Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Arts in Art Therapy Program

The Master of Arts in Art Therapy program at Tyler School of Art and Architecture is designed to prepare competent entry-level art therapists in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains. The program integrates the disciplines of art therapy and counseling psychology, providing students with a multidisciplinary curriculum that is academically sound, clinically grounded, and ethically focused.

Program Principles

The program is structured on four main principles that ensure graduates have the requisite knowledge, skills, and competencies to provide high-quality therapeutic services and to effectively practice as professional art therapists after graduation. These principles include:

• Theory: Apply theory to practice, employ critical thinking, and navigate complex relationships and social contexts.
• Creativity: Effectively utilize the creative process and studio art making within the therapeutic alliance.
• Ethics: Respond to issues of social justice and to the needs of people in diverse settings through research while following professional ethical standards and scope of practice.
• Community: Contribute to community well-being and social equity through accessible and affordable arts-based mental health services.

Program Details

The Master of Arts in Art Therapy is a graduate degree program that requires:

• 18 semester credit hours in studio art
• 12 semester credit hours in psychology, including Developmental Psychology and Theories of Personality
• A 20-piece portfolio with a range of media
• A personal statement of goals
• Three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed as 6 full semesters plus 2 summer terms, with a total of:

• 30 credits in Art Therapy
• 6 credits in Electives
• 12 credits in Art Therapy Supervision
• 12 credits in Counseling Psychology The program includes courses such as:
  • Theoretical Foundations in Art Therapy, History, and Approaches
  • Foundations in Expressive Therapies
  • Art Therapy Materials, Media, and Techniques
  • Art Therapy with Groups
  • Art Therapy Research
  • Art Therapy Ethics
  • Relationships and Family Art Therapy
  • Cultural Responsiveness in Art Therapy
  • Community-Based Practices in Art Therapy

Accreditation

The program's curriculum design follows the guidelines and standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The program will go through the accreditation process after the first cohort graduates.

Unique Advantages

The program is housed at an internationally acclaimed art school within Temple University, providing unique advantages such as:

• Exposure to innovative art making, studio practices, and artist lectures
• An environment that encourages experimentation and promotes deep understanding of the creative process
• Collaboration with faculty to gain insights that expand art practice to enrich therapeutic interventions
• Access to a large library system, including the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio, and student success and career centers

Career Opportunities

The field of art therapy has witnessed a significant rise in popularity, recognition, and application across various settings, including hospitals, schools, community centers, and rehabilitation facilities. Art therapy practice shares commonality with other mental health professions, but the combination of psychological knowledge and therapeutic skills with an understanding of art media, the neurobiology of artmaking, and the creative process distinguishes art therapy from these professions.

Alumni Voices

Previous students have praised the program for its transformative impact on their careers and personal growth, citing the program's emphasis on creativity, community, and social justice as key factors in their success.