn how their cognitive, behavioral, creative and emotional responses can block or augment the relationships of therapy, colleagueship and professional development. The 90.0 quarter-credit curriculum includes specific art therapy coursework in community care, assessment and treatment planning for children, adolescents, adults, older adults and families; trauma and systemic 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, differential diagnosis, social and cultural foundations, clinical appraisal and assessment and group dynamics.

Graduates are eligible for the ATR-Provisional certification upon program graduation to work further towards their ATR and ATR-BC credentials and professional counseling licensure in Pennsylvania and other states upon completion of specified work and supervision hours that are critical parts of post-graduation requirements. We designed the Art Therapy and Counseling program's 90-quarter credits to meet the Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) educational requirements. We also uphold program and learning standards for art therapy accreditation through CAAHEP and the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education or ACATE. Because licensure requirements vary from state to state, we strongly advise applicants interested in attaining post-graduation counseling licensure to access and check the requirements for any state(s) where they plan to work and practice. In addition, the students must begin to know and understand the requirements for any future licensure they may seek. We strive to inform, update and support individualized pursuits for licensure and national board certification with each student.

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

Degree Requirements

Core Courses
CATX 501Foundations of Creative Arts Therapies2.0
CTCN 501Human Psychological Development 4.5
CTCN 503Differential Diagnosis and Processes4.5
CTCN 504Professional Orientation and Ethics4.5
CTCN 505Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy4.5
CTCN 509Social and Cultural Foundations4.5
CTCN 540Approaches to Addictions and Recovery 4.5
CTCN 601Introduction to Behavioral Research4.5
CTCN 603Clinical Appraisal and Assessment4.5
CTCN 604Career Counseling4.5
CTCN 606Group Dynamics and Processes4.5
Art Therapy Track Courses
CATX 528Systems, Community Practices, and Therapeutic Relationships4.5
CATX 529Family Systems for Assessment and Treatment Planning4.5
CATX 532Trauma, Crisis, and Community Care3.0
CATX 535Creativity, Symbolism, and Metaphor in Art Therapy and Counseling3.0
CATX 536Studio Art for Art Therapists1.0
CATX 631Media, Materials and Process in Art Therapy3.0
CATX 645Professional Identity & Contemporary Practices3.0
Clinical Education Courses
CTCN 513Orientation to Counseling Theories, Helping Relationships, and Supervision2.0
CTCN 523Clinical Practicum I2.0
CTCN 524Group Supervision I1.5
CTCN 533Clinical Practicum II2.0
CTCN 534Group Supervision II1.5
CTCN 613Advanced Group Supervision and Internship I3.0
CTCN 623Advanced Group Supervision and Internship II3.0
CTCN 633Advanced Group Supervision and Internship III3.0
Culminating Project
CATX 621Culminating Project I1.5
CATX 622Culminating Project II1.5
Art Therapy Electives *
Digital Media Use in Art Therapy and Counseling
Mindfulness in Clinical Practice
Additional Electives *
For Culminating Project Only
Total Credits90.0
*

Please note that electives are in addition to the 90 credits required for the degree.  Please consult with you advisor before registering for an elective.

Sample Plan of Study

Two Year Plan of Study

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CATX 5012.0CTCN 5094.5CATX 5323.0CATX 5361.0
CATX 5284.5CATX 5294.5CATX 5353.0CTCN 5034.5
CTCN 5014.5CTCN 5232.0CTCN 5054.5CTCN 5044.5
CTCN 5132.0CTCN 5241.5CTCN 5332.0 
  CTCN 5341.5 
 13 12.5 14 10
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CATX 6313.0CATX 6211.5CATX 6221.5 
CTCN 6014.5CTCN 6034.5CATX 6453.0 
CTCN 6064.5CTCN 5404.5CTCN 6044.5 
CTCN 6133.0CTCN 6233.0CTCN 6333.0 
 15 13.5 12 
Total Credits 90

Three-Year Plan of Study

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CATX 5012.0CATX 5294.5CATX 5323.0CATX 5361.0
CTCN 5014.5CTCN 5094.5CATX 5353.0CTCN 5034.5
CATX 5284.5 CTCN 5054.5 
 11 9 10.5 5.5
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CATX 6313.0CTCN 5232.0CTCN 6044.5CTCN 5044.5
CTCN 5132.0CTCN 5241.5CTCN 5332.0 
CTCN 6064.5CTCN 6034.5CTCN 5341.5 
 9.5 8 8 4.5
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CTCN 6014.5CATX 6211.5CATX 6221.5 
CTCN 6133.0CTCN 5404.5CATX 6453.0 
 CTCN 6233.0CTCN 6333.0 
 7.5 9 7.5 
Total Credits 90

Four-Year Plan of Study 

First Year (Part-Time)
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CATX 5012.0CTCN 5094.5CATX 5353.0CATX 5361.0
CATX 5284.5 CTCN 5054.5CTCN 5034.5
 6.5 4.5 7.5 5.5
Second Year (Part-Time)
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CTCN 5014.5CATX 5294.5CTCN 6034.5CTCN 5044.5
CTCN 5132.0CTCN 5232.0CTCN 5332.0 
 CTCN 5241.5CTCN 5341.5 
 6.5 8 8 4.5
Third Year (Part-Time)
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
CTCN 6064.5CATX 6211.5CTCN 6044.5Vacation
CTCN 6133.0CTCN 6233.0CTCN 6333.0 
 7.5 4.5 7.5 0
Fourth Year (Part-Time)
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
CATX 6313.0CTCN 5404.5CATX 5323.0 
CTCN 6014.5CATX 6221.5CATX 6453.0 
 7.5 6 6 
Total Credits 90

Program Level Outcomes

  • Students will learn to work with specified treatment objectives determined through client or group collaboration and formal to informal assessments to apply relevant art therapy methods alongside counseling micro-skills.
  • In-class experientials and didactic learning will inform and support the simultaneous clinical and community education experiences each student engages with individuals and groups. 
  • Students will learn primary art therapy and counseling skills by completing ongoing clinical and community education placement work and incorporating their supervisor and faculty feedback within their sustained learning trajectories with diverse care systems.
  • Each student will address and work within any necessary interpersonal work, self-care and professional disposition development in conscious, self-initiated and program-supported ways.
  • The program learning and content areas will support a comprehensive foundation for creative and ethical clinical and community work within the multiple systems of care and culturally diverse populations possible.
  • Faculty and supervisors will strive to inform, update and support individualized state licensure pursuits for each student via academic advisement and multiple licensure workshops while attending our program.
  • Students will study the vital roles that their creativity, intersectional identities and cultural humility impact and augment therapeutic relationships and goals of therapy.
  • Each student will be exposed to students and faculty members from other creative arts therapies and counseling fields while developing a strong identity as an art therapist.
  • Each student will engage in a Master's culminating project that is informed scholarship and creative-based and disseminate the results via an end-of-academic-year community platform and any other relevant venues or opportunities for the topic areas. 

Creative Arts Therapies Department Faculty

Joke Bradt, PhD, MT-BC (Temple University) Director, PhD Program in Creative Arts Therapies. Professor. Research in music therapy, chronic pain, systematic reviews.
Natalie Rae Carlton, PhD, ATR-BC, LPCC (Lesley University) Clinical Coordinator, Art Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Associate Clinical Professor. Digital media, queer worldmaking and comics, zines & graphic novel uses in art therapy.
Girija Kaimal, EdD, MA , ATR-BC (Harvard University) Interim Department Chair. Professor. Art therapy, indigenous arts, oncology, trauma leadership, program evaluation.
Clarissa Lacson, PhD, MT-BC (Drexel University) Director, Music Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Assistant Clinical Professor. Interprofessional collaboration, program development, clinical supervision, research coordination, pediatric and medical music therapy
Dawn Morningstar, MA, BC-DMT, LPC (Drexel University). Associate Clinical Professor. Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Dance/movement therapy, children and adolescents, special needs, clinical supervision.
Nalini Prakash, PhD, BC-DMT, CMA (Drexel University) Program Director, Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Assistant Clinical Professor. Dance/Movement Therapy. movement observation and assessment, mental illness, criminal justice, violence prevention, de-escalation, clinical supervision, arts-based community development.
Michele Rattigan, DHSc, ATR-BC, NCC, LPC, LPAT (Drexel University) Program Director, Art Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Associate Clinical Professor. Art Therapy. self-compassion, community compassion, and mindfulness-based arts therapies approaches; unresolved trauma; post-partum depression and anxiety; disordered eating and body image concerns; self-harming behaviors; & dissociative disorders. Critical compassionate pedagogy, interprofessional collaboration, & Universal Design for Learning in higher education.
Minjung Shim, PhD, BC-DMT (Drexel University). Assistant Professor. Medical dance/movement therapy, chronic pain management, mindfulness-based interventions, healthy aging, virtual reality and eHealth interventions, clinical trials, theory/model-building, scoping reviews.
Adenike Webb, PhD, MT-BC (Temple University) Clinical Education Coordinator, Creative Arts Therapy MA Programs . Assistant Clinical Professor. Anti-oppressive pedagogy, wellbeing and creativity, social justice, culturally sustaining practice.
Denise Wolf, ATR-BC, ATCS, LPC, LPAT (Drexel University). Associate Clinical Professor. Consulting, trauma sensitive care/complex interpersonal trauma, clinical supervision, hand papermaking, Dialectical behavior therapy, art museum spaces, school-based art therapy, community engagement.

Emeritus Faculty

Nancy Gerber, PhD, ATR-BC (Union Institute and University). Associate Clinical Professor Emerita. Art therapy assessment and treatment of adolescents and adults; modern psychoanalysis and art therapy; arts therapy education and doctoral education; arts based research and mixed methods research.
Sharon W. Goodill, PhD, BC-DMT, NCC, LPC (Union Institute and University). Clinical Professor Emerita. Medical dance/movement, mind/body studies, movement assessment for DMT, CAT research and leadership.
Florence Ierardi, MM, MT-BC, LPC (Temple University). Associate Clinical Professor Emerita. Clinical improvisation, trauma-informed music therapy, multicultural music therapy perspectives.
Ellen Schelly-Hill, MMT, BC-DMT, NCC, LPC (Antioch NE Graduate School). Associate Clinical Professor Emerita. Adults diagnosed with mood disorders, anxiety, chronic pain and with histories of trauma; clinical supervision; ethics.