FAQs

Yes, we conduct information sessions where potential applicants like you can visit the Center City Hahnemann Campus. At the session, you can meet with our students and faculty and experience our classes. We highly suggest attending a session. If you would like to confirm your attendance for any of our programs (Art, Music, or Dance/Movement Therapy) please email George Urgo, admissions coordinator, at gdu23@drexel.edu or call him at 215-762-6921.

We prefer the MAT and the minimum score is a 396. On the GRE, we are looking for a combined score of 1,000 on both the quantitative and verbal sections and a 3.5 or higher on the analytical section.

Beginning during the second week of classes, first-year students spend two days a week in clinical practicum with both adults and children. Second-year students are in engaged in their clinical internship three days per week at a facility and with the demographic of their choosing.

Non-matriculated students who intend to apply to a degree program should ensure the program in which they are interested accepts non-matriculated credits. Students are strongly encouraged to seek academic advising from the graduate faculty or professional advisors within the program.

No, not at this time.

Teaching assistantships are available for the Ph.D. program only.

Tuition for the 2009–2010 academic year is $545 per credit; our program is a full 90 credits. So the approximate annual tuition is $24,525, not including fees and other costs.

Yes, the Stronach-Buschel Creative Arts Therapy Diversity Scholarship Fund. Through the generosity of program alumna Dr. Bettina Buschel and countless other donors, the Department of Creative Arts Therapies is able to offer partial tuition support to selected eligible incoming students to the program. International students, as well as students of African-American, Latino-American, Asian-American, or Native American ethnicity, are eligible for this scholarship. A scholarship committee will review all eligible incoming students to determine the recipient of the award.

Please inquire about this at your admissions interview or e-mail the CAT admissions coordinator at gdu23@drexel.edu for more details.

The Ph.D. program is ready for you to apply. If you would like your name on our interested parties list, please email the Admissions Coordinator gdu23@drexel.edu.

No. These tests are optional. However, applicants are welcome to submit GRE or MAT scores if they believe the scores will help strengthen their application. In some cases, the department may advise or ask the applicant to take and submit one of the tests after initial review of the application.

No, a special application is not required for international applicants. All applicants to Drexel University’s Graduate programs use the same application.

No, the application deadline dates are the same for domestic and international applicants. However, the dates may differ by program of study. Applicants who live outside the United States, particularly those from Asia, should mail their application materials at least six to eight weeks prior to the deadline to ensure that the applications are received on time.

We recommend that you clearly print your name, date of birth, department, and Drexel University student ID number (if one has already been assigned to you) on each separate page of your application and on all supporting materials. Please be sure to clearly specify your first and last name on all materials you submit.

Your full academic history record must be evaluated by WES (World Education Services). Please go to www.wes.org for more detailed information, including the online WES evaluation application, instructions, and information on the WES evaluation fee. Once you have completed the WES application form and submitted all documents, please allow two to three weeks for your evaluation to be completed.

Yes, if you completed your undergraduate education at an institution outside the United States where the language of instruction is other than English, then Drexel University requires that the TOEFL be taken as part of your application. Drexel University expects all students to demonstrate the ability to understand and communicate in English, both orally and in written form. To evaluate proficiency, the university requires applicants whose native language is not English to take the TOEFL.

Drexel University recommends that the applicant achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 250 on the computer-based test or 600 on the paper-based test. The Graduate School does not prohibit applicants with lower scores from applying for admission, since many factors influence the admissions decision. If you complete the new Internet Based test (IBT), applicants must score a minimum of 80. You must request that official TOEFL score reports be sent to Drexel University code 2194.

• Degree: Baccalaureate degree
• GPA: 3.0 or above
• Pre-Requisites: 18 credits in Studio Art courses demonstrating a range of media; 12 credits in Psychology including mandatory courses in Developmental Psychology and Abnormal Psychology. A course in Behavioral Research Methods is recommended.

A portfolio of 10-15 works of art by the applicant that demonstrates facility with a range of media and a personal understanding of the creative process. The portfolio will be reviewed with the applicant as a part of the interview process. If you are an international applicant then it is suggested that you mail your portfolio with your application materials.

Yes! Please contact George Urgo at gdu23@drexel.edu.

You need to have had extensive study in one dance form. Exposure to other dance movement disciplines is also helpful. The dance forms most allied with the use of dance in dance/movement therapy are: modern dance and improvisation. Experiences with your own choreography and teaching are helpful as well. However, many people with strong and solely classical training or ethnic dance experiences have excelled in the program. As every applicant is evaluated in the movement component of the admissions process, the dance background as written is not a definitive measure of your movement competence and readiness. Your dance experience can be gained in formal study as part of an undergraduate degree or in informal environments for dance and movement.

Anatomy and Kinesiology is a pre-requisite requirement for the Dance/Movement Therapy Program. For students without an anatomy and kinesiology course on their undergraduate transcripts, or for those who would like a refresher, we offer an experiential anatomy and kinesiology overview course in an intensive format before classes start in September.  This course carries an additional tuition fee.
The Laban Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS) in New York City offers an anatomy and kinesiology weekend intensive course once each term which satisfies the requirement as well.

Beginning in the 2007-2008 academic year, the Hahnemann Creative Arts in Therapy Program transitioned from a semesters to quarters-based academic calendar. While the essence of the curriculum remains, it has been reorganized for increased compatibility with professional counseling licensure in many states. Content addressing multicultural competency, systems perspectives, ethics, and behavioral neuroscience has been expanded to reflect new developments in these areas and their growing significance to the practice of psychotherapy and dance/movement therapy.

Generally the movement audition occurs in the context of a half day visit that includes a personal interview, provides information about the program and an opportunity to meet students and faculty. Group Audition and Interviews Days are scheduled 4x each year. Students who have completed a substantial part of the application are encouraged to contact the Creative Arts Therapy Admissions Coordinator, George Urgo gdu23@drexel.edu to schedule an audition.

The audition is a directed group improvisational movement experience  for which you do not need to prepare.  We are looking to know you better as a mover, for your expressive and communicative range and style, rather than  your technical expertise as a dancer.

Yes! Please contact George Urgo at gdu23@drexel.edu for more information.

Yes, past graduates have come into the program with backgrounds in music, psychology and medicine. What is required are comptencies in music. See below:

The following competencies are required prior to acceptance into the Music Therapy program at Drexel University as created by the American Music Therapy Association:

• Music Theory and History
  • Identify the elemental, structural, and stylistic characteristics of music from various periods and cultures.
  • Sight-sing melodies of both diatonic and chromatic makeup.
  • Take aural dictation of melodies, rhythms, and chord progressions.
  • Transpose simple compositions.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of major and minor key signatures and chord progressions.
• Composition and Arranging Skills
  • Compose songs with simple accompaniment.
• Major Performance Medium Skills
  • Perform appropriate undergraduate repertoire; demonstrate musicianship, technical proficiency, and interpretive understanding on a principal instrument/voice.
  • Perform in small and large ensembles.
• Keyboard Skills
  • Accompany self singing.
  • Play basic chord progressions (I-IV-V-I) in several keys.
  • Demonstrate functional reading ability in treble and bass clef notation.
• Guitar Skills
  • Accompany self singing.
  • Demonstrate first position chords.
  • Employ simple strumming and finger picking techniques.
• Voice Skills
  • Sing a basic repertoire of traditional, folk, and popular songs in tune with a pleasing quality.

Auditions will be conducted for entry into the Graduate Music Therapy program at Drexel University.

Prepare two works from different musical periods that demonstrate moderate to advanced level of proficiency on principal instrument/voice.

• Sing a traditional, folk or popular song while accompanying self on piano.
• Sing a traditional, folk or popular song while accompanying self on guitar.
• Be prepared to play basic chord progressions (I-IV-V-I) in several keys.

A personal interview with the Director of Music Therapy will follow the audition.

Candidates living overseas may submit a videotape and mp3 in lieu of the music therapy audition.