MA
Art Therapy Department
The Master of Arts in Art Therapy at NDMU is the only master's art therapy program in Maryland that prepares graduates to become professional art therapists. The program dives into advanced courses blending counseling and therapeutic techniques with theory and methodology of art therapy as a unique psychotherapeutic practice, as well as advanced courses in mixed media studio practices, ceramics, and photography.
Group of art therapy students at a table working on art projects
Program Location

Program Features

  • 64 credits (full- or part-time completion options)
  • Curriculum includes required clinical hours at off-site internships
  • Curriculum aligns with national educational and professional requirements for the field, as well as State of Maryland licensure requirements for art therapists 

Enrollment Process

NDMU Art Therapy MA in Art Therapy enrollment process

The MA in Art Therapy program at NDMU is a cohort model and admits students each fall (end of August).  There are no spring or summer admissions or cohorts.

The enrollment season kicks off in late September with initial reviews of any early applications for the following fall entry.  The earliest that a prospective graduate student might interview for admissions consideration would be October.

When corresponding with the graduate program via email, please include each of the following emails in order that we may most efficiently respond:

Darian Barton, dbarton@ndm.edu, Administrative Assistant, Art Therapy Department

Diamond Parks, dparks@ndm.edu, Enrollment Specialist

Julia Andersen, jandersen@ndm.edu, Graduate Program Director

 

Prospective students are recommended to make application beginning in November through March 1. The MA in Art Therapy Program admits only 16 in a given year in keeping with NDMU’s commitment to individualized, supported learning, and high-quality instruction.

The MA in Art Therapy program will continue to receive and consider applications through May 31 of each calendar year for fall admission should the cohort census not be met earlier in the enrollment cycle. Should an application be made June through August, those applications are considered for the following fall, not the immediate fall of that year.

While participating in regular NDMU enrollment virtual information sessions, the MA in Art Therapy program hosts a unique, in-person Shadow Night in late October/early November each year, as well as a specific Art Therapy Information Sessions on campus in March and July each year. These three enrollment events provide the most robust student “feel” for our time-and-self-intensive, art-centered, community-engaged graduate training program.

The typical enrollment process for the MA in Art Therapy program is as follows:

  1. Making an inquiry and completing the free application to the program, which connects a student with our enrollment specialist.  The enrollment specialist can answer a student’s initial questions about the program, pre-requisites, the application, and can connect you with the program director for more granular questions about the field, our course of study, and program outcomes.
     
  2. A complete application includes the NDMU Processing Center’s receipt of official transcripts from all of the institutions a student has attended. Once all are in hand, the application and transcripts are officially reviewed.
     
  3. A positively reviewed application is followed up with an email from the MA in Art Therapy program director, inviting a student to submit their Statement of Purpose, resume, and art portfolio for further review. 
     
  4. Following this further review of Statement of Purpose, resume, and art portfolio, a student receives a second email from the program director and/or the departmental administrative assistant inviting them to coordinate time for an individual admissions interview with art therapy faculty. During this email, the two letters of recommendation are also requested sent to the program director via email.
     
  5. The student interview is not a guarantee of admission to the program, as there are occasions when this interview has supported a program decision of deferred entry or denial if a student’s preparation does not seem complete and the student might benefit from further study, self-exploration, and/or field-adjacent experience.
     
  6. Following the interview, the program director and faculty meet and provide an emailed decision to the students within four weeks.  The program director also reengages the enrollment specialist, who issues the official letter of acceptance.

Art Therapy enrollment process

Curriculum

Full Time Course Progression, Fall Entry

First Year

Fall Winterim

ATP 501 Hist & Theory of Artx

3

ATP 503 Human Development

3

ATP 502 Ethics & Legal Issues

3

 

 

ATP 504 Art Therapy/Counseling

3

 

 

ATP 505 Internship I

1

 

 

Spring Summer

ATP 507 Assessment

3

ATP 511 Child & Adolescent

3

ATP 508 Psychopath: Art & Dx

3

ATP 510 Techniques & Materials

3

ATP 509 Process: Artx & Counseling

3

ART XXX Grad Experience in... *

3

ATP 506 Internship II

1

 

 

Second Year

Fall Winterim

ATP 515 Research Methods

3

ATP 516 Substance Abuse

3

ATP 514 Group Process

3

 

 

ATP 513 Art Psychotx & Trauma

3

 

 

ATP 512 Internship III

1

 

 

Spring Summer

ATP 517 Marital & Family Artx

3

ATP XXX Artx for Social Justice

3

ATP 519 Social & Cultural Divers.

3

ATP XXX Career Counseling

3

ATP 601 Thesis Project Grad Sem.

3

ART XXX Grad Experience in... *

3

ATP 518 Internship IV

1

 

 

Part Time Course Progression, Fall Entry

First Year

Fall Winterim

ATP 501 Hist & Theory of Artx

3

ATP 503 Human Developmt

3

ATP 504 Art Therapy/Counseling

3

 

 

ATP 505 Internship I

1

 

 

Spring Summer

ATP 507 Psychopath: Art & Dx

3

ATP 511 Child & Adolescent

3

ATP 509 Process: Artx & Counseling

3

ATP 510 Techniques & Materials

3

ATP 506 Internship II

1

 

 

Second Year

Fall Winterim

ATP 502 Ethics & Legal Issues

3

ATP 516 Substance Abuse

3

ATP 514 Group Process

3

 

 

Spring Summer

ATP 517 Marital & Family Artx

3

ATP XXX Artx for Social Justice

3

ATP 507 Assessment

3

ATP XXX Grad Experience in... *

3

Third Year

Fall Winterim

ATP 515 Research Methods

3

 

 

ATP 513 Art Psychotx & Trauma

3

 

 

ATP 512 Internship III

1

 

 

Spring Summer

ATP 519 Social & Cultural Divers.

3

ATP XXX Career Counseling

3

ATP 601 Thesis Project Grad Sem.

3

ATP XXX Grad Experience in... *

3

ATP 518 Internship IV

1

 

 

Choice of studio/clay/photography

Note: Fall/Spring courses TUES-WED-THURS evenings; Internships require on-site of 16 hours per week minimum; Target accrual of 250 internship hours each semester

What to Expect Studying at Notre Dame of Maryland University

Small class sizes and personal attention enhance the student expertise while the curriculum is designed to align with licensure requirements.

A headshot of Melanie Sanderson
Alum

Melanie Sanderson

In High Demand

Alum, NDMU Class of 2020
MA in Art Therapy Program
I was considering eight jobs after graduating from Notre Dame. People were really excited about having an art therapist. I think it led to a level of interest in hiring me that wouldn’t have been there if I only had a LCPC [Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor] or social work counseling degree.

Internship Opportunities

You will complete clinical hours at off-site practicum and internship placements in order to gain valuable experience and also meet the requirements to pursue licensure.

Art Therapy Careers

Art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches lives through a combination of active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.

Licensed art therapists can work in a variety of settings:

  • Schools
  • Hospitals
  • Veteran's Clinics
  • Private Practice
  • Psychiatric & Rehabilitation Facilities
  • Community Based Settings
  • Senior Communities

Accreditation

The Art Therapy (MA) program at Notre Dame of Maryland University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
www.caahep.org
25400 US Hwy 19N, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL. 33763.
727-210-2350

Employment Outcomes of Master of Arts in Art Therapy at NDMU

POSITIVE PLACEMENT BY GRADUATION YEAR 2021 2022 2023
# Graduated 7 9 6
% Attainment of Maryland graduate license in art therapy (LGPAT) within 6 mos. of graduation* (license requires successful passage of ATCB certification exam) 100% 78% 83%
% Employed in field of study within 6 months of graduation** 100% 100% 100%
Knowledge Rate 100% 78% 83%

* Based on departmental data updated annually; 2022 and 2023 yrs, % does not reflect failure but three not yet having made application for LGPAT

NB: Those attaining the LGPAT have all been employed within 6 months of graduation

RETENTION BY GRADUATION YEAR 2021 2022 2023
# Initially Enrolled 10 11 10
Attrition  1 1 4
# Due to Non-Academic Reasons 1 1 1
# Due to Academic Reasons 0 0 2
# In-Progress 0 0 1
# Graduated 7 9 6
Retention Percentage 70% 90% 100%
 

 

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