Expressive Arts Therapy - Bachelor of Science (36 Credits)
(36 credits plus 13 credits of experiential learning)
The professional major in Expressive Arts Therapy is designed for students interested in learning about the theory and philosophy of expressive arts therapy and how professionals utilize expressive arts therapy modalities of dance/movement, drama, creative writing, music, poetry and the visual arts in integrated ways in working with children and adults in a variety of settings.
This major prepares students for entry-level positions in a number of human services settings, such as social service agencies, child care programs or specialized school programs, and other community settings. It is also designed to prepare students for entry into a professional, Master of Arts degree licensure program in Expressive Therapies and Mental Health Counseling. This program combines pre-professional courses in the human services with substantial coursework in psychology and the arts. Students will complete 270-350 hours in the field. Optional specializations: Holistic Psychology, Dance/Movement Therapy, Spanish for the Professions: Community Engagement minor.
To successfully meet the requirements of the Expressive Arts Therapy major, students will:
- develop multimodal proficiency, synthesizing the identity of an integrated artist with that of a helping professional.
- demonstrate an understanding of modality-specific applications of Expressive Therapies within a context of the helping profession, through engagement in experiential learning.
- be able to critically analyze social science research and utilize their understanding to enhance their development within the field of Expressive Art Therapy.
- show an understanding of psychological development within a cultural context.
- demonstrate a capacity to utilize multicultural global perspectives in their approach to understanding Expressive Arts Therapy practice.
- develop knowledge and abilities integrating hands-on learning with studies of psychology and applied therapies through exploring career development, cultural humility, self-reflective skills, communication skills, ethics, and self-care.
Academic & Professional Standards of the Expressive Arts Therapy Major
The Department of Psychology & Applied Therapies understands the commitment to self-awareness and self-management that comes with development as a helping professional. Students’ capacity to engage with empathic understanding of self and other is of great importance for successful completion of the internship courses and many other aspects of the program. Due to the applied nature of our graduates’ work in the field, students’ understanding of areas for growth and their own commitment to work on both personal challenges and professional competencies is essential to moving forward in the major.
Department pedagogy is substantially based on students’ attendance and participation with the course materials, in activities that require consistent collaboration with others, which itself is based in the ability to take other’s perspectives and present one’s own opinions respectfully.
Below are listed other specific competencies and professional behaviors that students will be assessed on as they progress through their program of study. Students will be given feedback when issues arise related to these competencies and allowed an opportunity to improve on suggested areas in order to assist them to successfully complete their chosen major. Students failing to reach benchmarked academic standards and professional competencies over time will enter the Department's academic review process. For more specific descriptions of these competencies and the academic review process, please see Department Manual.
Professional Standards Competencies
A student’s ability to function effectively within the context of helping relationships will be continually assessed by the faculty. Among the competencies that will be evaluated, in accordance with a student’s experience, are:
- Appropriate work comportment including: attendance; punctuality; sound judgment; quality of work; ability to take initiative; attitude, knowledge or application of agency policy;
- Understanding of, and sensitivity to, the power dynamic in the worker/client relationship and the impact of class, ethnicity, gender, physical ability, race, religion/spirituality, and sexual orientation;
- Awareness of how one’s own biases will affect one’s understanding of and regard for another;
- Capacity to be a participant and observer in one’s helping relationships with others;
- Recognition of and ability to deal with issues relating to how one’s own feelings may impact work with clients, agency personnel, and supervisors;
- Ability to interview/converse with clients in order to assess their social and emotional needs;
- Ability to use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills;
- The ability to maintain appropriate and ethically required boundaries, which includes but is not limited to dual relationships, sexual conduct with clients or staff and sexual harassment;
- The appropriate use of self-disclosures;
- Awareness of the scope and limits of one’s expertise, including but not limited to identification as interns;
- Understanding of an ability to adapt treatment plans to meet the needs of diverse clinical populations;
- Understanding of and ability to discuss ethical issues as they arise.
Degree Requirements
I. Required Core (21 Credits):
Recommended: Take CMATH 1522 Introduction to Statistics before CSOCS 3444 Research Methods in the Social Sciences.
There is a minimum grade requirement of "C" in both CSOCS 3444 and CEXTH 4623 to complete the major.
II. Arts Courses (9 Credits):
Choose ONE course from 3 different categories.
Advisors may substitute CARTH 3888 or CEXTH 3888 as appropriate in areas below.
Visual Arts
Music
Theater / Drama
| CEXTH 3304 | Psychodrama and Sociometry: Making the Invisible Visible | 3 |
| GEXTH 5047 | Principles and Practices of Drama Therapy | 3 |
| GEXTH 6009 | Developmental Transformations with Children and Adults | 3 |
Dance / Movement
| CEXTH 3404 | Nia: Mind-Body Movement | 3 |
| CEXTH 3406 | Dance/Movement Therapy: A Kinesthetic Approach to Healing | 3 |
| GEXTH 5250 | Introduction to Dance/Movement Therapy | 3 |
| GEXTH 6254 | Dance Movement Therapy with Children | 3 |
| GEXTH 6255 | Jungian Dance and Drama Therapy | 3 |
| GEXTH 5029 | Body-Oriented Psychotherapy With Adults | 3 |
| GEXTH 6259 | Movement and Healing: Dance Therapy with Adults | 3 |
Literary Arts
NOTE: Graduate courses (GEXTH prefix) are available to Juniors or Seniors who must have permission from their academic advisor and course instructor to enroll.
NOTE: Students planning to apply for the dual degree program in Expressive Therapies will need 3 additional credits from any of the above arts courses and must show evidence of competency in at least one art form.
Required Internship Sequence Coursework (13 Credits):
There is a minimum grade requirement of C in all internship sequence courses.
| CPSYC 1551 | Foundations and Systems in the Helping Professions | 3 |
| CPSYC 2551 | Concepts & Skills in Professional Practice | 4 |
| CEXTH 3801 | Expressive Arts Therapy Internship and Seminar I | 6 |
Advanced Expressive Arts Therapy Electives (6 credits)
Take two additional CEXTH courses, or one CEXTH and one CARTH course, from arts choice list, or take CEXTH 4801 Internship and Seminar II.
Recommended Humanities and Fine Arts courses
These courses can develop technique in arts areas. With ET coordinator permission one course from those below might be subbed into an arts category of major.
Recommended Psychology Courses