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Art Therapy / Counseling Graduate Program

Graduate Art Therapy Program Receives Renewed Accreditation

The Springfield College Graduate Art Therapy Program has received renewed accreditation from the Educational Program Approval Board of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), the national accrediting agency for graduate art therapy education programs. The reaccreditation is for seven years, ending in 2017. The AATA reaccreditation report cited excellent faculty, preparation for clinical practice, and balance of studio art and research as strengths of the program. Students graduating from AATA-approved programs are able to obtain the Registered Art Therapist (ATR) credential, broadening their employment opportunities.
Approved by the American Art Therapy Association, the Art Therapy Master’s Degree is a comprehensive program designed to train art therapists through a course of study that blends theory, technique, and practice. In the tradition of Springfield College’s Humanics philosophy, students are educated in an art therapy curriculum incorporating diverse experiences of the Springfield College academic community, with the focus on the development of the total person: “Spirit, mind, and body – in service to all people.” The courses are required in a sequential manner to build knowledge. Students are given a copy of the learning objectives for the program during their first semester of graduate study.



The Graduate Art Therapy Programs provide a synthesis of our major components:
  1. art therapy
  2. psychology
  3. development of the student's artistic and creative skills
  4. training in research methodology
Students develop an understanding of the variances in typical art development before they work with problems and pathology.

Course Requirements:

Core Requirement: Total 3 credits

  • RSCH 610 - Foundations and Methods of Research Credits: 3

Program/concentration requirements: Total 32 credits

  • ATPY 640 - Counseling Theory and Practice of Art Therapy Credits: 3
  • ATPY 600 - Art Therapy with Children and Adolescents Credits: 3
  • ATPY 601 - Art Therapy and Psychological Assessment Techniques Credits: 3
  • ATPY 610 - Ethical Issues in Art Therapy / Counseling Credits: 3
  • ATPY 612 - Family Art Therapy Credits: 3
  • ATPY 620 - Group Counseling Techniques and Group Art Therapy Credits: 3
  • ATPY 625 - Art Therapy Practicum Credits: 2
  • ATPY 630 - Multicultural Issues in Art Therapy / Counseling Credits: 3
  • ATPY 682 - Advanced Seminar in Theories, Professional Identity and Skills in Art Therapy / Counseling Credits: 3
  • ATPY 684 - Internship in Art Therapy Credits: 1-6

  • (must be taken for 6 credits as part of program requirements)

Psychology requirements: Total 9-12 credits

  • PSYC 612 - Psychopharmacology Credits: 3
  • PSYC 631 - Psychopathology Credits: 3
  • PSYC 639 - Human Life Span Development Credits: 3
  • PSYC 643 - Career Development and Counseling Credits: 3

  • PSYC 643 can be waived if student only wants to apply for Mental Health License in Massachusetts.

*Art Studio electives: Total 4-6 credits

(Students must take a minimum of 2 (two) courses in this category)

  • ATPY 504 - Printmaking for the Art Therapist Credits: 3
  • ATPY 510 - The Therapeutic Aspects of Clay Credits: 3
  • ATPY 602 - Painting for the Art Therapist Credits: 2
  • ATPY 603 - Sculpture for the Art Therapist Credits: 2
  • ATPY 605 - Drawing and Mixed Media for the Art Therapist Credits: 2

  • *Please note that students are required to have a specialization in one area discussed with their academic advisor. Students may have to take an additional course beyond the minimum requirements for graduation.

Art Therapy & Psychology electives: Total 4-6 credits

(Students must take a minimum of 2 (two) courses in this category)

  • ATPY 507 - The Psychology of Art and Artists Credits: 3
  • ATPY 508 - Art Therapy for the Elderly Credits: 2
  • ATPY 613 - Family Art Therapy II Credits: 3
  • ATPY 616 - Art Therapy and Body Therapies Credits: 2
  • ATPY 619 - Art Therapy with Special Needs Populations Credits: 3
  • ATPY 688 - Special Topics in Art Therapy Credits: 1-3
  • PSYC 513 - Psychological Testing Credits: 3

Research Requirements: 8 credits

  • ATPY 626 - Research Project in Art Therapy Credits: 3
  • RSCH 612 - Proposal Design Credits: 2
  • RSCH 620 - Educational and Psychological Statistics I Credits: 3

  • or

  • RSCH 615 - Qualitative Research Methodology Credits: 3

Minimum total credits required: 60

NOTE: Courses may change due to approval requirements of the American Art Therapy Association and licensing requirements of mental health counselors (LMHC) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Arrangements with student’s art advisor for the graduate students’ final art exhibit must occur before registering for final semester.

Candidates are eligible for the Master of Science Degree in accordance with Plan C which requires successful completion of all graduate work required by the student’s specific program, and a minimum of eleven credits of graduate work in the research area, which includes the following courses:

  1. Foundations and methods of research (RSCH 610)
  2. Educational and psychological statistics I (RSCH 620) or Qualitative Research Methodology (RSCH 615) 
  3. Proposal design (RSCH 612)
  4. Research project (RSCH 626 or ATPY 626)
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