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Low Residency Program

The Low Residency Program is a uniquely structured, 2 1/2 year program designed for students who will benefit from an alternative to the 2 year academic schedule due to professional or personal commitments. This program offers both in-person coursework and online courses.  Students begin the program in March, and complete the entire rotation of coursework 2 1/2 years later in July.  Low Residency in-person classes are scheduled for nine days in March plus one full month from mid-June to mid-July. All in-person classes are currently being offered on our Brooklyn, NY campus.  Final course assignments (from the summer classes) are due in the Fall semester, enabling the students to integrate their readings, classroom and internship experiences. In the Fall and Spring semesters, students complete two years of practicum/internship in their area of residence, and take 1-2 online courses each semester.  Students will complete 16 hours of internship a week, for 30 weeks, equaling 480 hours.  Students experience 2 internships with different client populations each year. Although both programs offer the same degree, the Low Residency Program differs from the Academic Year programming in several ways:

  • Students attend classes in the spring and summer prior to starting their internships.
  • Students do not need to be in residence for two full years. but come together from multiple states to learn together in short intensive sessions. 
  • Students stay connected to one another and the program during fall and spring via an online supervision group and online courses offered each semester.
  • As part of their Introduction to Creative Art Therapy II class, students lead art/movement creativity groups as a practicum experience. This helps students prepare for a more independent internship experience in their Fall semester.

The art therapy program is approved by the American Art Therapy Association and the Dance/Movement Therapy program is approved by the American Dance Therapy Association. For those intending to work in New York State, all programs are registered with the New York State Department of Education and entitle graduates apply for New York State licensure. For those living and working in states requiring Counseling licensure, Pratt provides the majority of coursework required for a counseling license and the department will assist all graduates with licensure application materials.

To contact the Creative Arts Therapy Department directly, please emailadt@pratt.edu.

Note to international students: The Low Residency Format is not eligible for an I-20 to be issued to get an F1 Visa. Other non-immigrants may be eligible for the program. Please contact oia@pratt.edu and ask if you are eligible for the Low Reisdency Format within the Creative Arts Therapy Department.

Dance Therapy, Low Residency Format

The cycle of classes is as follows: students are in class for 9 days in mid-March for their first year only, and then for 3 consecutive weeks (mid-June-mid-July) for three years in Brooklyn. Reading assignments are completed both before and after classes, and writing assignments are completed after the courses, giving students a chance to integrate class experience with readings and fieldwork/practicum/internship experience. Students do two years of fieldwork/internship (dance/movement therapy) from September through May following the first and second year of summer classes. Supervision is completed through weekly online contact, as well as an active online forum that keep low-residency students in touch with Pratt faculty and one another.

Housing is available on campus when courses are being held in Brooklyn. The low-residency format is offered to both art and dance/movement therapy students.

The low-residency program is not considered full-time. Therefore, international students will be ineligible for F-1 visas.

Art Therapy, Low Residency Format

The cycle of classes is as follows: students are in class for 9 days in mid-March for their first year only, and for 3 consecutive weeks (mid-June-mid-July) for three years in Brooklyn.  Reading assignments are completed both before and after classes, and writing assignments are completed after the courses, giving students a chance to integrate class experience with readings and fieldwork/practicum/internship experience. Two years of fieldwork/internship (art therapy) are done from September through May following the first and second year of summer classes. Supervision is completed through weekly online contact, as well as an active online forum that keep low-residency students in touch with Pratt faculty and one another.

Housing is available on campus when courses are being held in Brooklyn. The low-residency format is offered to both art and dance/movement therapy students.

The low-residency program is not considered full-time. Therefore, international students will be ineligible for F-1 visas.