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Curriculum

MA, Drama Therapy

The 50- to 60-credit MA in Drama Therapy equips you with an extensive, culturally responsive toolkit of improvisation and theatre techniques appropriate for a range of mental health settings. You’ll gain firsthand experience through real-world clinical internships, learn core strategies, theories, and methods of drama therapy, and prepare for a professional career as a drama therapist.

You’ll develop an in-depth understanding of the history, theory, and methods of drama therapy, including counseling and psychology, psychodrama and sociodrama, and projective techniques. Your coursework will prepare you to serve a diverse range of populations, employ cultural awareness and ethical practice in your work, and take specialized classes in the areas of practice that most interest you. The program culminates in a written thesis.

Specialization Sequence

50 Credit Program of Study

Graduates of the 50-credit track will have met the academic requirements for New York State licensure as a creative arts therapist (LCAT). Once licensed, graduates are eligible to practice drama therapy throughout New York State.

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Major Requirements
Drama Therapy
MPADT-GE 2109Drama Therapy for Clinical Populations3
MPADT-GE 2114Intro to Drama Therapy3
MPADT-GE 2115Psychodrama & Sociometry3
MPADT-GE 2117Proj Techn Drama Therapy3
MPADT-GE 2119Adv Theory & Research in Drama Therapy3
MPADT-GE 2121Advanced Practices: Theater Aesthetics and Therapeutic Theater3
MPADT-GE 2303Internship and Seminar in Drama Therapy 14
MPADT-GE 2130Ethics in Drama Therapy3
MPADT-GE 2105Cross-Cultural Awarness for Creative Arts Therapy/Arts Educ3
MPADT-GE 2131Group Dynamics: Theory and Practice in Drama Therapy3
MPADT-GE 2135Assessment in Drama Therapy and Psychodrama3
Counseling and Psychology
APSY-GE 2038Abnormal Psychology3
APSY-GE 2657Individual Counseling: Theory and Process3
APSY-GE 2138Human Growth and Development3
APSY-GE 2658Lab in Individual Counseling Skills3
Culminating Experience
MPADT-GE 2136Thesis Seminar in Drama Therapy1
Electives
Select 3 elective credits by advisement.3
Total Credits50
1

Students can take this 1-2 credit course 3-4 times for a maximum of 4 credits. 

Sample Plan of Study

This sample plan is for a student in the 50-credit program. Students in the 60-credit program will take additional electives chosen in close consultation with an academic adviser.

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
MPADT-GE 2114 Intro to Drama Therapy 3
MPADT-GE 2115 Psychodrama & Sociometry 3
APSY-GE 2138 Human Growth and Development 3
MPADT-GE 2131 Group Dynamics: Theory and Practice in Drama Therapy 3
MPADT-GE 2133
or MPADT-GE 2106
Drama Therapy in Schools
or Drama Therapy and Aging: From Midlife to Elderhood
3
 Credits15
2nd Semester/Term
MPADT-GE 2109 Drama Therapy for Clinical Populations 3
APSY-GE 2657 Individual Counseling: Theory and Process 3
APSY-GE 2658 Lab in Individual Counseling Skills 3
MPADT-GE 2105 Cross-Cultural Awarness for Creative Arts Therapy/Arts Educ 3
 Credits12
3rd Semester/Term
MPADT-GE 2303 Internship and Seminar in Drama Therapy 1
 Credits1
4th Semester/Term
MPADT-GE 2117 Proj Techn Drama Therapy 3
MPADT-GE 2303 Internship and Seminar in Drama Therapy 1
MPADT-GE 2119 Adv Theory & Research in Drama Therapy 3
APSY-GE 2038 Abnormal Psychology 3
MPADT-GE 2136 Thesis Seminar in Drama Therapy 1
 Credits11
5th Semester/Term
MPADT-GE 2303 Internship and Seminar in Drama Therapy 2
MPADT-GE 2121 Advanced Practices: Theater Aesthetics and Therapeutic Theater 3
MPADT-GE 2135 Assessment in Drama Therapy and Psychodrama 3
Elective 3
 Credits11
 Total Credits50

60 Credit Alternate Licensure Program of Study

Graduates of the 60-credit track will have met the academic requirements for licensure for most states outside of New York. This track allows students to undergo advanced training in role theory and method, psychodrama, or arts-based research.

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Required Courses
Drama Therapy
MPADT-GE 2109Drama Therapy for Clinical Populations3
MPADT-GE 2114Intro to Drama Therapy3
MPADT-GE 2115Psychodrama & Sociometry3
MPADT-GE 2117Proj Techn Drama Therapy3
MPADT-GE 2119Adv Theory & Research in Drama Therapy3
MPADT-GE 2121Advanced Practices: Theater Aesthetics and Therapeutic Theater3
MPADT-GE 2303Internship and Seminar in Drama Therapy 14
MPADT-GE 2130Ethics in Drama Therapy3
MPADT-GE 2105Cross-Cultural Awarness for Creative Arts Therapy/Arts Educ3
MPADT-GE 2135Assessment in Drama Therapy and Psychodrama3
MPADT-GE 2131Group Dynamics: Theory and Practice in Drama Therapy3
Counseling and Psychology
APSY-GE 2038Abnormal Psychology3
APSY-GE 2657Individual Counseling: Theory and Process3
APSY-GE 2138Human Growth and Development3
APSY-GE 2658Lab in Individual Counseling Skills3
Culminating Experience
MPADT-GE 2136Thesis Seminar in Drama Therapy1
Electives
Select 13 credits by advisement13
Total Credits60
1

Students can take this 1-2 credit course 3-4 times for a maximum of 4 credits.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
MPADT-GE 2114 Intro to Drama Therapy 3
MPADT-GE 2115 Psychodrama & Sociometry 3
APSY-GE 2138 Human Growth and Development 3
MPADT-GE 2131 Group Dynamics: Theory and Practice in Drama Therapy 3
MPADT-GE 2133
or MPADT-GE 2106
Drama Therapy in Schools
or Drama Therapy and Aging: From Midlife to Elderhood
3
 Credits15
2nd Semester/Term
MPADT-GE 2109 Drama Therapy for Clinical Populations 3
APSY-GE 2657 Individual Counseling: Theory and Process 3
APSY-GE 2658 Lab in Individual Counseling Skills 3
MPADT-GE 2105 Cross-Cultural Awarness for Creative Arts Therapy/Arts Educ 3
MPADT-GE 2303 Internship and Seminar in Drama Therapy 1 1-4
Elective 2
 Credits15
3rd Semester/Term
MPADT-GE 2117 Proj Techn Drama Therapy 3
MPADT-GE 2303 Internship and Seminar in Drama Therapy 1
MPADT-GE 2119 Adv Theory & Research in Drama Therapy 3
APSY-GE 2038 Abnormal Psychology 3
MPADT-GE 2136 Thesis Seminar in Drama Therapy 1
Elective 4
 Credits15
4th Semester/Term
MPADT-GE 2303 Internship and Seminar in Drama Therapy 2
MPADT-GE 2121 Advanced Practices: Theater Aesthetics and Therapeutic Theater 3
MPADT-GE 2135 Assessment in Drama Therapy and Psychodrama 3
Elective 3
Elective 4
 Credits15
 Total Credits60
1

This course is taken during the Summer term.

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