Coursework

Students must complete sixty (60) credits to be eligible to receive the Master’s Degree. Core credits are in art therapy, psychology/counseling, and artistic materials and methods. In addition, each student must complete 700-900 hours of internship experience and prepare a culminating project to qualify and apply for degree candidacy.

Internship Experience

The MAAT Program prepares students to become competent entry level art therapists.  In addition to their academic coursework, students build their clinical skills and professional identities by working with diverse populations in a range of clinical and community-based settings.  The internship program is fully supervised by faculty who are Board Certified, Registered Art Therapists and on-site professionals who have at least a master’s degree in art therapy or a related field. 

Internship is a time of immense personal and professional growth. Internship experiences provide students with the opportunity to translate their coursework into action. During internship experiences, students develop and hone the skills necessary to succeed as an entry level art therapist. During their internship experiences, students begin to formulate their individual art therapist identities and learn how and where their unique skills and abilities intersect with the field of art therapy and in their work alongside individuals, groups, and communities.

Students are required to complete 700-900 total hours of internship experience under the supervision of qualified professionals over four semesters.  Students must enroll in a 3.0 credit designated course in Internship/Supervision each semester of the internship sequence. Students participate in a minimum of 100 hours of practicum experience. They then complete the remaining 600-800 supervised hours in three semesters of approximately 200 hours each.   Half of the hours obtained each semester must be direct client contact.  Students typically participate in 12-15 hours of internship per week during each academic semester.  

Please note that it is the responsibly of each student to obtain their internship placement

Each internship setting holds different expectations for interns. Sites may require information such as but not limited to:

• the student’s current health and immunization records,
• site-specific health clearances such as PPD testing,
• seasonal flu shot,
• Covid-19 or other vaccinations,
• physical examination,
• drug testing prior to starting clinical hours
• Background checks which may include a Criminal Record Check; Child Abuse Clearance; and/or FBI Fingerprinting

All students are required to follow The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability

Act (HIPAA) for confidentiality as well as the Code of Ethics outlined by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) and the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) at all times while at their internship sites. 

Culminating project

The Culminating Project (CP) provides students in their final year of the program with an opportunity to demonstrate that they possess the essential skills required for the master’s degree in art therapy. The process is mentored by a qualified faculty advisor who works closely with students to complete the CP.  The CP process requires students to work creatively and independently, to synthesize and integrate learning bridging theory and practice, and to share their understanding of issues relevant to the current practice of art therapy. These skills are demonstrated through the creation of a scholarly paper incorporating research, artistic inquiry and the integration of personal insights with established theory and practice. 

Students identify a research question which reflects their professional interests, clinical practices, and personal experiences as they relate to the field at large. Students explore their questions first through completion of a thorough literature review and then through a systematic art-based process of inquiry. Finally, students integrate insights which emerged through their artistic and clinical practices with the published literature to generate new knowledge and to move the field forward 

Specific information regarding timeline, deadlines and a full outline of requirements can be found on the “Art Therapy Student” page of MyCC in the “Culminating Project Guidelines.” 

Required Curriculum

Core Courses (42 credits)
ATP 501 Research Design and Methodology (3 credits)
ATP 505 Theories and Systems of Counseling Psychology (3 credits)
ATP 520 History and Theory of Art Therapy (3 credits)          
ATP 533 Family Art Therapy (3 credits)
ATP 534 Psychopathology (3 credits)
ATP 539 The Studio as a Therapeutic Environment (3 credits)
ATP 544 Lifestyle and Career Development (3 credits) 
ATP 545 Materials and Techniques of Art Therapy Practices (3 credits) 
ATP 549 Cultural Perspectives in Art Therapy (3 credits)
ATP 552 Group Art Therapy (3 credits) ATP 555 Professional Ethics for Art Therapists (3 credits)ATP 559 Human Growth and Development (3 credits)
ATP 575 Theories of Assessment in Art Therapy (3 credits)
ATP 620 Culminating Project (3 credits)

Internship Experience (12 credits)

ATP 601 Internship/Group Supervision (3 credits)
ATP 602 Internship/Group Supervision (3 credits)
ATP 603 Internship/Group Supervision (3 credits)
ATP 604 Internship/Group Supervision (3 credits)

Electives (6 credits)*

ATP 537 Advanced Topics in Art Therapy Material and Methods (3 credits)
ATP 547 Investigations in the Treatment of Trauma (3 credits)
ATP 572 Art Therapy in the Treatment of Addictions (3 credits)
*Additional electives are provided every other year under the “Special Topics” heading