Creative Arts Therapies PhD

Major: Creative Arts Therapies
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0
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 art therapists, dance/movement therapists and music 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, robust, rigorous research
• Contribute to theory evaluation and building
• Develop evidence-based best clinical practices
• Cultivate academic proficiency in educating the next generation of art therapists, dance/movement therapists and music therapists

The PhD program consists of four interactive learning modules plus a dissertation:

• Interdisciplinary- Delivered as seminars, these modules challenge students to study, explore, critically evaluate and synthesize areas of interdisciplinary knowledge relative to creative arts therapies origins, philosophy and theory.
• Research- Includes intensive study of multiple approaches to research. The purpose of the research module is to develop research skills along a spectrum of traditional and innovative approaches. The research curriculum contributes to the generation and dissemination of robust and relevant research in the students’ respective fields.
• Self/Other Artistic Knowledge- Introduces the exploration of the intrinsic intersubjective therapeutic processes emergent through artistic inquiry and parallel to the actual arts therapies experience. 
• Practicum- Emphasizes the transformation of theoretical knowledge to practical application and specialization. The research practicum is aimed at helping students gain hands-on experience in the design and conduct of research, collaborative teamwork, grant writing, data analysis and writing of research reports and publications. All students are required to complete a teaching practicum for one term.
• 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 is the culmination and representation of the students' doctoral work that not only advances knowledge in their field but also positions them for career opportunities in academia and research.

Research

The professions of art therapy, dance/movement therapy and music therapy have grown and become increasingly integrated as interventions in health care, education and human services. Implicit in the emergent growth and integration of these professions is our responsibility to evaluate existing and develop new evidence-based theories and clinical practices. The mission of the PhD in Creative Arts Therapies is to generate, critically evaluate and disseminate research to address this need and ultimately to advance the knowledge and evidence bases for these professions. Consequently, we have identified the following core values central to our research agenda.

Stewardship and scholarship in the Creative Arts Therapies include:

• Critical evaluation of the philosophical assumptions inherent in and essential to the understanding, preservation and advancement of theory and practice of the CATs
• Critical evaluation of the research approaches and methods best suited for the investigation of theories, processes, mechanisms and outcomes in the creative arts therapies
• Generation of knowledge that contributes to the construction, evaluation and credibility of evidence-based theory and clinical practices
• Translation, dissemination and application of rigorous research that contributes to the preservation and advancement of our fields and the health of society.

Additional Information

For more information about the program, visit the College of Nursing and Health Professions' PhD in Creative Arts Therapies webpage.

Degree Requirements

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Students are required to complete Responsible Conduct of Research Training within their first-year of study. This training is provided annually by Drexel Office of Research and Innovation.

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Dissertation Sequence: Students are required to complete the following courses: CATX 804, which focuses upon choosing a research topic for the dissertation; CATX 805, with faculty advisement, the student writes the dissertation proposal; CATX 806, the student revises the dissertation proposal based upon the results of the Dissertation Proposal Defense and collects the data; and CATX 807, the final stages of the dissertation in which the student analyzes the data, writes the final dissertation, and completes 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.

Sample Plan of Study

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Students are permitted to take up to two additional courses from RSCH 700-899, NPH 700-899 or IPS 700-899 or CATX I899.

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Dissertation Sequence: Students are required to complete the following courses: CATX 804, which focuses upon choosing a research topic for the dissertation; CATX 805, with faculty advisement, the student writes the dissertation proposal; CATX 806, the student revises the dissertation proposal based upon the results of the Dissertation Proposal Defense and collects the data; and CATX 807, the final stages of the dissertation in which the student analyzes the data, writes the final dissertation, and completes 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 4.0 credits is required.

Program Level Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:

• Become advanced critical and creative thinkers, scholars and leaders in their fields.
• Examine existing theory, propose revisions as necessary and develop new theoretical constructs that contribute to the evidence base for the creative arts disciplines.
• Critically evaluate traditional and innovative research paradigms most compatible with the epistemology, knowledge gaps and research questions in the creative arts therapies.
• Design and conduct research that aligns with one’s research worldview and contributes to theory building and evidence-informed practice in the fields of art therapy, dance/movement therapy and music therapy.
• Engage in scholarly writing, artistic inquiry, teaching and oral presentation to disseminate knowledge about the creative arts therapies to both public and professional communities.
• Demonstrate critical thinking, initiative, humility and intellectual morality and honesty as scholarly leaders, researchers and advocates in the professions of art therapy, dance/movement therapy and music therapy.

Creative Arts Therapies Department Faculty