Coursework

Students must complete sixty (60) credits to be eligible to receive the Master’s Degree. Core credits are in art therapy, psychology/counseling, and artistic materials and methods. In addition, each student must complete 700-900 hours of internship experience and prepare a culminating project to qualify and apply for degree candidacy.

Internship Experience

The MAAT Program prepares students to become competent entry level art therapists.  In addition to their academic coursework, students build their clinical skills and professional identities by working with diverse populations in a range of clinical and community-based settings.  The internship program is fully supervised by faculty who are Board Certified, Registered Art Therapists and on-site professionals who have at least a master’s degree in art therapy or a related field. 

Internship is a time of immense personal and professional growth. Internship experiences provide students with the opportunity to translate their coursework into action. During internship experiences, students develop and hone the skills necessary to succeed as an entry level art therapist. During their internship experiences, students begin to formulate their individual art therapist identities and learn how and where their unique skills and abilities intersect with the field of art therapy and in their work alongside individuals, groups, and communities.

Students are required to complete 700-900 total hours of internship experience under the supervision of qualified professionals over four semesters.  Students must enroll in a 3.0 credit designated course in Internship/Supervision each semester of the internship sequence. Students participate in a minimum of 100 hours of practicum experience. They then complete the remaining 600-800 supervised hours in three semesters of approximately 200 hours each.   Half of the hours obtained each semester must be direct client contact.  Students typically participate in 12-15 hours of internship per week during each academic semester.  

Please note that it is the responsibly of each student to obtain their internship placement

Each internship setting holds different expectations for interns. Sites may require information such as but not limited to:

• the student’s current health and immunization records,
• site-specific health clearances such as PPD testing,
• seasonal flu shot,
• Covid-19 or other vaccinations,
• physical examination,
• drug testing prior to starting clinical hours
• Background checks which may include a Criminal Record Check; Child Abuse Clearance; and/or FBI Fingerprinting

All students are required to follow The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability

Act (HIPAA) for confidentiality as well as the Code of Ethics outlined by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) and the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) at all times while at their internship sites. 

Culminating project

The Culminating Project (CP) provides students in their final year of the program with an opportunity to demonstrate that they possess the essential skills required for the master’s degree in art therapy. The process is mentored by a qualified faculty advisor who works closely with students to complete the CP.  The CP process requires students to work creatively and independently, to synthesize and integrate learning bridging theory and practice, and to share their understanding of issues relevant to the current practice of art therapy. These skills are demonstrated through the creation of a scholarly paper incorporating research, artistic inquiry and the integration of personal insights with established theory and practice. 

Students identify a research question which reflects their professional interests, clinical practices, and personal experiences as they relate to the field at large. Students explore their questions first through completion of a thorough literature review and then through a systematic art-based process of inquiry. Finally, students integrate insights which emerged through their artistic and clinical practices with the published literature to generate new knowledge and to move the field forward 

Specific information regarding timeline, deadlines and a full outline of requirements can be found on the “Art Therapy Student” page of MyCC in the “Culminating Project Guidelines.” 

Required Curriculum

Core Courses (42 credits)
ATP 501 Research Design and Methodology (3 credits)
ATP 505 Theories and Systems of Counseling Psychology (3 credits)
ATP 520 History and Theory of Art Therapy (3 credits)          
ATP 533 Family Art Therapy (3 credits)
ATP 534 Psychopathology (3 credits)
ATP 539 The Studio as a Therapeutic Environment (3 credits)
ATP 544 Lifestyle and Career Development (3 credits) 
ATP 545 Materials and Techniques of Art Therapy Practices (3 credits) 
ATP 549 Cultural Perspectives in Art Therapy (3 credits)
ATP 552 Group Art Therapy (3 credits) ATP 555 Professional Ethics for Art Therapists (3 credits)ATP 559 Human Growth and Development (3 credits)
ATP 575 Theories of Assessment in Art Therapy (3 credits)
ATP 620 Culminating Project (3 credits)

Internship Experience (12 credits)

ATP 601 Internship/Group Supervision (3 credits)
ATP 602 Internship/Group Supervision (3 credits)
ATP 603 Internship/Group Supervision (3 credits)
ATP 604 Internship/Group Supervision (3 credits)

Electives (6 credits)*

ATP 537 Advanced Topics in Art Therapy Material and Methods (3 credits)
ATP 547 Investigations in the Treatment of Trauma (3 credits)
ATP 572 Art Therapy in the Treatment of Addictions (3 credits)
*Additional electives are provided every other year under the “Special Topics” heading

General Admissions Requirements

Students are admitted to graduate programs at Cedar Crest College on the basis of individual qualifications. Requests for application materials and all correspondence relating to admission should be addressed to:

Cedar Crest College
School for Adult and Graduate Education
100 College Drive
Allentown, PA 18104-6196
USA
Phone: 1-610-740-3770
Email:
Fax: 1-610-740-3786

Online Application Materials:
www.cedarcrest.edu/apply

On the Allentown, Pennsylvania campus, the main office for the School for Adult and Graduate Education is located in Blaney Hall, Room 105. The office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time; Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

Students are encouraged to contact the College to discuss their educational plans. Upon request, arrangements can be made to discuss curriculum requirements including internships and culminating project as well as AATA and ATCB guidelines with the Program Director of the MA in Art Therapy, Laura Teoli ().

For more information, please contact the staff at the School of Adult and Graduate Education (SAGE).

Applications for the MA in Art Therapy are accepted and reviewed at specific intervals throughout the year. Application deadlines appear on the program website and accepted students are admitted to the MA in Art Therapy program in the fall and spring.  Traditional (face-to-face) students typically begin the program in the fall, while low residency (distance) students typically begin the program in the spring. 

MA Application Requirements

In order to be considered for admission to the program, applicants must submit the following items:

• A completed graduate application form (online).
• Official undergraduate transcripts with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• A minimum of eighteen (18) credits of study in studio art which demonstrates a developed commitment in art making and creative processes.  It is important that the applicant evidence a range of experience using a variety of art materials.
• Psychology coursework at a minimum of twelve (12) credits which must include developmental psychology and abnormal psychology. In some cases, students may require only nine (9) credits of psychology coursework which must include developmental psychology and abnormal psychology. Students are advised to reach out to SAGE and/or the program director to discuss the necessary pre-requisites.  The applicant must have accomplished a “C” or better in all prerequisite psychology courses. 
• A 500-750 word personal essay that includes the following areas:
  • Describe the focus of your art making.
  • How did you come to choose art therapy as the focus of your graduate level education?
  • What are your future goals as a professional art therapist?
  • How will the MA in Art Therapy program at Cedar Crest College help you succeed in meeting these goals?

• Two letters of recommendation from individuals (one must be from a previous faculty or course instructor) who can assess your qualifications and potential related to the demands of graduate study.
• A current résumé detailing any human service experience including relevant volunteer or employment experience.
• A portfolio including 12-16 examples of artwork that demonstrates familiarity with both 2D and 3D media and processes. If previous coursework was completed outside of the United States, applicants must have their academic degree validated as equivalent to a degree in the United States through a non-profit credential-evaluation agency, such as:

World Education Services
PO Box #745
Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10011
USA
1 -212-966-6311/www.wes.org

A $250 non-refundable deposit will be required for all admitted students to save one’s place in the program.

Admissions Decisions

The primary goal of the MAAT application and admission process is to ensure the best possible match between the program’s requirements and offerings, and the candidate’s strengths, professional interests, and educational needs.  It is in the best interest of applicants and the program (as well as future clients) to establish an amiable pairing between the applicant’s potential and the demands of the profession. 

To achieve this match, candidates are carefully evaluated in the areas of interpersonal skills, academic performance, relevant human service experience, creativity and overall readiness for graduate education in art therapy.  It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that each of these areas is directly and adequately addressed in his or her application materials. Given the competitive nature of the admission process, significant deficiencies in one or more of these areas are likely to undermine an applicant’s chances for acceptance into the MAAT program.

The MAAT Program Director, in consultation with SAGE Graduate Admissions and art therapy faculty members, will make final admission decisions based upon a full review of each applicant’s submitted materials. Admissions decisions are based on review of the application portfolio, application essay, writing sample, letters of recommendation, and art and psychology coursework indicated in transcripts as well as listed experience in the résumé.  Each applicant is considered from a holistic perspective.

Art Portfolio

The applicant must have a minimum of 18 credits in studio art courses which include experiential learning in the media, tools, and methods of both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional art.  The portfolio review will be based on representation of a high level of investigation in a variety of studio materials and techniques.

Academic performance

The applicant’s transcripts are reviewed for completion of the prerequisite course work in psychology and studio art, as well as for overall academic achievement.  Because graduate art therapy education must meet rigorous standards set forth by the American Art Therapy Association and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, it is important that applicants possess a high level of critical thinking and writing skills.  Letters of reference from college or university faculty are highly valued in considering previous academic accomplishments.

Note: Interested applicants missing three or more prerequisite courses cannot be considered for admission and should delay application in order to allow for sufficient time to complete undergraduate coursework.

Human service experience

The applicant’s résumé, personal essay, letters of recommendation and interview are the primary means of assessing the student’s level of human service experience prior to applying for the MAAT program.  A strong candidate will also possess significant experience working with people in counseling, social service, recreation, or education programs or have significant volunteer experiences in human service organizations. 

Interpersonal skills

The ability to function within a variety of roles is an essential aspect of the work of the art therapist including the ability to interact productively with others, to express one-self in a professional manner, and to listen effectively. The art therapist must be a team member, a group leader, an advocate for the profession, and a person skilled in developing and maintaining therapeutic relationships with individuals while preserving an environment conducive to art making. 

Consideration is given to the applicant’s maturity, relational skills, experience in personal counseling/therapy, self-awareness, emotional stability, ethical integrity, and readiness for the personal demands of graduate art therapy education. 

The applicant’s interpersonal skills are evaluated through review of the letters of recommendation and the interview process.  The personal essay and interview are appropriate times for the applicant to highlight the above areas as they relate to an overall readiness for the Master of Arts in Art Therapy program at Cedar Crest College.