2024-2025 Graduate Academic Catalog

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 5032Orientation to Expressive Therapies

3

GEXTH 5103Group Counseling: Expressive Arts Therapy

3

GEXTH 6032Human Development Across the Lifespan

3

GEXTH 6102Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice

3

GEXTH 6105Examining Power Privilege & Oppression in Clinical Practice

3

GEXTH 6106Research and Program Evaluation

3

GEXTH 6415Psychopathology and Clinical Practice

3

GEXTH 6416Theories of Mental Health Counseling

3

GEXTH 6417Assessment and Testing in Mental Health Counseling

3

GEXTH 6418Vocational and Career Counseling

3

Field Experience Courses (12 credits)

GEXTH 5119Clinical Skills and Applications

3

GEXTH 6434Expressive Arts Therapy as Trauma-Informed Practice: Supervision I

3

GEXTH 7719Supervision in Expressive Arts Therapy and Counseling II

3

GEXTH 7721Supervision in Expressive Art Therapy and Counseling III

3

Electives (6 credits)

Choose 2 courses from the following list.
GEXTH 6025Marriage and Family Therapy

3

GEXTH 6040Treatment of Substance Use Disorders and Addictions

3

GEXTH 7017Thesis Seminar

3

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 5010Principles and Practices of Expressive Arts Therapy

3

GEXTH 5102Theories in Expressive Arts Therapy

3

GEXTH 5122Expressive Arts Therapy Studio

3

GEXTH 6107Advanced Expressive Arts Therapy: Theory and Practice

3