This Massachusetts school has a diverse student body ranging in age from 21 to 65 years. Lesley University's expressive art therapy program is one of the oldest in America. For entrance to the doctoral program, you need three to five years of experience in the field and a master's degree. The program includes three, three-week-long summer residencies, which are completed at the campus. The rest of the academic year, students communicate with their professors and classmates through email, phone and videoconferences. The curriculum includes independent study, research and art therapy apprenticeship opportunities.
Lesley University
29 Everett Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-868-9600
www.lesley.edu
The doctoral arts therapy program at Drexel University is new, with the first students entering in fall 2010. The three-year program includes four seminar courses, which are completed during the first year of the program. The courses focus on readings and discussions highlighting the art therapy process. Students must take four dissertation courses to develop their doctoral dissertations. The classes cover how to select an appropriate topic, dissertation writing and how to analyze data. To enter the program, you must have a master's degree in an art therapy field, three years of full-time practice in art therapy and prior research courses.
Drexel University
1505 Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-762-6921
www.drexel.edu
Florida State University's art therapy doctoral program has designed its coursework around students' progress. For example, after completing the first semester of coursework, students meet with the graduate studies coordinator to review their progress and choose second-semester coursework that will complement it. Students complete three doctoral core courses: structure in art education, social foundations and psychological foundations in teaching and learning. The school also has an art therapy association that performs community service and meets about every four weeks for networking and fundraising events.
Florida State University
600 W. College Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32306
850-644-2525
www.fsu.edu