Ph.D. PROGRAM IN EXPRESSIVE THERAPIES - Low Residency

When Lesley's Expressive Therapies Program was established in 1975, it was one of the first ever to train professionals in this emerging, creative, and vital field. More than 30 years later, the program is the largest of its kind in the world, and continues to push the boundaries of expressive therapies knowledge and training.

Lesley University's Ph.D. in Expressive Therapies, low-residency model, makes it easier for expressive therapy professionals to develop scholarship that expands the knowledge base in the expressive therapies.

Program Overview

Lesley University's cohort-based model supports the continual development of arts therapies approaches, providing doctoral-level education for expressive therapists who strive to be leaders in the field, continuing to research, teach, and promote well-being and healing using arts therapies. Highly evolved and unique in its concept, the program provides a convenient forum that empowers individuals to further their knowledge and abilities to positively transform individuals, and the world.

The 45-credit, post-Master's low residency program involves three summer intensive residencies in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for approximately three weeks each summer, with continued coursework throughout the academic years on-line and through email, peer group meetings, phone, and videoconferencing.

A maximum of seven doctoral students, along with a senior faculty advisor, will form a peer learning structure for their course of study.

Program Pre-requisites:

• An earned master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Certification or registration in one of the expressive therapy modalities (art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy, drama therapy, poetry therapy, expressive therapy, psychodrama).
• Demonstration of good communication skills in the English language, both written and oral, at a level appropriate to doctoral study.
• Demonstration of satisfactory performance on the GRE or the MAT examination.  The Lesley College CEEB number is 3483 for the GRE and 1214 for the MAT.  The college will accept scores that are 5 years old or less.
• 3 years of professional experience as an expressive therapist.

Course Schedule

For more information on the low residency option, or to receive an application, please contact Gilda Resmini-Walsh, toll-free at (800) 999-1959 x 8444, or email gresmini@lesley.edu.