Art Therapy

Master of Science in Creative Arts Therapy

When words are not enough, make art.

Unique in the United States, the 60-credit art therapy degree program provides interdisciplinary training and clinical work.
Collaborate interprofessionally at the on-site art therapy clinic gaining hands-on experience through consultation, observation, and co-treatment with future professionals in social work, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and music therapy — all while serving the local community.
The program qualifies students for the New York state licensed creative arts therapy (LCAT) credential.

Curriculum • Affordability • Program Director

art therapy session between student and adult

Highlights

Classes mostly daytime; some evening courses offered.

Study full- or part-time

Complete in as fast as 2 years full-time

Internships on and off campus

Program is Ideal For

People who have an undergraduate degree in art or psychology and wish to use art therapeutically to serve others. Prerequisite coursework in studio art and psychology is required.

What to Expect

Gain hands-on experience your first year interning on campus in the art therapy clinic in Nazareth's state-of-the-art York Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute (YWRI). In your second year, intern in a community setting with a variety of populations.
You have the option to include an early-intervention interprofessional concentration (track): Rochester Scholars for Early Intervention helps you develop specialty knowledge and skills to be a strong advocate for young children and their families.
Learn highly collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches.

Why Nazareth?

"The support from faculty and the experiential learning opportunities were strong. Supervision was readily available, and every student’s individual needs and interests were taken into account. My degree has enabled me to do what I love while providing a valuable service to my community. I love having the chance to support clients in their growth and healing process."

— Shane Updike ’23G works as a primary therapist at Rochester Regional Health’s St. Mary's location, and as an art therapist at Canalside Therapeutic Arts.

Value of Your Degree

Graduates have been highly successful in passing the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) certification exam.
Post graduation, art therapists find employment throughout the United States and abroad working in hospitals, clinics, social services, community agencies, wellness centers, educational institutions, businesses, and private practices.
Clinical rotation exceeds the American Art Therapy Association's (AATA) educational requirement, so graduates are well prepared for a variety of settings.
This department's accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) means our faculty, curriculum, and facilities meet or exceed national standards.
Salaries vary by employer and location. Median salary estimate: $63,650 (2023), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which includes art therapists in a broad therapists category.

Statistics

Year	Program Retention	Job Placement
2025	100%	TBD
2024*	86%	100%
2023	80%	100%
2022	82%	88%
2021	91%	100%
2020	87%	58%
2019	87%	92%
2018	89%	100%
2017	87%	100%

* Based on a 100% knowledge rate for 2024 graduates

Career Paths

Art therapist
Primary therapist
Clinician
Mental health therapist
School-based therapist,
Addictions therapist
Outpatient therapist

Making Grad School Affordable

Grants, scholarships, veterans benefits, loans, and undergraduate loan forgiveness are options for paying for this grad degree.

Affordability

Music and Art Therapy Co-Treatment

Music therapy intern Shannon Stott '25G and art therapy intern Melissa Gernon '99G, '24G, SSJ team up to provide their client a multi-sensory experience on the drums. The client put paint on her fingers, and as she played the drum to the beat, a picture was created.

Accreditation

The art therapy program at Nazareth University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. 25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158. Clearwater, FL 33763, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org.

Curriculum Examples

Human Development and Assessment Across the Creative Arts Therapies
Methods and Materials in Art Therapy
Contemporary Issues in Art Therapy

Program Director

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Nazareth University Creative Arts Therapy (Art Therapy) Program leads to a Master of Science degree. The program is designed to fulfill the educational requirements necessary to pursue the Registered Art Therapist (ATR) credential through the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) and to sit for the Board Certification Examination (ATR-BC). Graduates who complete all educational requirements are eligible to apply for the ATR credential and, upon approval by the ATCB, may sit for the ATR-BC examination. Please note that additional post-graduate supervised clinical experience is required to obtain the ATR credential, as determined by the ATCB.

Licensure for professional practice (e.g., Licensed Creative Arts Therapist [LCAT] in New York State) is regulated at the state level and may include requirements beyond completion of the degree, such as supervised experience, examinations, background checks, and application processes.
The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions to disclose whether an academic program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the states where students are located. This requirement applies to programs designed to meet professional licensure standards required for employment. While institutions are not required to make independent determinations for every state, Nazareth University has reviewed available information regarding licensure requirements. However, state requirements are subject to change and interpretation by individual state licensing boards.
Nazareth University has determined the following regarding whether the Creative Arts Therapy (Art Therapy) Program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification required for employment as an art therapist:

Meets Educational Requirements
Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, District of Columbia

Not Yet Determined
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
Nazareth University participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), which establishes national standards for interstate offering of distance education. Participation in NC-SARA does not imply that this program meets the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in any state.
Professional licensure and credentialing requirements vary by state and are subject to change. Students are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate state licensing board or credentialing agency in the state in which they intend to practice to determine specific requirements. Completion of this program does not guarantee licensure or certification, and students are responsible for confirming requirements with relevant credentialing and licensing bodies prior to and during their course of study.

For questions regarding credentialing or licensure requirements, please contact Emily Genovese, ekrenic0@naz.edu, or Dr. Stephen Demanchick, sdemanc8@naz.edu.

Experiential Learning

Spectrum News featured Naz art therapy grad students Tina Starr '25G and Amaya Barnes '25G taking their therapeutic skills to work with older adults in the community.