Art Therapy (Grad)

Evelyn Spratt, Ph.D., Interim Dean, School of Arts, Sciences and Business
Cathy Goucher, MA, ATR-BC, LCPC, LCPAT, Chair and Field Instruction Coordinator
Julia Andersen MA, ATR-BC, LCPAT, ATCS, Graduate Program Director
Yasmine Awais PhD, ATR-BC, LCPAT, ATCS Graduate Research Coordinator

Program Objectives

Programs within the Art Therapy Department, housed in Notre Dame of Maryland University’s historic Women’s College and the College of Graduate Studies, will prepare women and men for entry into the field of art therapy, with an emphasis on graduates who are strong practitioners and clinicians within the field. Further, building on its tradition to educate students who transform their communities and work toward a culture of inclusivity and social responsibility, the program intends to have a strong emphasis on preparing clinicians who will give back to and meaningfully serve their communities, in addition to their work with clients.

Art Therapy is an integrative mental health profession that combines knowledge and understanding of the visual arts and the creative process, as well as of human development, psychological, and counseling theories and techniques for helping clients improve cognitive abilities, psychological health, and sensory-motor functions. Art therapists are trained in the theories of art therapy, psychotherapy, counseling, and standards of practice, assessment and evaluation, individual and group, as well as family therapy, human development, research methods, and multicultural issues. Through the use of art media, the creative process, and often verbal processing of produced imagery, art therapists help clients manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, reduce anxiety, increase self-esteem, reconcile emotional conflicts and improve overall wellbeing. Notre Dame offers a comprehensive training program with a focus on the unique ability of art and art making to reveal thoughts and feelings, while ensuring students learn the skills involved in safely managing the reactions the creative process evokes in therapy and counseling with individuals at all stages of life.

NDMU’s Masters in Art Therapy (MA) Program has been designed to ensure students will graduate with the necessary coursework and clinical internship hours needed for meeting the Art Therapy Credentials Board’s (ATCB) requirements for professional credentialing (ATR-BC), as well as Maryland licensure requirements (LGPAT/LCPAT) in Maryland. Students planning to practice locally will submit application to the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists as they complete their studies in demonstration that educational requirements have been met and to ask that permission be granted to allow them to sit for the licensing exam required. Achieving a passing score on this exam, the MA graduate will be licensed as an LGPAT, gaining entry into the field and eligibility to work as an art therapist in a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, social service facilities, senior centers, government agencies, correctional facilities, schools, and community settings. Additionally, licensed art therapists have sufficient training across a variety of courses and disciplines as to be marketable not only in art therapy, but in general therapy and counseling positions and community programming.

The Master’s in Art Therapy is offered in a traditional face-to-face, full or part-time format in the liberal arts tradition. In the full-time format, the 64 credit Program of Study, including 1,000 total hours of practicum and internship, should be completed within three years.

Notre Dame of Maryland University requires a Grade Point Average of 3.0 on a 4-point scale for graduation for any of the Graduation Degree or Certificate Programs of Study. This means that students can only receive two C's in their NDMU grad program and still graduate. With permission of the SOASB Dean, a student may repeat only one course that has been failed, with the exception of failure of any section of Internship, which may not be repeated if failed. The higher grade and course credits will be counted in the student's Cumulative Grade Point Average and toward the credits needed for the degree. Both grades, however, will appear on the student's official transcript. The repeated course must be taken at Notre Dame. A second grade of 'F' in any course will result in Academic Dismissal from the graduate program. A course with a grade of 'C' or higher may not be repeated. Students wishing to explore appealing a grade are directed to the NDMU grade appeal process.

NDMU is committed to preparing competent entry level Art Therapists in the cognitive knowledge, psychomotor skills, and affective behavior learning domains that have been defined by the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education. As the curriculum is informed by the requirements set forth by the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education for educational programs in Art Therapy, graduates will have knowledge and ability to:

1. Understand the historical development of Art Therapy as a profession, Art Therapy theories and techniques, as a foundation for contemporary Art Therapy professional practice.
2. Distinguish among the therapeutic benefits of a variety of art processes and media, strategies and interventions, and their applicability to the treatment process for individuals, groups, and families.
3. Recognize that Art Therapy, from a multicultural perspective, takes into consideration the specific values, beliefs, and actions influenced by a client’s race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, political views, sexual orientation, geographic region, physical capacity or disability, and historical or current experiences within the dominant culture.
4. Select culturally and developmentally appropriate assessment and evaluation methods and administer and interpret results to identify challenges, strengths, resilience, and resources for Art Therapy treatment planning.
5. Develop culturally appropriate, collaborative, and productive therapeutic relationships with clients.
6. Know federal and state laws and professional ethics as they apply to the practice of Art Therapy.
7. Recognize and respond appropriately to ethical and legal dilemmas using ethical decision-making models, supervision, and professional and legal consultation when necessary.
8. Recognize clients’ use of imagery, creativity, symbolism, and metaphor as a valuable means for communicating challenges and strengths and support clients’ use of art-making for promoting growth and well-being.
9. Recognize the legal, ethical, and cultural considerations necessary when conducting Art Therapy research.
10. Apply principles of human development, artistic and creative development, human sexuality, gender identity development, family life cycle, and psychopathology, to the assessment and treatment of clients.
11. Understand professional role and responsibility to engage in advocacy endeavors as they relate to involvement in professional organizations and advancement of the profession.
12. Continuously deepen self-understanding through personal growth experiences, reflective practice, and personal art-making to strengthen a personal connection to the creative process, assist in self-awareness, promote well-being, and guide professional practice.
13. Pursue professional development through supervision, accessing current Art Therapy literature, research, best practices, and continuing educational activities to inform clinical practice.
14. Recognize the impact of oppression, prejudice, discrimination, and privilege on access to mental health care, and develop responsive practices that include collaboration, empowerment, advocacy, and social justice action.
15. Understand the basic diagnostic process and the major categories and criteria of mental disorders, corresponding treatments, and commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications.

Courses include a balance of didactic and experiential, art media and process enriched, aspects. This intentional construction of coursework will enhance the integration of theoretical approaches with practical application. Full time students may enroll in nine to fourteen credits during fall and spring semesters; nine to twelve credits for summer semester. Part-time study is possible, though can be challenging, and study is best completed within several years. Students considering part-time study are advised to contact the Program Director to discuss the potential for mapping out clear expectations and a course of study. Classes are scheduled in the evenings and occasionally on weekends to accommodate working professionals and to allow for greater flexibility within daytime hours for practicum/internship experience. The Program culminates with a Capstone Thesis.