Both personal characteristics and academic qualifications of applicants are evaluated to ensure that students are capable of developing professional competence as art therapists. Our Admissions Guide contains specific information about the admissions requirements, process, and timeline for the program. We offer both a full-time and part-time options for our curriculum. We also offer three stand-alone Graduate Certificates.
Admissions Requirements for:
Degree Seeking Students
- A qualifying grade point average of 3.0 or better.
- A Bachelor's degree completed no later than July 1.
- All prerequisite coursework satisfactorily completed no later than July 1:
- 12 semester credit hours in Psychology (must include developmental, abnormal and theories of personality)
- 18 semester credit hours in Studio Art (must include painting, drawing, sculpture/3-D and clay/ceramics)
- Complete the online application including the following:
- Official transcript(s) from all academic institutions attended
- Official TOEFL scores (if applicable)
- Two letters of reference
- Personal interview with portfolio presentation
- Reviewed the technical standards.
Transcripts must be sent to GradCAS only. GradCAS only accepts electronic transcripts from the following sites:
If your school does not offer these services, download and send a transcript request form to your school's registrar, who should send the transcript to:
GradCAS Transcript Processing Center
P.O. Box 9217
Watertown, MA 02471
International Applicants
Applicants with foreign degrees may be considered on a case-by-case basis. A written request must be submitted to HP Admissions with all of the following included for consideration:
An official academic credential evaluation of the foreign transcript. The evaluation must include the following components:
- Analysis of credentials to determine equivalence to an accredited U.S. bachelor's degree
- Course-by-course translation, including information on course name, grade and U.S. credit equivalency
- Overall performance in comparison to the standard U.S. grading system (i.e., GPA)
Official transcripts of all coursework done in the U.S. educational system to date;
TOEFL scores for any applicant with a foreign degree and English as a second language or who entered the U.S. after age 12 from a non-English-speaking country of origin (as determined by high school graduation or personal statement). Graduation with an undergraduate degree from a U.S. educational institution will not fulfill this requirement. To ensure an ability to function at the graduate level due to the importance of communication in the English language for both learning and providing healthcare, the following are expected minimal scores:
- Internet-based test (preferred): 85
- Computer-based test: 220
- Speaking component: 25
Although multiple companies provide translation services, an English translation without the appropriate information above will not be accepted in place of an academic credential evaluation. Our preference is that you submit an evaluation completed by World Education Services to provide us with the most complete picture of your previous educational background.
All 30 credits of prerequisite coursework must be completed at an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution with a B, 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade or better in order to establish a record of academic performance in this educational system. No foreign courses, degrees, work experience or other summative exams (e.g. GRE or MAT) will substitute for prerequisite coursework.
At the time of program interviews, if language issues are identified, further demonstration of English proficiency - to include TOEFL testing - may be requested as a condition of acceptance.
Graduate Certificate Seeking Students
- A qualifying grade point average of 3.0 or better.
- A Bachelor's degree
- A Masters's degree in Art Therapy (*Master's degree in Counseling, any related field or other advanced degree for Trauma and Neuroscience Informed Therapy Certificate)
- Complete the online application including the following:
- Current CV/resume documenting professional experience, educational achievement, and any volunteer experience
- Official transcript(s) from all academic institutions attended. Transcripts must be submitted electronically through GradCAS only.
- Personal statement
- One letter of reference
Application deadlines are as follows:
- Graduate Certificate in Advanced Cultural Humility - December 1
- Graduate Certificate in Trauma & Neuroscience Informed Art Psychotherapy - August 1
- Graduate Certificate in Trauma & Neuroscience Informed Therapy - April 1
Non-Degree Seeking Students
Non-degree (non matriculate) seeking students are required to complete the GradCAS application at least two (2) weeks before the start of a course or continuing education for credit learning.
Requirements for admission include:
Official transcripts from an accredited university or college documenting a Master's degree in Art Therapy, Counseling, Psychology, or related field.
Students are accepted on a space-available basis to take courses offered by the program. Non-degree seeking students can take courses during any term as long as their non-degree seeking application and subsequent registration is complete prior to the specified deadlines.
Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for financial aid and must pay tuition prior to the start of a given semester.
*Please contact program before applying as non-degree to confirm that continuing education courses are being offered.
