M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Expressive Arts Therapy (60 credits)
On-Campus and Low-Residency Options
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Expressive Arts Therapy is a 60-credit program that integrates coursework, clinical work and supervision in expressive arts therapy and mental health counseling.
- The specialization can be completed in two or three years of study.
- A first field placement of 450 supervised hours, and a second field placement of 700 clinically supervised hours are required.
- On-Campus and Low-Residency students follow the same program of study
Program Prerequisites
- A minimum of six credits in psychology: three credits in abnormal psychology and three credits in developmental psychology with grades of B or better.
- Evidence of some form of creative expression. This could be presented either as an mp3/mp4 of music, dance or dramatic performance, a portfolio of visual art work, and/or a collection of poetry or examples of creative writing. Applicants should have a basic familiarity with the full experience of the creative process in at least one art form.
Program of Study
Required Core Courses (42 credits)
| GEXTH 5010 | Principles and Practices of Expressive Arts Therapy | 3 |
| GEXTH 5032 | Orientation to Expressive Therapies | 3 |
| GEXTH 5102 | Theories in Expressive Arts Therapy | 3 |
| GEXTH 5103 | Group Counseling: Expressive Arts Therapy | 3 |
| GEXTH 5122 | Expressive Arts Therapy Studio | 3 |
| GEXTH XXXX | Students Select 1 Non-Modality Elective | 3 |
| GEXTH 6032 | Human Development Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| GEXTH 6102 | Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice | 3 |
| GEXTH 6105 | Examining Power Privilege & Oppression in Clinical Practice | 3 |
| GEXTH 6106 | Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| GEXTH 6415 | Psychopathology and Clinical Practice | 3 |
| GEXTH 6416 | Theories of Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| GEXTH 6417 | Assessment and Testing in Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| GEXTH 7017 | Thesis Seminar | 3 |
Electives (6 credits)
Students may choose 6 credits of elective coursework in consultation with their faculty advisor.
Field Experience Courses (12 credits)
| GEXTH 5119 | Clinical Skills and Applications | 3 |
| GEXTH 6434 | Expressive Arts Therapy as Trauma-Informed Practice: Supervision I | 3 |
| GEXTH 7719 | Supervision in Expressive Arts Therapy and Counseling II | 3 |
| GEXTH 7721 | Supervision in Expressive Art Therapy and Counseling III | 3 |