M.S. in Art Therapy
The FSU Art Therapy Program provides graduates with a master’s degree in Art Therapy and prepares competent entry level art therapists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior learning domains). FSU’s innovative art therapy program integrates diverse theories and research-informed practices to foster culturally sensitive graduates who understand and apply the power of the visual arts and therapeutic relationships to promote personal and community wellness.
Application Deadline: January 15th
Program Overview
The master’s degree program emphasizes a thorough theoretical foundation of art therapy techniques and applications. It incorporates a didactic and experiential learning method, integrating a series of practicum experiences where students will get hands on experience with various populations and clinical settings. The power of art for social justice and societal change is not only infused in our philosophy but is the overarching theme that pervades our curriculum and coursework.
The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health and Education Programs (CAAHEP) awarded accreditation to the Art Therapy program in 2019.
Admissions Requirements
- EXPERIENCE & GPA REQUIREMENTS
- An earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited US institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework
- The applicant must be in good standing in the institution of higher education
- Students must have a minimum of 18 semester credits in Studio Art
- Complete 12 hours of psychology prerequisites:
- Introduction or General Psychology
- Developmental Psychology (full lifespan)
- Abnormal Psychology
- Theories of Personality (recommended)
- TOEFL (for International Students only)
- Minimum scores: 80 internet/213 computer
- TRANSCRIPTS
- Official transcripts must be submitted
- For detailed information on this process, visit: Graduate Admissions.
- EXPERIENCE & GPA REQUIREMENTS
Application Materials
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- Letters of Recommendation
- Students must submit three letters of recommendation
- The letters of recommendation should be from someone who can describe your ability to meet the graduate level of rigor and expectations in coursework, writing, and speaking skills
- Statement of Purpose
- A 1,000 word biography addressing:
- career goals
- interest in the field
- professional or academic background
- rationale for applying to the program
- Advice for writing a statement of purpose can be found at the FSU Career Center Website
- A 1,000 word biography addressing:
- Academic Writing Sample
- Submit a formal paper related to art history, psychology or another social science field that demonstrates your writing skills, critical thinking skills, and your ability to present citations and references for source material used.
- If you do not have a paper that you have written in college, you may write and submit one that reflects exploration of an art therapy related theme or topic.
- A portfolio is one of the most important pieces of your graduate school application.
- Your portfolio should include 10-12 works including two-dimensional and 3-dimensional works that demonstrate varied art skills over a range of media. Additionally, include works that demonstrate your personal artistic voice and media interests.
- If your application is selected, you will be invited for an interview with FSU Art Therapy faculty members.
Objectives
- Facilitate development of art therapy graduates as informed ethical agents of art therapy services.
- Promote opportunities for community dialogues and experiences that enhance graduate students’ multicultural sensitivity and ability to attune art therapy interventions to participants’ cultural beliefs, practices, and values.
- Actively engage students in research projects and critical review of scholarly research to support graduates’ ability to identify and utilize art therapy best practices.
- Foster student exploration and understanding of art media and techniques to promote skillful facilitation of art processes that align with client characteristics and treatment goals.
- Develop students’ knowledge of personal, symbolic, and cultural associations related to artworks and the various ways that meaning exploration and/or interpretation may be approached.
- Promote opportunities for community dialogues and experiences that enhance graduate students’ multicultural sensitivity and ability to attune art therapy interventions to participants’ cultural beliefs, practices, and values.
- Facilitate development of art therapy graduates as informed ethical agents of art therapy services.
Structure
- Students begin in the Fall term and move through the program within a cohort model.
- Minimum 60-63 credit hours (63 credits if thesis selected)
- The 3-year program can be completed in 8 semesters.
- At least 800 supervised hours of practicum with 400 hours of direct contact.
- Culminating project: Students may choose between a supervised research project or a master’s thesis.
Program Outcomes
Retention of FSU MS Art Therapy Students
2022
2023
2024
100%
100%
100%
Job Placement for FSU MS Art Therapy Program Graduates
Data represents previous year graduates’ job placement within 6-12 months following graduation.
2022
2023
2024
100%+
100%+
94.4%++
+ Data based on 100% knowledge rate of graduate job placement status.
++ Data based on 90% knowledge rate of graduate job placement status.
Advisor Contact Info
Advisor
Contact
Meet SATA!
SATA at FSU is a student organization that works in conjunction with the art therapy program to provide students with social, academic, and emotional support, in addition to community service activities and professional development. We meet once per month to discuss upcoming community service and fundraising events and to encourage educational and professional opportunities for our members. Every year the Student Art Therapy Association (SATA) at FSU supports the art therapy, FSU, and Tallahassee communities by hosting nationally known art therapists as speakers for a free full-day workshop on contemporary issues relating to art therapy. SATA also participates in many local events around Tallahassee and the FL Panhandle region.
Contact: SATA President, fsuarttherapy@gmail.com