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Careerbuilder.com named Art Therapy as one of the top 10 "hot jobs" for 2007.

Overview

The EVMS Graduate Art Therapy and Counseling Program is a rigorous art, clinical and research-based program that has been educating art therapy professionals since 1973.

• Approved by the American Art Therapy Association
• Master of Science degree in art therapy and counseling
• Two years of full-time study
• 63 required credits
• Three full-time faculty and community adjunct faculty
• Internship experiences with children, adolescents, and adults
• LPC and ATR license eligible upon program completion
• Art-making throughout the curriculum
• View a video interview with faculty and students

Curriculum

The educational format of the EVMS Graduate Art Therapy and Counseling Program is didactic, introspective and experiential, integrating psychodynamic concepts with humanistic and family systems approaches.

• Students learn various theories and are then encouraged to develop their own theoretical approach to the practice of art therapy.
• Coursework, internship, and weekly individual and group art therapy supervision develop the students' knowledge and clinical skills.
• The program provides training in research, culminating in the completion of a master's thesis.
• While the core curriculum has a mental health focus, other non-clinical areas of emphasis are offered.
• Personal art making is required across the curriculum in a variety of assignments, including visual journaling.

In the process of becoming art therapists, students integrate theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom and supervised experience obtained in internship placements at participating agencies.

• Art-making space is available to students around the clock at EVMS's Studio 200 in the d'ART Center, located off-campus in downtown Norfolk.
• Internships provide students with three semesters of hands-on experience in a variety of settings throughout Hampton Roads.

The Art Therapy Program faculty

Costs of Attendance

Tuition for the 2009-2010 academic year is $21,478 for in-state students, and $21,878 for out-of-state students. Other costs include required fees of $976 and approximately $1,200 for books. Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Students must show proof of major medical insurance coverage. Students who are eligible for coverage under the policy of a parent or spouse are urged to do so. As an alternative, EVMS offers a student health insurance plan for an estimated $2,377 per year.

Art therapists work in hospitals, clinics, schools, rehabilitation centers, universities, and other health care and educational settings.

First year student, Ashy Palliparambil, won the Rawley Silver Scholarship from the American Art Therapy Association

Both personal characteristics and academic qualifications of applicants are evaluated to insure that students are capable of developing professional competence as art therapists. For consideration the applicant must:

• Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Have a background in visual arts, psychology, education, and/or social sciences prior to admission. The prerequisite coursework includes 12 semester credit hours of psychology that must include developmental and abnormal (while theories of personality is highly recommended), and 18 semester credits of studio art.
• Applicants are encouraged to apply and can be interviewed and accepted even while completing these prerequisites; however, the coursework must be completed prior to matriculation.

The program does not accept transfer credits.

Application Procedures

The first two bullet points MUST be completed BEFORE an invitation to interview can be granted to the applicant:

• Complete and submit the online application, including your autographical statement and writing sample, along with the application fee.
• Submit official transcripts indicating coursework completed, grades achieved, and degrees received (see address below). Be sure to indicte in the application which prerequisites you are currently taking or intend to complete before matriculating.

The following requested elements may follow later to complete the application:

• Using the space provided within the online system, submit 3 names for letter of reference, 2 of which should be from college professors and 1 from a personal or professional reference. After you submit your application fee, a form will be generated from the school to your references to be filled out.

During the personal interview at EVMS, the applicant will present an art porfolio (digital format) of 8-12 images demonstrating competency in a variety of media and an understanding of personal expression. All invited applicants are required to complete a face-to-face personal interview.

Official transcripts should be mailed to the Director of Enrollment for Health Professions at the address shown below. If you experience technical difficulties or related problems in completing your online application, please contact:

A priority review of applications for fall enrollment begins the first week in January each year; with the bulk of the interviews in February and March. However, applications may be considered for acceptance or the waiting list until May. Upon acceptance, a $300 non-refundable matriculation fee (credited toward tuition) is required to secure class placement.

Abby Calisch, PsyD, LPC, ATR-BC
Director
P.O. Box 1980
Norfolk, VA 23501-1980
Phone: (757) 446-5895
Fax: (757) 446-6179
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