Master of Arts in Clinical Art Therapy and Counseling

This program provides education and training in Art Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The degree is a total of 60 credits, 48 credits taken in the current Clinical Art Therapy program and 12 credits taken from the Department of Counseling and Development. The program has been designed to allow graduates to be eligible for licensing as a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in New York State, and to sit for the Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCBE) as part of national registration. The curriculum is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Individual students should check with their home states for specific educational requirements regarding licensure. We offer small and intimate class sizes that range from 8 to 22 students. The curriculum's focus is on the diagnostic and therapeutic value of painting, drawing, and sculpture as applied to a variety of populations (children, adolescents and adults). The art process is also emphasized and art is created in all foundational seminars. The course of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture for the Art Therapist, culminates in a gallery opening where students present their work. Emphasis is placed on creating a clinical art therapy community in which students, faculty, the Art, and Counseling Departments, as well as the New York area artist community, contribute to a cohesive and stimulating training experience. The program offers 30-40 active art therapy internship sites for students to fulfill the required 700 internship hours. Research is one of the hallmarks of this program. Our students are required to take nine credits in research and thesis. Students have presented their findings at national conferences and our faculty is known within the art therapy community for their efforts across a range of clinical topics.

TranscriptsSubmit official copies of your undergraduate and/or graduate transcript with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. You must have fulfilled the minimum prerequisite of 12 credits in Psychology (including a course in Abnormal Psychology), and 18 credits in Studio Art. Students who do not meet the minimum Grade Point Average (3.0) and/or who are in need of prerequisites may be accepted on a limited matriculation basis. Students who do not meet the minimum Grade Point Average (3.0) and/or who are in need of prerequisites may be accepted on a limited matriculation basis. All limited matriculated students have one year to complete the requirements for full matriculation.Art PortfolioA portfolio, evaluated by the Art Therapy Program, is required for admission and is the substitution for the Graduate Record Examination. The portfolio, including a numbered inventory, should contain 15 to 20 samples of your most recent work, preferably with a variety of media (drawing, painting, sculpture, etc.). The images may be included in any digital format (jpeg, pdf, PowerPoint slides).ResumeSubmit an updated copy of your resume with your online application.Personal StatementSubmit a statement of approximately 500 to 1,000 words describing your reason for pursuing graduate study at LIU in the Art Therapy program, your personal and academic background, and your professional goals.Writing SampleSubmit a sample of a research paper or paper written for an academic program, in APA style.Personal InterviewOnce all other program materials have been received, you will be contacted by the Program Director to arrange a personal interview. At this time, you may review samples of your artwork from the portfolio, as well as discuss any questions you have regarding the program.