The faculty truly listen and try to work with you. They sympathize when life might just get in the way. I love this program and I really believe they want us to succeed.

Tara Wright-North
Art Therapy Student

Master of Education in Counseling and Personnel Services (Art Therapy)

The M.Ed in Counseling and Personnel Services with a concentration in Art Therapy was the first art therapy university-based educational program established in the U.S. It has been an American Art Therapy Association approved program since this designation was offered, and the curriculum adheres to the association's guidelines for education.

Graduates also meet the academic requirements for licensure as a professional counselor associate in Kentucky (LPCA).

Art Therapy strives to be an outstanding program--to be in the forefront of excellence in research, scholarship, education, and clinical application; to discover and provide expansion and integration of individual and group art therapy ideology and services into diverse segments of the culture.

• Interested in visiting campus? Find out how!
• Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology
• UofL Course Catalog
• Degree Requirements
• American Art Therapy Association

I was impressed with the faculty and the curriculum. So far I have been very impressed by my instructors and am enjoying my time here. I like the fact that art therapy looks at ways with which we can treat the whole person.

Laurel Sims
Art Therapy Student

American Art Therapy Association Approved Program

The Art Therapy Master's Degree is an approved program of the American Art Therapy Association and adheres to the association's guidelines for education.

After receipt of your master's degree and professional employment for one year (equal to 1,000 supervised hours of art therapy experience), you become eligible for registration with the association. For more details on registration and the field of art therapy in general, please write or call the American Art Therapy Association, 1202 Allanson Rd., Mundelein, IL 60060, 888-290-0878, or FAX 847-566-4580.

Specializations

The faculty's specializations cover cognitive and psychoanalytic approaches to art therapy, brief therapy, imagery, medical and grief counseling. In cooperation with the Family Therapy program we also offer training in Family Therapy.

The students in our program come from different parts of the U.S. and abroad, enriching our program with their varied backgrounds and interests.

For details about program curriculum, visit the Graduate Catalog.

Note: Meeting GRE score and GPA minimums do not guarantee a student will be accepted to the program.

I have instructors that are flexible and knowledgeable, practicum placements in my local area that are also flexible and different in the populations they serve.

Siobh Wilkerson
Art Therapy Student

Admission Requirements for Art Therapy

Prospective students must submit an online application for admission to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.

• The minimum requirement for admission is the baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution. Minimum overall GPA of 2.75, or 2.75 on the last 60 undergraduate hours, is required. Applicants are required to submit all official transcripts from all colleges attended as verification of coursework and degree(s).
• Each applicant is required to submit at least two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant's academic and/or professional capabilities and potential. Please download the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies recommendation form [PDF].
• For GRE scores prior to August 1, 2011, a minimum combined (verbal and quantitative) score of an 800 is required for unconditional admission. For GRE scores taken August 1, 2011 and after, please refer to the concordance table from ETS (Educational Testing Services) [PDF] for revised score equivalencies. Need help preparing for the GRE? Sign up for a GRE Information Session.
• Prospective students must submit a professional goal statement [PDF] appropriate to their stated area of concentration for admission to the degree program.
• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all foreign students from countries in which English is not the native language. Students holding a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States are exempt from this requirement.

In addition to these requirements, admission to the degree program may require completion of prerequisite undergraduate courses specific to each area of concentration.

Faculty may require interviews in addition to written credentials as part of the admission process.

Application Deadlines

Fall Admission: January 15

Additional Requirements

In addition to general admission requirements for the degree, prospective students applying for a concentration in Art Therapy demonstrate evidence of having completed the following undergraduate coursework.

Art, 18 hours to include the following:

• Basic drawing course
• Course in painting
• A course using clay
• Three other studio courses of your choice (many students take 2D or 3D design, photography)

  Psychology, 15 hours to include:

  • General or intro to psychology
  • Developmental psychology
  • Abnormal psychology
  • Personality theory
  • Introductory statistics

  Applicants to the Art Therapy program must also submit samples of their work including the following portfolio items:

  • Writing sample which reflects the student's ability to write a formal paper. A copy of paper written for a previous class will do.
  • Portfolio of student's artwork; 10 images are recommended.

  Experience in helping professions, either paid or volunteer, is recommended.

Contact

Eileen O'Neill Estes
Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology
College of Education & Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
502-852-2270

Opportunities for Graduates

Art Therapy is a human services profession. It provides individuals and groups with the means to support and express and explore feelings, thought, problems and potential through the use of art media and imagery. It is utilized with any age and in areas such as medical illness, grief, educational and behavioral problems, emotional issues, and even criminal behavior. It is one of the nonverbal expressive therapies (along with dance, drama, music and poetry therapy) where the process is emphasized rather than the product.

Financial Aid

In addition to the financial aid opportunities offered by the University, the College of Education & Human Development also has information about financial aid.

Other financial aid opportunities available include graduate assistantships and other employment opportunities.

I have some credit hours from another program/university. Can the credit be transferred?

Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours if your UofL advisor approves the request. Transfer requests are then submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.