Counseling and Art Therapy

Listening, creating and healing.

Have you been searching for a career that combines your desire to help others with your passion for the healing value of creativity and art making?

The Master of Arts in Counseling and Art Therapy Program at Ursuline enables students to combine those interests in a unique professional program, and prepares graduates to be eligible for both licensure as professional clinical counselors and credentialing as art therapists.

The dual nature of the program attracts students from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds including psychology, art, art therapy, nursing and other liberal arts degrees. The common ground among these disciplines is understanding the healing value of creativity as it can be used in the context of a helping profession.

mission

The Master of Arts in Counseling and Art Therapy Program provides education and training in clinical mental health counseling and art therapy. Students learn to aid clients in exploring personal potentials and problems through both visual and verbal expression.

Graduates are prepared to work in a wide variety of clinical, educational, and human service institutions, including hospitals, children’s agencies, mental health and counseling centers, correctional and geriatric facilities, hospice care and wellness centers to name a few.

At Ursuline, the individual professional development of each student is nurtured. A wide range of placements are available for internships, and students are encouraged to develop areas of expertise in line with their strengths and interests.

degree programs

Counseling and Art Therapy Track – 65 creditsGraduates meet the educational requirements for counseling licensure (PC-Licensed Professional Counselor and PCC-Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) in Ohio, and the educational requirements for the National Counseling Credential (NCC) through the National Board of Certified Counselors. State licensure laws vary, so applicants are encouraged to check their individual state laws for licensure eligibility requirements. Graduates also meet the educational requirements for national registration and certification for art therapists (ATR-BC) through the Art Therapy Credentials Board. The program is accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). It is also approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapy Board (OCSWMET), and by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA).

Art Therapy Track – 55 CreditsThe 55-semester hour minimum degree program meets the educational standards for national registration and certification (ATR-BC) as an art therapist through the Art Therapy Credentials Board, and may meet requirements for counselor licensure in some states. This program is approved by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA).

post graduate coursework

Candidates who possess a Master’s degree in a related field may take courses in the program to enhance their professional work. A course sequence may be designed to meet the educational standards for registration and certification as an art therapist, depending upon the current national standards of the Art Therapy Credentials Board (www.atcb.org).

Program information

In addition to providing a strong foundation in theory and technique, we also emphasize that the other essential tool of transformation for therapeutic process is the personal presence of the therapist. Students are encouraged to be reflective practitioners and to seek their own personal counseling outside of the department as they begin their clinical experiences.

Our program is personalized and allows students to learn at their own pace. Your personal plan is developed during advising sessions which take place each semester. Some students move quickly through the program, while others who have multiple responsibilities such as family and work, may take the time they need without overloading themselves.

Students study in active, collaborative classrooms with expert faculty, who are experienced counselors and art therapists with expertise in a variety of specializations. Along with the core full-time faculty, several adjuncts, supervisors, thesis readers and other outside experts contribute to the learning of our students.

Explore your creativity in helping others

Service learning in El Salvador

points of interest

Internships – The Northeast Ohio area is rich in clinical sites for internships and future job potential, and there are over 150 placements to offer students. Each student participates in 850 hours of clinical work, including work with children, psychiatric populations and in a variety of settings based upon the student’s specific area of interest.

Format/Delivery. Classes are offered in late afternoon and evening which allows students to work and to complete their internships. We also offer several electives in a workshop format which is very popular with students, alumni and local professionals. Students can take a one-credit elective in this model where they attend two consecutive days, followed by several weeks to complete assignments. Workshop presenters often include experts from outside of the college.

Location. The location of the program, just twenty minutes from downtown Cleveland, provides students with the intellectual and cultural resources of a thriving metropolis. The Cleveland area is rich in its heritage for both counseling and art therapy, with pioneers in both fields having established training and delivery systems throughout the area. The Gestalt Institute, Jung Cleveland, the Psychoanalytic Institute, the Art Therapy Studio, and the major medical centers in the area offer many opportunities outside of the classroom.

Situated. Set on the tranquil Ursuline campus,the department has dedicated space in the newly completed Parker

Hannifin Center for the Creative and Healing Arts. Students attend classes and participate in skills labs in a state of the art setting that is conducive to learning and to the needs of creative individuals.

Service Learning. Students may participate in service learning opportunities, which may be taken for elective credit. Recent trips have included El Salvador, Ecuador, Africa, and South Dakota.

Mentoring Program. The mentoring program is designed for new students who are interested in having a mentor to help navigate their way to successful completion of the program, and in their career after graduation. The passionate mentors, Counseling and Art Therapy alumni or upper class students, provide effective mentorship.

Artistic Opportunities. The on campus Wasmer Gallery hosts a biennial show, The Healing Imagination, that is a venue for students, faculty and other professionals to exhibit their work. The program also partners with a nearby community college to sponsor an annual lecture, workshop and art gallery show focused on varying themes and often highlighting the work of clients, students, and faculty.

Jobs/Leadership. Ursuline College prepares students to become leaders. Graduates are directors of agencies and programs in many facilities; they are board members on state and national organizations, educators, and in private practice. And yes, there are jobs in this field. The dual credentials make Ursuline graduates highly competitive.

Ohio is home to one of the largest state art therapy organizations, The Buckeye Art Therapy Association (buckeyearttherapy.org).

admission procedures

Students applying for admission must meet both the general requirements for admission to all graduate programs and the specific requirements of the Counseling and Art Therapy Department.

general admission requirements

1. Official application and non-refundable $25.00 application fee. Applications for admission to graduate programs may be submitted in paper form or online at www.ursuline.edu.

2. Official transcript(s) for baccalaureate degree and any additional undergraduate or graduate academic course work. These must be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Admission directly by the academic institution.

3. Evidence of ability to do graduate work as indicated by a recommended 3.0 GPA shown on applicant’s transcript(s). Students may be asked to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or provide other evidence of academic ability if their GPA is below a 3.0. At the discretion of the dean, students may be admitted conditionally if their GPA is below 3.0.

4. Three recommendations (utilizing the required recommendation form) attesting to the suitability of the applicant for graduate work in the particular program. The required recommendation form may be found on our website.

5. An interview with members of the faculty. Telephone or Skype interviews may be arranged for out-of-state applicants.

Admission Requirements

additional counseling and art therapy admission requirements

1. A three to five page essay in APA format discussing the following: • Aptitude for working with people • Motivation for pursuing a career in counseling and art therapy • The meaning of art in the applicant’s life • Areas of artistic strength and areas of possible artistic growth

Please note: This essay is in addition to the general essay on the graduate application form.

2. A portfolio brought to the interview prior to enrollment. Candidates completing prerequisite art courses must submit a partial portfolio for review, with follow-up work submitted after completing the art prerequisites. The portfolio should contain:

• At least 24 works of art representing a variety of media and techniques • A separate index describing the media, size and date the work was completed • Digital images, slides, photos, or actual works are all acceptable.

3. Prerequisite coursework 18 semester hours in studio art which must include: • Drawing • Painting • Ceramics

12 semester hours in psychology which must include: • General Psychology • Developmental Psychology (such as Human Growth and Development, Lifespan

Development, or Child and Adolescent Development, etc.) • Counseling Theory (or Theories of Personality, or Personality Theory) • Abnormal Psychology (or Psychopathology)

At least 12 hours of the studio art and at least 9 hours of the psychology must be completed prior to starting the program. The remaining prerequisites must be completed within the first year of the program.

4. Some experience in working with people within a human service context is highly recommended.

RECOMMENDED DEADLINES FOR APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW

June 1 for Fall Semester, October 1 for Spring Semester, March 1 for Summer Semester. Interviews are scheduled

upon receipt of application materials. Candidates are highly encouraged to attend the department open houses

which are offered 2 to 3 times each semester to learn more about the program. For more information contact The Office of Graduate Admission at 440 646 8119 or graduateadmissions@ursuline.edu.

Formed in 1986 under the direction of Sr. Kathleen Burke, OSU, Ph.D., along with three other core faculty members, Ursuline’s Counseling and Art Therapy program has been very stable, yet ever growing and expanding.

Curriculum

Required Courses: 62 hours required Core * Indicates prerequisites.

CAT 500 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues 3

CAT 501 History and Theory of Art Therapy 3

CAT 503 Treatment of Children and Adolescents *500,501 3

CAT 504 Human Growth and Development 3

CAT 505 Counseling Theories 3

CAT 507 Group Process *500,501, 505,591,502,509,548,546 3

CAT 508 Family Systems *547, 503 3

CAT 509 Psychopathology, Personality, & Abnormal Behavior*501, 505,591 3

CAT 520 Projective Assessments *500,501, 503,504,505,509, 546,548,591 3

CAT 523 Cultural and Social Diversity 3

CAT 544 Art Therapy Studio I *567, usually taken in 3rd year 1

CAT 546 Clinical I-Counseling Tech. *500,501,505,591(509,548 concurrently) 3

CAT 547 Clinical II-Practicum *546,504,509,548,500 3

CAT 548 Appraisal *500,501,505,591 3

CAT 549 Internship I *547, 507,520,567,594 (503 & 603 concurrently) 2

CAT 550 Internship II *549,603 2

CAT 567 Techniques and Use of Media *500,501,502,505,591,509,548,546 2

CAT 591 Orientation to Research and Writing (taken first semester) 1

CAT 594 Research and Evaluation *591,546,520 (520 may be concurrently) 3

CAT 595 Thesis/Project *594,549 1

CAT 596 Thesis/Integrative Seminar *595 2

CAT 601 Life Style and Career Development 3

CAT 603 Diagnoses *520, 547 can be taken concurrently 3

CAT 648 Case Studies*520,547, 603 2

CAT 650 Psychotropic Medications *509 1

Elective Courses: 3 credits of electives are required

CAT 506W Creative Counseling Modalities 1,2

CAT 525W Special Settings and Populations 1,2

CAT 526W Educational Settings 1,2

CAT 527W Addictions and Treatment 1,2

CAT 528W Geriatrics 1,2

CAT 531W Spirituality, Wholeness and the Arts 1,2

CAT 545W Art Therapy Studio II 1,2

CAT 510-515 W Workshops-Special Topics 1,2

CAT 585 Independent Study 1,2,3

CAT 649 Advanced Clinic 1,2

Total hours 65

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 65 CREDITS Counseling and Art Therapy Track

Course descriptions are available at ursuline.edu/arttherapy.

Required Courses: 53 hours required Core * Indicates prerequisites.

CAT 500 Professional, Ethical, and Legal Issues 3

CAT 501 History and Theory of Art Therapy 3

CAT 503 Treatment of Children and Adolescents *500,501 3

CAT 504 Human Growth and Development 3

CAT 505 Counseling Theories 3

CAT 507 Group Process *500,501, 505,591,502,509,546 3

CAT 508 Family Systems *547, 503 3

CAT 509 Psychopathology, Personality, & Abnormal Behavior*501, 505,591 3

CAT 520 Projective Assessments *500,501, 503,504,505,509, 546,591 3

CAT 523 Cultural and Social Diversity 3

CAT 544 Art Therapy Studio I *567, usually taken in final semester 1

CAT 546 Clinical I-Counseling Tech. *500,501,505,591(509 concurrently) 3

CAT 547 Clinical II-Practicum *546,504,509,500 3

CAT 548 Appraisal *500,501,505, 591 3

CAT 549 Internship I *547, 507,520,567,594 (503 & 603 concurrently) 2

CAT 550 Internship II *549 2

CAT 567 Techniques and Use of Media *500,501,502,505,591,509,546 2

CAT 591 Orientation to Research and Writing (taken first semester) 1

CAT 594 Research and Evaluation *591,546,520 (520 may be concurrently) 3

CAT 595 Thesis/Project *594,549 1

CAT 596 Thesis/Integrative Seminar *595 2

Elective Courses: 2 credits of electives are required

CAT 506W Creative Counseling Modalities 1,2

CAT 525W Special Settings and Populations 1,2

CAT 526W Educational Settings 1,2

CAT 527W Addictions and Treatment 1,2

CAT 528W Geriatrics 1,2

CAT 531W Spirituality, Wholeness and the Arts 1,2

CAT 545W Art Therapy Studio II 1,2

CAT 510-515 W Workshops-Special Topics 1,2

CAT 585 Independent Study 1,2,3

CAT 649 Advanced Clinic 1,2

Total hours 55

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 55 CREDITS Art Therapy Track

Application fee $25.00

Malpractice insurance per year $35.00

Additional art materials (specific courses) $30.00

Parking per semester $30.00

Internship fee $400.00

Thesis binding fee $100.00

Tuition per credit hour SEE WEBSITE FOR CURRENT RATE

Students working toward a master’s degree may borrow money through the Stafford Loan Program. In order to apply, a student must first complete the Financial Aid Form (FAFSA) to determine eligibility. For additional information, financial aid forms and student loan applications, contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Limited scholarships (Graham Hunter, Helen Dineed, and Sarah Scherer) are available to graduate students. Stop in the Office of Financial Aid or call 440 646 8331 for information. Some partial scholarships are available through the American Art Therapy Association (www.arttherapy.org). Currently there are no graduate assistantships for the Counseling and Art Therapy Department. Students may be eligible for work study.

Although most graduate students reside off campus, residence hall housing is available on a limited basis and age restrictions do exist. For more information contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 440 646 8119 or graduateadmissions@ursuline.edu.

Financial information

Our philosophy incorporates a broad range of theoretical approaches, and the development of the individual student’s professional identity and theoretical approach is stressed. By providing multiple opportunities and choices in internship sites, and in the focus of research, we hope to help you to develop into the kind of helping professional you envision.

ursuline.edu/counselingandarttherapy