Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with Art Therapy Specialization

The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology may be combined with a 30-credit Art Therapy Specialization, the only graduate training in Art Therapy in New Jersey. The program is accredited by the American Art Therapy Association. The specialization is designed for students pursuing a career in the fields of art therapy and counseling. This 60-credit interdisciplinary program integrates counseling psychology and art therapy courses to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the profession. Graduate art therapy courses at Caldwell are a combination of didactic and experiential teaching methods, blending theory and practice.

While the Counseling Psychology program emphasizes a cognitive-behavioral orientation, the Art Therapy program emphasizes the integration of a variety of theoretical approaches appropriate to the practice of art therapy, with emphasis on psychodynamic, humanistic and cognitive-behavioral approaches. Successful completion of this program includes the requirement that students pass written and oral comprehensive examinations in addition to the prescribed course work and practica requirements.

Graduates of the program meet the foundational educational requirements for registration and board certification as an art therapist. With an additional 1,000 clinical contact hours, graduates can pursue registration with the American Art Therapy Association. In addition, graduates also meet the foundational educational requirements for licensure as a Professional Counselor in the State of New Jersey.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  • Bachelor’s-level course work in General Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Psychopathology, Experimental Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Psychological Statistics, with at least a C in each
  • Official undergraduate/graduate transcripts
  • Satisfactory scores on either the GRE or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
  • Writing sample: In lieu of the statement of objectives on the application, submit a research-based paper of at least 10 pages that was previously submitted in an undergraduate or graduate psychology or art therapy course. APA style preferred. Other subject matter and/or formatting may be considered if the candidate has limited psychology coursework.
  • 18 credits in studio art course, including course work in Drawing, Painting, and Three Dimensional Work
  • Art Portfolio of 10–15 pieces, slides, or digital copies evidencing proficiency in different media
  • Two letters of recommendation for graduate study
  • Personal Interview

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS – 60 credits

Required Courses in Counseling Psychology (24 credits)

PS 505 Research Methods and Statistics I (3)
PS 515 Research Methods and Statistics II (3)
PS 525 Personality Theory (3)
PS 535 Biopsychology (3)
PS 545 Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling (3)
PS 575 Psychopathology and Assessment I (3)
PS 585 Psychopathology and Assessment II (3)
PS 667 Lifespan Development (3)

Required Courses in Art Therapy (27 credits)

ATP 501 History and Development of Art Therapy (3)
ATP 504 Counseling Theory in Art Therapy(3)
ATP 505 Theory and Practice of Art Therapy (3)
ATP 507 Psychology of Art Materials (3)
ATP 509 Art Therapy and Cultural Diversity (3)
ATP 607 Art Diagnosis and Assessment (3)
ATP 612 Art Therapy with Children and Adolescents (3)
ATP 617 Group Process In Art Therapy (3)
ATP 620 Advanced Seminar in Art Therapy (3)

Required Practicum Experience (6 credits - 700 Hours)

ATP 601 Practicum in Art Therapy I (1)
ATP 602 Practicum in Art Therapy II (1)
ATP 603 Advanced Practicum in Art Therapy I (2)
ATP 604 Advanced Practicum in Art Therapy II (2)

Elective (3 credits)

PS 613 Techniques of Individual Counseling (3)
PS 617 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (3)
PS 623 Marriage and Family Counseling (3)
PS 627 Psychopharmacology (3)
PS 633 Career Counseling (3)
PS 637 Substance Abuse (3)
PS 639 Advanced Techniques in Behavior Modification (3)
PS 643 Counseling Children (3)
PS 647 Counseling and Spirituality (3)
PS 653 Multicultural Counseling (3)
PS 657 Psychology of Death and Dying (3)
PS 663 Psychology and Practice of Group Dynamics (3)
PS 673 Theoretical Foundations of Brief Psychotherapy (3)
PS 677 Human Sexuality (3)
PS 687 Introduction to Managed Care Systems (3)
PS 689 Seminar in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (3)
PS 699 Seminar in Special Topics (3)

Transfer of Graduate Credit

Caldwell College may accept the transfer of six credits of graduate work in Psychology or a closely related field, provided the credits were completed within five years of the student’s graduate registration at Caldwell. Official transcripts of previous graduate work as well as the catalog description of each course must be submitted for review at the time of application. Approval of transfer credit is based on course content and grade earned in the course. Each transfer request will be reviewed by the Program Coordinators.

Statement of Outcomes Assessment

The graduate art therapy program uses a combination of assessment measures to evaluate student learning and competency. Mid-term and final exams; research papers that assess students’ writing skills, ability to integrate theory with course material, and ability to do research and literature searches (including a two-semester “position paper” developed in ATP 504-505); specific art projects that assess integration of psychological principles with personal experience; and assessments with actual clients in at least 700 hours of supervised practicum experience that demonstrates professional aptitude and an ability to integrate theory and practice.

Like all M.A. in Counseling Psychology graduates, earning the degree with an Art Therapy Specialization requires successful completion of a two-part comprehensive exam in the form of a Case Study. One part involves a written treatment plan for a counseling case; the second involves an oral defense/presentation of the case to a committee of faculty members. In general, students should be able to demonstrate the following in the comprehensive exam:

  • An understanding of the fundamental principles of counseling psychology and art therapy, including treatment approaches, learning, individual behavior, personality, group processes, human development, psychopathology (abnormal behavior), the role of culture, gender, and spirituality, and the biological bases of behavior, among other areas.
  • An understanding of psychological research, including experimental, quasi-experimental, and non-experimental designs, particularly as they pertain to treatment of psychological disorders.
  • Ability to read and evaluate reports of psychological research.
  • Ability to write clearly about psychological content and to be able to communicate it effectively.
  • Ability to integrate art therapy theory and practice within a counseling framework.
  • An understanding of the selection and implementation of appropriate art therapy and psychological methods of assessment and evaluation.