This fact sheet covers the basics of the 60-hour Master of Creative Arts Therapy with a concentration in Art Therapy program. Further information may be accessed at the Art Therapy website. 

What qualifications will I have after completing this program?

The 60-hour “Masters-Equivalency” program at Nazareth University will prepare students to apply for board certification in Art Therapy (ATR-BC) and licensure as a Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) with the state of New York.   

The national exam administered by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB, www.atcb.org) is open to those who have completed an educational program approved by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA, www.arttherapy.org), which includes a minimum of 700 hours of clinical training alongside academic coursework. Once students have passed this exam, the results can be submitted to New York State as part of their application for licensure as an LCAT.  For more information on licensure, see the Nazareth Art Therapy website (click the link at the top of the page).

Why does the program have 60 credits?  

The MS in Creative Arts Therapy at Nazareth University is designed to meet the criteria for “licensure-qualifying” degrees set in the New York State Mental Health Practitioners regulations. In New York, a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) is a mental health professional in a category that includes Marriage & Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors, and Psychoanalysts. Therefore, LCATs (which includes both Art and Music Therapists) must receive education and training in psychotherapy/counseling, as well as in their primary disciplines. The master’s degree comprises 60 credits to include both these areas.

Do students have to have a degree in art in order to apply for this program?

The MS in Creative Arts Therapy at Nazareth University is designed to meet the criteria for “licensure-qualifying” degrees as defined by the New York State Mental Health Practitioners regulations. In New York, a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) is a mental health professional within the same licensure category as Marriage & Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors, and Psychoanalysts. As such, LCATs—including both Art and Music Therapists—must receive education and training in psychotherapy and counseling, in addition to specialized training in their respective creative arts disciplines.

The master’s degree comprises 60 credits covering both clinical and discipline-specific coursework. In addition, students are educated and evaluated according to 140 standards for art therapy education, as established by the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), ensuring comprehensive preparation for national credentialing and licensure.

How long will it take to complete the degree?  

Full-time graduate students take 9-12 credit hours per semester (at 3 credits per class).  Part time students take 3-6 credits. The time it takes to complete the program will depend on whether or not they are working while attending school, what type of internship experience they want, and their ability to manage the higher level of assignments and workload in graduate school.  The art therapy cohort begins in the fall semester of each year. Most students take a full 12-credit hour course load, start and complete the 60 credit hours in the following sequence: Fall #1, Spring #2, Summer A #3, Summer B #3, Fall #4, Spring #5.

If a student plans to take less than 12 credit hours per semester, it is important to meet with their advisor to map out their program completion schedule.

What is clinical training?  How does it work?  How many hours are needed?
To become an ATR-BC (Registered and Board-Certified Art Therapist), students must complete a minimum of 700 clinical hours through two internship experiences over the course of four semesters in our program.

The first year of internship begins in the spring and continues through the Summer A term. During this year, students complete at least 10 hours per week at their internship site. First-year interns are placed in Nazareth’s on-campus Art Therapy Clinic under the supervision of ATR-BC, LCAT-credentialed art therapists. Students begin with observation, then progress to assisting, leading individual interventions, and ultimately conducting full sessions as their skills develop.

The second year of internship may take place in Nazareth’s on-campus clinic, at off-campus sites in Rochester and surrounding communities, or through a combination of both. Second-year placements typically require a minimum of 18 hours per week throughout the fall and spring semesters of the final year. These internships are held in schools, hospitals, or other agencies with qualified supervisors. Students continue to take coursework alongside their clinical placement.

To remain in good standing, students must earn a grade of B or higher in all internship courses: ATR 501, ATR 502, ATR 506, and ATR 508. A grade of B indicates the minimum level of competency required to advance. If a student earns below a B, the course must be retaken to ensure clinical readiness according to the program’s evaluation standards.