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 program can be completed in 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 (usually abnormal and 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.
For the university's transfer credit policy for this and other programs, see the Transfer of Credits page.
Program of Study
Core Courses (30 credits)
| GEXTH 5032 | Orientation to Expressive Therapies | 3 |
| GEXTH 5103 | Group Counseling: Expressive Arts Therapy | 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 6418 | Vocational and Career Counseling | 3 |
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 |
Electives (6 credits)
Choose 2 courses from the following list.
Students must complete GEXTH 6025 and 6040, if required for counseling licensure as determined by student location.
Students can also complete a 3-credit specialization or non-specialization elective course in consultation with their advisor.
Specialization Courses (12 credits)
| GEXTH 5010 | Principles and Practices of Expressive Arts Therapy | 3 |
| GEXTH 5102 | Theories in Expressive Arts Therapy | 3 |
| GEXTH 5122 | Expressive Arts Therapy Studio | 3 |
| GEXTH 6107 | Advanced Expressive Arts Therapy: Theory and Practice | 3 |