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Drama Therapy

Founded in 1983, Drama Therapy at NYU Steinhardt offers you world-class training with leading drama therapists in New York City. Graduate students complete a final thesis or performance focusing on clinical research.

The program is approved by the New York State Education Department and qualifies graduates for Licensure in Creative Arts Therapy (LCAT) in New York State after 1500 hours of post-graduate supervised practice and licensing exams. Those wishing to pursue licenses outside of New York should contact Ellen Smittle, Program Administrator (ecs485@nyu.edu).

Master of Arts
Drama Therapy

Our advanced clinical training in counseling and course work in drama therapy will prepare you to promote health and wellbeing in a range of wellness contexts.

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Develop Research Skills and Focus Your Studies on Drama Therapy

Deepen your understanding of drama therapy and become a competent researcher in the field. There are three options for doctoral study in drama therapy at NYU.

Doctor of Philosophy
Rehabilitation Sciences

Prepare for a fulfilling academic career in research and teaching in the rehabilitation sciences through interdisciplinary study across health fields.

Doctor of Philosophy
Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities

Conduct cutting-edge and innovative research that addresses the most pressing questions in the cultural and educational arenas of theatre.

Doctor of Education
Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities

Prepare for roles such as principal, curriculum developer, and policy analyst in this practice-based doctorate with an emphasis on arts-based research methods.

Robert J. Landy Archive and Scholarship

Dr. Robert Landy, Ph.D., RDT-BCT, LCAT, founding Emeritus Professor of the NYU Program in Drama Therapy, has been a key figure in the development and widespread use of drama therapy for nearly four decades.

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News and Events

Foundations + Futures 2024: Drama Therapy Annual Research Symposium

Every February, the NYU Program in Drama Therapy opens the doors to our Theatre & Health Lab to present our latest research, examine current and emerging innovations, and inspire a culture of inquiry in drama therapy.

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Arts Activities Promote Health: An Interview with Dr. Nisha Sajnani

The University Hospitals of Geneva magazine interviewed Nisha Sajnani, Associate Professor and Director of the Program in Drama Therapy and co-director of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab at NYU Steinhardt established in collaboration with the WHO, about the health benefits of the arts.

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Jameel Arts & Health Lab to Measure the Impact of the Arts on Health

With emphasis on equity, the Lab aims to radically improve global health through arts-related research and advocacy to drive policy implementation across 193 UN member states.

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Five Faculty Receive Steinhardt’s Teaching Excellence Award

The Award honors outstanding teaching effectiveness both in and out of the classroom.

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NYU Drama Therapy Faculty and Alumni Receive Awards

NYU Drama Therapy Program faculty, alumni, students, and researchers attended the 43rd
Annual North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA) Conference in San Diego,
California from November 3-6, 2022.

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Drama Therapy Alumnus Honored by NY State Office of Mental Health

During Latinx Heritage Month, the OMH profiled Latinx mental health professionals who have made significant contributions to the field and to their communities. Among them, Carlos Rodriguez was acknowledged for his dedication.

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Dr. Sajnani Collaborates on New WHO Policy on Health Benefits of the Arts with Displaced Persons

This new policy document provides evidence that art based activities and arts therapies can meaningfully improve one’s self confidence, opportunities to grieve losses, a renewed sense of belonging, and offer hope.

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Brazil: Advanced Techniques of Theatre of The Oppressed

Travel to Rio de Janeiro to study the Theatre of the Oppressed, a system of games, techniques, and exercises for using theatre as a vehicle for personal and social change in partnership with local practitioners.

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Questions

For more information, please contact nyudramatherapy@nyu.edu