Art Therapy and Counseling
Drexel University’s Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling is one of the nation’s most well-established programs, founded in 1967 at Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital. This distinctive on-campus program combines art therapy and counseling education through an interdisciplinary, experiential approach. Students learn to integrate creative methods with counseling skills, guided by treatment objectives developed collaboratively with clients. A hallmark of the program is its multilayered pedagogy, blending in-class experiential learning, didactic coursework, and supervised clinical practice in community, arts-based, educational, rehabilitative, medical, and behavioral health settings. This structure fosters professional growth, interpersonal development, and ethical practice. Our program prepares entry-level Art Therapists in cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) domains.
The curriculum emphasizes creativity, empathy, and cultural humility as essential components of therapeutic work. Students explore how cognitive, behavioral, and emotional responses influence relationships in therapy and professional settings. The 90-credit quarter program offers specialized art therapy courses in trauma-informed and systemic approaches, creativity and symbolism, digital media, neuroscience, and addiction recovery, alongside counseling topics such as human development, assessment, diagnosis, cultural foundations, and group dynamics. This comprehensive design ensures graduates are prepared for diverse care systems and populations.
Graduates earn ATR-Provisional certification and progress toward ATR and ATR-BC credentials, as well as professional counseling licensure in Pennsylvania and other states after completing required supervision hours. The program meets Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) educational requirements and adheres to accreditation standards set by CAAHEP and ACATE, ensuring high-quality education aligned with national standards. Because licensure requirements vary by state, students receive individualized guidance to navigate regulations and pursue certification.
With its long-standing history, integrated clinical experiences, and emphasis on creativity and cultural responsiveness, Drexel’s program offers a uniquely rigorous and supportive pathway, in the two distinct lengths of study, for those seeking careers in art therapy and counseling.
| Degree | Availability | Location |
|---|---|---|
|
MA |
Full-Time |
Philadelphia |
Application Requirements
On-Campus ProgramPlease view our academic calendar for term start dates.
| Fall (Sept) | Winter (Jan) | Spring (March) | Summer (June) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Applicants | Dec. 6 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
For details regarding the items below, please review the Admission Application Instructions.
How to Submit Application Materials
Drexel Admissions is currently processing application documents received through the U.S. Postal Service and courier services (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.), although there is a slight delay in processing these documents. We strongly recommend that you submit all official transcripts and supporting documentation electronically to enroll@drexel.edu. If your school is not able to send official transcripts electronically, please request that official documents be sent by mail or courier service. Please allow 3–4 weeks for transcripts and supporting documents sent by mail or courier to be processed. We appreciate your patience during this unprecedented time at Drexel and around the world. We will process all documents as soon as we receive them, but please expect some delays.Graduate Admission Application
Applicants may only apply to one program. All documents submitted by you or on your behalf in support of this application for admission to Drexel University become the property of the University, and will under no circumstances be released to you or any other party. Please note, an application fee of $65 U.S. is required.
Transcripts
Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all of the colleges and universities that you have attended. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges and universities that you have attended.
Transcripts must show course-by-course grades and degree conferrals. If your school does not notate degree conferrals on the official transcripts, you must provide copies of any graduate or degree certificates.
If your school issues only one transcript for life, you are required to have a course-by-course evaluation completed by an approved transcript evaluation agency.
Precise, word-for-word English translations of all non-English language documents are required along with official documents in the original language. All translations must be completed by the issuing institution or an ATA-certified translator. Visit the American Translators Association website to search for an ATA-certified translator.
International students: If you have already graduated from your previous institution at the time of your application, please email your graduation certificate(s) attached as PDF or Microsoft Word documents to enroll@drexel.edu. Note: Any international applicant, regardless of program, may be required to provide a transcript evaluation should the Admissions Committee determine it is needed for the application to be reviewed. If your transcripts are selected for a course-by-course evaluation by an external agency, you will be responsible for supplying all necessary documentation and paying all necessary fees to have your transcripts evaluated.
If you have questions regarding what documents you must submit to fulfill the transcript requirements, contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.
International Transcripts
Transcripts must be evaluated by an approved agency for admittance into this program. Drexel University accepts course-by-course transcript evaluations from members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). For a list of member agencies, please visit the NACES website.
Test of English as a Foreign Language
International applicants are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL minimum scores: 90/577/233), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS minimum Overall Band Score: 6.5), the Pearson Test of English (PTE minimum score: 61), or the Duolingo Test (Duolingo minimum score: 110) unless they meet the criteria for a waiver.
Essay
Submit an essay (1–3 typed pages) that addresses key life experiences, personal development, family history, arts background, and service history.
Submit your essay with your application or through the Discover Drexel portal after you submit your application.
Résumé
Upload your résumé as part of your admission application or through the Discover Drexel Portal after you submit your application.
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required. To electronically request recommendations, you must list your recommenders and their contact information on your application. Ideally, we ask that you have at least one letter of recommendation from a current or previous professor. The letter of recommendation should be from people who know your academic and writing, your studio work and creative commitments, or your current or previous human service work, internships, or volunteer roles.
To electronically request recommendations, you must list your recommenders and their contact information on your application. We advise that you follow up with your recommenders to ensure they received your recommendation request — they may need to check their junk mail folder. Additionally, it is your responsibility to confirm that your recommenders will submit letters by your application deadline and follow up with recommenders who have not completed their recommendations.
Request recommendations with your application or through the Discover Drexel portal after you submit your application.
Alternatively, you may submit your recommendation letters by mail. Letters must include the address, phone number, and signature of the recommender. The recommendation envelope must be submitted unopened to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Interview
Select candidates will be invited to participate in an on-campus interview. International applicants will be invited to participate in a Zoom interview.
Academic Experience
Eighteen credits of studio art coursework that can include a variety of 2D and 3D mediums, and 12 credits of psychology coursework, including one 3-credit course in developmental psychology and one 3-credit course reviewing psychological disorders.
Portfolio (required)
Submit a portfolio of 10–15 works of art that demonstrate facility with a range of media and personal understanding of the creative process. An image list (title, media, dimensions) must accompany the portfolio.
Mailing Addresses
By Postal Mail
Drexel University
Application Processing
PO Box 34789
Philadelphia, PA 19101-4789
By Express Courier
(DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.)
Drexel University
Application Processing
3141 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2876