Master of Arts in Counseling and Art Therapy Admission Requirements

Deadlines and Process for Counseling and Art Therapy Enrollment

The suggested priority deadlines for applications to the Counseling and Art Therapy program are as follows:

• March 15 for fall semester enrollment
• October 15 for spring semester enrollment

We accept and admit students on a rolling basis throughout each semester.

Students applying for admission must meet the general requirements for graduate admission and the following program requirements:

A 3-5 page essay in APA format discussing the following:

• Aptitude for working with people
• Motivation for pursuing a career in counseling and art therapy
• The meaning of art in the applicant’s life
• Areas of artistic strength and areas of possible artistic growth

Please note: This essay is in addition to the general essay on the graduate application form.

A portfolio needs to be completed prior to interviewing with the faculty. Candidates completing prerequisite art courses must submit a partial portfolio for review, with follow-up work submitted after completing the art prerequisites. The portfolio should contain:

• At least 24 works of art representing a variety of media and techniques, including examples of media in each of the studio art course prerequisite areas
• A separate index describing the media, size and date the work was completed
• Digital images, slides, photos, or actual works are all acceptable.

Prerequisite coursework:

18 semester hours in studio art, with earned grade of ‘B’ or better, which must include:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Three-Dimensional Media (Ceramics, Sculpture, or equivalent)

12 semester hours in psychology*, with earned grade of ‘B’ or better, which must include:

• Developmental Psychology (or Lifespan; Human Growth & Development; Child/Adolescent Psychology)
• Abnormal Psychology (or Psychopathology)

*Coursework in cultural studies, such as Queer Studies, Women/Gender Studies, Disability Studies, Racial and/or Ethnic Cultural groups studies, may count towards Psychology prerequisite coursework, at the discretion of CAT faculty.

At least 12 hours of the studio art and at least 9 hours of the psychology must be completed prior to starting the program. The remaining prerequisites must be completed within the first year of the program.

Some experience in working with people within a human service context is highly recommended.