MA Art Therapy FAQs

You can look over the curriculum outline on the curriculum page. This page lists all required courses in full-time format, however, the 60 required credits can be split up into smaller course loads per semester.

We do not offer a remote format for this program. While students may take a few of the required graduate psychology electives online or at outside accredited colleges/universities, the art therapy program core courses are conducted in person.

You may participate in the program on a full-time or part-time basis. We do not offer an online or hybrid option, as the program is fully in-person. This course of study is 60 credits total, including core courses in art therapy, graduate-level psychology electives, and internship practicum. A two-year period is required for full-time completion, however, students have up to six years to complete the program. Our program directors aim to maintain flexibility so students can stay on track academically in a way that works best for each person.

Our classes are scheduled in the later part of the afternoon. As a full-time student, you can expect to be on campus two afternoons/evenings a week.

Information sessions typically take place during the early fall semester of each application cycle. If you check back in on the program home page in the fall, you will see the information session schedule posted.

Unfortunately, no. We have a small program that is quite interactive. We do not allow any visitors in courses as it can be disruptive to the learning process. As an alternative, we suggest that interested students attend one of our information sessions, which can provide you with more targeted information, and allow you to ask questions to the director of the program.

Many of our students come from diverse academic backgrounds and/or former careers. If you do not have all of the required prerequisites, you can take the necessary courses at any accredited institution before or within the first year of the program.

We require applicants to take 18 studio art credits. For psychology credits, we require applicants to take developmental psychology and abnormal psychology. We also recommend that applicants take two psychology courses of their choice in addition to the required courses to provide a stronger foundation, however, this is not required. Prerequisites can be completed before or within the first year of the program at any accredited university.

No, we do not accept Coursera courses. It is best to register for a course directly through an accredited institution. Online courses are acceptable.

It is important that you are able to handle a wide range of art materials and show personal understanding of the creative process. Applicants are asked to show proficiency in the basic areas of visual arts. For this reason, we strongly encourage applicants to submit a portfolio that reflects a broad range of artwork (e.g. painting, drawing, photography, 3-dimensional work such as sculpture or clay modeling).

Typically, applicants upload 20 images of 20 separate artworks. If you would like to include multiple images of one sculpture piece, we recommend merging the photos into one image/page so that they can be viewed simultaneously in one document.

Yes, with the following considerations. We will only accept up to 9 credits of required psychology electives from accredited colleges and universities. Prior to enrollment in non-NYU courses, you should confirm with your program director and your academic advisor that the class will count towards your degree requirements. All transfer credits must be transferred in before your final semester in the program. Transfer credits cannot be applied to a previously earned degree. Art Therapy transfer credits must follow NYU Steinhardt's External Transfer Credit policy for graduate students.

There are limited scholarship opportunities within the Art Therapy department specifically, but we invite you to visit NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Scholarships and Grants page for more information.

During the first semester, you are required to fulfill approximately 100 fieldwork hours at your placement site, which equates to approximately 8-10 hours per week. At the start of your second semester, you will increase your internship hours to approximately 16-22 hours per week for the remainder of your placement.

If you are on a full-time track, you will be interning for the full 2 years of the program, to accrue a total of 900 hours. If you are on a part-time track, you would have the choice of interning part time.

The NYU Graduate Art Therapy Program has established affiliations with sites throughout the New York City area. We have placements in hospitals, clinics, schools, community agencies, incarceration facilities, transitional housing complexes, as well as our internship abroad.

The NYU Graduate Art Therapy Program requires you to complete a total 900 hours of internship and 12 credits of the internship seminar course to graduate.