Master of Arts in Art Therapy

Study the disciplines of art therapy and counseling psychology with the Master of Arts in Art Therapy in the Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University. Students in this 61-63-credit master’s program will graduate ready for positions as compassionate, skilled and culturally competent art therapists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) disciplines.  

The Art Therapy MA program is grounded in a commitment to community-based art therapy and educational and clinical equity. Graduates will prepare to integrate art therapy theory and practice for the well-being of individuals and communities. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to become board-certified art therapists and, if they choose, licensed professional counselors (LPC) in Pennsylvania. 

Why study art therapy at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture? 

• Real-world experience in the field: You will have opportunities to work in internships and outreach programs that offer art therapy services to underserved populations and individuals with disabilities. 

• Core values: The program's core values focused on compassion, competence, social justice, advocacy, creativity and resilience align with the program and Tyler School of Art and Architecture’s commitment to excellence in education and community engagement. Learn about Tyler's mission and values.

• Theory and practice grounded in empathy and compassion: Through rigorous academic training, hands-on clinical experiences and ethical leadership development, graduates will promote access to therapeutic services, engage in interdisciplinary collaboration and advocate for the mental health needs of those they serve.  

• Curriculum: The graduate program in Art Therapy provides students with a multidisciplinary curriculum that is academically sound, clinically grounded and ethically focused. This program integrates the disciplines of art therapy and counseling psychology. 

• Location in Philadelphia: Tyler's location is in North Philadelphia and Temple's status as a public, urban, R1 institution means that students are studying at a school that is diverse, accessible and affordable. An art therapy program housed in an art and architecture school sets it apart from those programs typically housed within clinical or medical institutions. 

Program Accreditation and Certification

The Art Therapy MA will seek accreditation by the Council for Art Therapy and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.  

To become certified in art therapy, students must complete the Art Therapy MA at Tyler, pass the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATBC) exam, and satisfy other state-licensing examinations, as applicable.  

Upon graduation from the Art Therapy MA at Tyler, graduates are eligible to apply to the ATCB for a provisional registration, ATR-P (Art Therapist Registered, Provisional). Once the required direct-contact hours have been accrued, candidates sit for the ATCB board exam to become registered as an art therapist and acquire their ATR-BC.  

Currently, art therapists are eligible to become licensed in Pennsylvania as a licensed professional counselor. Graduates who take the ATR-BC exam to become board-certified art therapists can submit scores when applying for the state counseling licensure exam in Pennsylvania.

Art Therapy MA Learning Outcomes 

Upon obtaining the MA in art therapy degree, students will be prepared to become art therapists who can 

• apply culturally responsive approaches with diverse participants and communities. 

• apply theory to practice, employ critical thinking, and navigate complex relationships and social contexts; 

• apply effective treatment strategies, interventions, and therapeutic goals and techniques in the treatment of behavioral and mental health disorders and disabilities;  

• be responsive to issues of social justice and the needs of people in diverse settings through research and practice; 

• effectively apply the therapeutic properties of an array of art processes and media to address therapeutic/treatment goals and objectives; 

• effectively utilize the creative process and studio art making within the therapeutic alliance; 

• contribute to community well-being and social equity through accessible and affordable arts-based mental health services; 

• demonstrate a broad knowledge of art therapy theory to develop a growth mindset for change;

• utilize imagery, creativity, symbolism and metaphors to address therapeutic and treatment goals and promote wellness;  

• understand how the therapist’s own attitudes and beliefs about intersectionality and countertransference affect the helping relationship; and 

• understand the impact of federal and state laws and professional codes of ethics for art therapy and demonstrate the ability to apply ethical decision-making models. 

Program Format & Curriculum 

Coursework will enable students to explore their identity as artists and therapists through self-reflective art making, practicum and internship experiences in the field, and arts-based research. Our students also have access to Tyler’s arts education resources. 

The curriculum comprises courses such as

• Community-Based Art Therapy Practices,
• Art Therapy Ethics,
• Cultural Responsiveness in Art Therapy Practice and
• Relationships and Family Art Therapy.

For more information about the curriculum, contact Lisa Kay, professor of art education and community arts practices and director of graduate studies in art therapy, at lisa.kay@temple.edu. 

Facilities 

As a master's student in Tyler's Art Therapy program, you will study in a dynamic creative environment surrounded by art studios. You'll also have access to the university's professional gallery, Temple Contemporary. Learn about studio and facility spaces at Tyler.