Pratt’s Graduate Department of Creative Arts Therapy is one of the oldest graduate creative arts therapy training programs in the country. Students learn art and dance/movement therapy skills as applied to a wide variety of patient populations. Settings and situations include psychiatric inpatient and outpatient, substance abuse, geriatric, special education, families, therapeutic nurseries, after-school programs, medical rehabilitation, Child Life, AIDS, the homeless,physical/sexual abuse, eating disorders, and prevention/wellness.

M.P.S. in Art Therapy and Creativity Development and M.S. in Dance/Movement Therapy

These programs provide a synthesis of creative, aesthetic, and psychotherapeutic theory. Courses offer a thorough theoretical framework that is then translated into personal and practical application through an experiential process. Artwork and/or movement is done in every course and is used to learn therapeutic skills. Students focus on a wide variety of populations and are required to work with a different population for each of the two years of internship/practicum. Both programs are for students who want a broad body of skills, balanced with a strong theoretical framework.

M.P.S. in Art Therapy—Special Education

The program is intended to train art therapists who want to work with special education populations, not as art teachers. The degree does not qualify students for a teaching license. Classes are the same as for other art therapy students. The main differences are: 1. in both years of the practicum experience students must work with special education populations; 2. distinct readings are given in some classes; and, 3. papers and case presentations center on a special education population.

Spring/Summer Intensive Program

The Spring/Summer Intensive program is based on an adult learning model. The program is designed for those students who do not live near an established program or are not able to relocate to New York City, owing to professional or personal commitments. This format also suits students in New York City who have to maintain their employment.

Students attend classes for a total of five weeks a year. The cycle of classes is as follows: Students take one class (during one week) in mid-March in New York. During the last week of June, they take another class (during one week), also in New York. During the first three weeks of July, students take three courses (over three weeks) in New Hampshire.

highlighted courses

52 total credits required

52 total credits required

55 total credits required

55 total credits required

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Expressive Modalities I

ADT-643

This course introduces the student to a wide range of expressive modes of communication that will include visual, tactical, verbal, and auditory experiences. The student is exposed to other creative art therapies such as drama, music, video, dance, poetry, Gestalt and body therapies. The integration of these modalities with art therapy is explored.

3.00 credits

Art Diagnosis

ADT-647

A grounding in fundamentals of art diagnosis is provided by illustrating how an individual's view of himself/herself and his/her world is manifested through artistic expression. Art work from patients is presented and discussed in-depth, as are a variety of art therapy assessments.

3.00 credits

Adv Sem Creat Art Thrpy: Adult

ADT-649

Students choose one of the above three areas to specialize in and complete their practicum/internship with that population. The course emphasizes advanced case presentation and explores in-depth training in the theory and practice of creative arts therapy. Specific reading lists are given to students, depending on specialization.

3.00 credits

Adv Sem Creat Art Thrpy: Child

ADT-653

Students choose one of the above three areas to specialize in and complete their practicum/internship with that population. The course emphasizes advanced case presentation and explores in-depth training in the theory and practice of creative arts therapy. Specific reading lists are given to students, depending on specialization.

3.00 credits

Family Art Therapy

ADT-688

Issues of the family as a system are the subject of focus for the course. Students study art therapy as a unit. The student will then learn how to utilize art materials in this interaction to enhance insight among the members of the family.

3.00 credits

Fldwk Exp/Supervisn Sp Ed III

ADT-673

The students meet in small groups and receive intensive supervision both in a group and individual format. Integration of practical and theoretical work is an intrinsic part of this course, through case presentations and experiential exercises.

2.00 credits

Improvisation

DT-675

This course involves the study of the fundamental nature of the improvisational process in dance therapy. The use of improvisation in varying dance therapy methodologies is examined.

3.00 credits

Creative Arts Therapy I

ADT-641

This course provides an overview of the history, theory and practice of creative arts therapy. Psycho-aesthetic diagnosis and treatment planning, creativity development, and the interface of artistic and interpersonal communication are explored. Students are encouraged to integrate their practicum experiences with the assigned readings and classroom discussions.

3.00 credits

3 Creative Arts Therapy I ADT-641 or ADT-621
3 Development of Personality I SS-640
3 Group Creative Arts Therapy I ADT-645
or ADT-625
3 Materials in Creative Art Therapy TECH-634 or TECH-635
2 Fieldwork Experience & Supervision I ADT-661 or ADT-671
14 CREDITS

3 Creative Arts Therapy II ADT-642 or ADT-622
3 Development of Personality II SS-650
3 Group Creative Arts Therapy II ADT-646 or ADT-626
3 Art Diagnosis ADT-647
2 Fieldwork Experience & Supervision II ADT-662 or ADT-672
14 CREDITS

3 Advanced Seminar in Creative Arts Therapy: Adults, Developmentally Disabled, or Children & Adolescents ADT-649, ADT-651, or ADT-653
3 Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment Issues SS-630
3 Family Art Therapy ADT-688
2 Fieldwork Experience & Supervision III ADT-663 or ADT-673
11 CREDITS

3 Advanced Seminar in Creative Arts Therapy: Adults, Developmentally Disabled, or Children & Adolescents ADT-650, ADT-652, or ADT-654
3 The Psychology of Intergroup Relations & Institutional Process SS-660
2 Fieldwork Experience & Supervision IV ADT-664 or ADT-674
2 Thesis ADT-632 or ADT-633
3 Elective credits from ADT-643, DT-671, DT-673, or DT-675
13 CREDITS

2 Sept Fieldwork Experience & Supervision III ADT-663
2 Jan Fieldwork Experience & Supervision IV ADT-664
2 Jan Thesis ADT-632
3 Mar Development of Personality I SS-640
3 June Development of Personality II SS-650
3 July Advanced Seminar in Creative Arts Therapy: Adults, Developmentally Disabled, or Children & Adolescents ADT-650, ADT-652, OR ADT-654
3 July Improvisation DT-675
18 CREDITS

3 Mar Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment Issues SS-630
3 June Movement Behavior I DT-673
3 July Theory & Practice of Dance Therapy I DT-671
3 July Creative Arts Therapy I ADT-641
3 July Creative Arts Therapy II ADT-642
3 July Group Creative Arts Therapy I ADT-645
18 CREDITS

3 Advanced Seminar in Creative Arts Therapy: Adults, Developmentally Disabled, or Children & Adolescents ADT-650, ADT-652, OR ADT-654
3 The Psychology of Intergroup Relations & Institutional Process SS-660
2 Fieldwork Experience & Supervision IV ADT-664
2 Thesis ADT-632
10 CREDITS

3 Advanced Seminar in Creative Arts Therapy: Adults, Developmentally Disabled, or Children & Adolescents ADT-649, ADT-651, OR ADT-653
3 Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment Issues SS-630
3 Improvisation DT-675
2 Fieldwork Experience & Supervision III ADT-663
11 CREDITS

3 Creative Arts Therapy II ADT-642
3 Development of Personality II SS-650
3 Theory & Practice of Dance Therapy II DT-672
3 Movement Behavior II DT-674
3 Group Creative Arts Therapy II ADT-646
2 Fieldwork Experience & Supervision II ADT-662
17 CREDITS

3 Creative Arts Therapy I ADT-641
3 Development of Personality I SS-640
3 Theory & Practice of Dance Therapy I DT-671
3 Movement Behavior I DT-673
3 Group Creative Arts Therapy I ADT-645
2 Fieldwork Experience & Supervision I ADT-661
17 CREDITS

3 Mar Clinical Diagnosis & Treatment Issues SS-630
3 June Art Diagnosis ADT-647
3 July Creative Arts Therapy I ADT-641 or ADT-621
3 July Creative Arts Therapy II ADT-642 or ADT-622
3 July Group Creative Arts Therapy I ADT-645 or ADT-625
15 CREDITS

2 Sept Fieldwork Experience & Supervision III ADT-663 or ADT-673
2 Jan Fieldwork Experience & Supervision IV
ADT-664 or ADT-674
2 Jan Thesis ADT-632 or ADT-633
3 Mar Development of Personality I SS-640
3 June Development of Personality II SS-650
3 July Advanced Seminar in Creative Arts Therapy: Adults, Developmentally Disabled, or Children
& Adolescents ADT-650, ADT-652, or ADT-654
3 July Elective credits from ADT-643, DT-671, DT-673, or DT-675
18 CREDITS

2 Sept Fieldwork Experience & Supervision I ADT-661 or ADT-671
2 Jan Fieldwork Experience & Supervision II ADT-662 or ADT-672
3 Mar Family Art Therapy ADT-688
3 June The Psychology of Intergroup Relations & Institutional Process SS-660
3 July Advanced Seminar in Creative Arts Therapy: Adults, Developmentally Disabled, or Children
& Adolescents ADT-649, ADT-651, or ADT-653
3 July Group Creative Arts Therapy II ADT-646 or ADT-626
3 July Materials in Creative Art Therapy TECH-634 or TECH-635
19 CREDITS