Receive culturally responsible training to use improvisation and theatre techniques to promote health and wellbeing with individuals and groups. In addition to taking rigorous clinical course work, you’ll intern throughout New York City with leading drama therapists who work with people with a range of mental health, rehabilitation, and social concerns.
Request InfoDegree Details
Official Degree Title
Master of Arts in Drama Therapy
Format
Full-time or Part-time
Credits
50-60
Start Date
Fall
Application Deadline
This degree is ideal for people who have a background in improvisation and theatre, educators, therapists, social workers, and those working in healthcare or special education. Your peers will come from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds to study and apprentice with leading professionals in the creative arts therapies.
Throughout your program of study, you will develop your strong commitment to doing good in the world by learning:
- How to identify and apply theories and methods of drama therapy and psychology in treatment and prevention
- How to research effectively
- How to develop your professional identity as a drama therapist and a future licensed professional in the mental health field
- How to exercise cultural and ethical responsibilities
You’ll also gain real-world experience through clinical internships at hospitals, rehabilitation centers, private and community clinics, and facilities for people who are in their senior years, incarcerated, have varied abilities, experiencing unstable housing, or in recovery, amongst others.
Graduates of the 50-credit track will have met the academic requirements for New York State licensure as a creative arts therapist (LCAT) and, once licensed, will be eligible to practice drama therapy throughout New York State.
Graduates of the 60-credit track will have met the academic requirements for licensure for most states outside of New York. This track allows you to do advanced training in role theory and method, psychodrama, or arts-based research, or to pursue other electives in Applied Theatre or Applied Psychology.
Professional Licensure
The New York University Master of Arts in Drama Therapy program is an on-campus academic program designed to enable a graduate to meet the educational requirements to qualify for professional licensure as a Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in New York. The program places students in supervised field experiences in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
If you are interested in having a placement in a different state please contact nyudramatherapy@nyu.edu to discuss if this is possible.
New York State Licensure as a Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT)
To become a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in New York, graduates of NYU’s MA in Drama Therapy program will need to obtain a provisional license and complete 1,500 hours of supervised postgraduate practice within two years. During this period, you must also pass the LCAT licensing exam and submit your application for full licensure in New York State.
For information on New York’s Office of Professions and the procedures to earn licensure through New York State please visit the New York Office of Professions website.
Credentialing
The NYU MA program in Drama Therapy has been continuously accredited by the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA) since 1989 and meets the educational requirements for credentialing as a drama therapist. For information regarding credentialing versus licensure and to learn how to obtain a Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) credential please visit NADTA’s Educational pages.
Note: Because state regulations change frequently, the information provided here may be subject to change. Please email nyudramatherapy@nyu.edu if you have specific questions about whether our program meets educational requirements for licensure in a specific state.
No other state or territory currently offers a license in drama therapy.
The following states and territories do not offer licensure for drama therapists:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- American Samoa
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- US Virgin Islands
Program Benefits for International Students
If you’re an international student, you may be able to work in the United States after graduation for an extended period of time. Most students studying on F-1 visas will be eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) off-campus work authorization. F-1 students in our program may also be eligible for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) OPT extension, allowing you to extend your time in the United States to pursue degree-related work experience for a total of 36 months or 3 years. For more information on who can apply for this extension visit NYU’s Office of Global Services: STEM OPT.
Questions
For additional information, please contact nyudramatherapy@nyu.edu.
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