Expressive Arts Therapy 30 credits

(30 credits plus 19 credits of experiential learning)

The professional major in Expressive Arts Therapy is designed for students interested in learning about the theory and philosophy of expressive arts therapy and how professionals utilize expressive arts therapy modalities of dance/movement, drama, creative writing, music, poetry and the visual arts in working with children and adults in a variety of settings.

This major prepares students for entry-level positions in a number of human services settings, such as social service agencies, child care programs or specialized school programs, and other community settings. It is also designed to prepare students for entry into a professional Master of Arts degree program in Expressive Therapies. This program combines pre-professional courses in the human services with substantial coursework in psychology. Students will complete over 400 hours in the field.

I. Required Core (21 Credits):

II. Arts Courses (9 Credits):

Choose ONE course from 3 different categories.

Visual Arts

Music

Theater / Drama

Dance / Movement

Literary Arts

NOTE: Graduate courses (GEXTH prefix) are only available to 2nd semester juniors or seniors who must have permission from academic advisor and course instructor.

NOTE: Students planning to apply for the dual degree program will need 3 additional credits from any of the above arts courses and must show evidence of competency in at least one art form, as detailed in the dual-degree description in the LC catalog.

Required Internships (19 Credits):

Recommended:

Not part of major.

* Minimum grade of "C" required to pass this course.

** Check prerequisites.

Expressive Arts Therapy Dual Degree Program

Bachelor of Science /Master of Arts in Expressive Therapies & Mental Health Counseling*

* Students interested in this dual degree program should speak to the Undergraduate Expressive Arts Therapy Coordinator

The Dual Degree Program in Expressive Arts Therapy is an honors program designed for exceptional students. The integrated B.S./M.A. program is developed for Lesley College students who are interested in accelerating their educational experience in a program combining the curriculum of the Undergraduate Expressive Arts Therapy major and a graduate program in Expressive Therapies and Mental Health Counseling.

The program is designed for students who demonstrate a high level of maturity and academic potential. Essentially an honors program, the integrated program demands that students be able to achieve the academic rigor of graduate education by the time they reach their junior year of traditional undergraduate study. Students in this accelerated program must be able to achieve a level of introspection and cultural awareness necessary to engage in clinical work at a relatively young chronological age. Qualified students apply in the fall of their junior year and must be accepted for admission into the Expressive Therapies Division, Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences. This may be altered for students transferring to Lesley College.

The qualities looked for upon admission include, but are not limited to:

• Ability to empathize and be compassionate within an educational and therapeutic environment
• Demonstrated psychological strength to work with different clinical populations
• Well-organized, independent, motivated, takes initiative
• Ability to handle complexity
• Works well under stress
• Ability to integrate theory and practice
• Demonstrated conceptual literacy
• Willingness to take creative risks
• Proficiency and disciplined commitment to an arts practice
• Evidence of a range of experience using a variety of art forms

Students are advised jointly in their junior and senior year by the Coordinator of the Undergraduate Expressive Arts Therapy program and a Graduate School Advisor designated for the dual degree program.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA FOR DUAL DEGREE EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY CANDIDATES

Students will apply for the Master's program in the fall of their junior year. Transfer students may follow an alternate timeline.

1. 3.3 GPA
2. 3 credits in Abnormal Psychology and 3 credits in a Developmental Psychology course with grades of B or better
3. 12 credits of arts courses
4. Evidence of proficiency in some form of creative expression – this should be presented either as a CD of music, dance or dramatic performance, a portfolio of visual art work, and/or a collection of poetry or examples of creative writing. Applicants should have a basic familiarity with the full experience of the creative process in at least one art form.
5. A letter of academic support from the undergraduate faculty advisor, the undergraduate expressive arts therapy program coordinator, or from core faculty in your division in consultation with the expressive arts therapy program coordinator.
6. Successful completion of an admissions interview and review process through the Expressive Therapies Division, Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION INFORMATION:

When students graduate from our MA in Expressive Therapies: Specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy and Mental Health Counseling they have met the educational requirements* for both Expressive Arts Therapy registration (REAT) by the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA), as well as licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in the state of Massachusetts (LMHC).

(*IEATA requires 100 hours of personal expressive arts therapy. This may be done as individual or group expressive arts therapy, not including personal process as required in Master's classes or course work. One's expressive arts therapist cannot be the same person as their supervisor, teacher or head of training program. Lesley does not provide this service, this must be completed outside of Lesley's requirements.)

DUAL DEGREE EXPRESSIVE THERAPIES

(For a list of courses taken as an undergraduate, see the Dual-Degree Coordinator.)

Accepted students complete the Expressive Arts Therapy major (see above) in addition to the following:

GRADUATE REQUIRED COURSES (60 Credits):

COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY COURSES (12 Credits):

Choose ONE (3 Credits):

FIELD EXPERIENCE COURSES (12 Credits):

ELECTIVES (12 Credits):

Students may choose 12 credits of elective coursework in consultation with their faculty advisor.

* Taken concurrently with 150-hour practicum, Students will be advised by their graduate advisor about their readiness for field placement. It can be taken in the next year if it is determined students are not ready.

** Taken concurrently with 900-hour internship

*** Must be taken within 1st 4 years – prior to GEXTH 7719 in 5th year

Note: Students pursuing licensure must have their program of study approved by the Program Advisor in the Division of Expressive Therapies.

CEXTH 2623

Principles of Expressive Arts Therapy

3 credits

This course provides an introduction to the history, philosophy and theory of expressive arts therapy. Students will study the unique features of different media of creative expression: visual art, dance/movement, drama, creative writing, and music. The class will explore the integration of the arts in therapeutic practice. Readings, lectures, films and experiential exercises will be utilized.

CEXTH 3506

Integrated Arts Approaches

3 credits

This course will examine the history and theory of the integrated arts in expressive arts therapy. Through experiential learning, participants will explore the interconnected elements of image, movement, imagination, sound and rhythm. Further focus will be given to the application of integrating the arts within a variety of different human needs and populations. Prerequisite: CEXTH 2623.

CEXTH 3623

Expressive Arts Therapy Studio

3 credits

Within a format that combines studio work, online and classroom group discussion, and meetings with the professor, students will explore and examine the different media of expressive arts therapies and their cross-cultural significance. The theory and practice on the individual arts therapies will be studied as well as their integration and application to work with others and personal artistic practice. Prerequisite: CEXTH 2623.

CEXTH 4623

Arts-Based Research and Performance in Expressive Arts Therapy

3 credits

A capstone course for Expressive Arts therapy students where students produce a culminating project demonstrating their ability to integrate artistic modalities, research an expressive arts therapy theme of their choice, apply the knowledge gained to a method of practice, and then present their research through both a paper and a performance art presentation. Readings, group discussions, studio practice and processing of the art-making experiences will be utilized. Prerequisites: CEXTH 2623; CEXTH 3623; Senior standing.

Offered Fall semester.

CPSYC 1401

Lifespan Development

3 credits

This course offers a comprehensive study of the theoretical perspectives and contemporary research on human development, exploring various stages of life and the developmental tasks associated with each. The major theories pertaining to cognitive, emotional, moral, and social development throughout the lifespan are explored, with attention given to the interaction of environmental and familial factors with the usual course of development.

CPSYC 3405

Abnormal Psychology

3 credits

Students are introduced to the dynamics of normal and abnormal behavior and adjustment. The course emphasizes the study of basic needs, anxiety, defense mechanisms, neurosis, psychosis, psychotherapy, and prevention of disorder. In-depth consideration of psychoanalytic theory is contrasted with existential and other theories. Case studies are used.

CSOCS 3444

Research Methods in the Social Sciences

3 credits

Study of the logic, rules, and techniques of social science research. Topics include relationship of theory and research; research design; measurement; and analysis of data, including elementary statistical analysis. Data collection methods such as experimentation, observation, interviews and questionnaires, and secondary analysis of available data are studied and utilized in research projects. Prerequisites: Fulfillment of Social Science general education requirement.