Date of Award

Summer 8-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

EVMS School of Health Professions

Program/Concentration

Art Therapy

Abstract

In addressing art therapy education, Taylor (1991) suggested that undergraduate art therapy education is controversial in that professional entry into the field is at the masters' level. Undergraduate programs offering degrees in art therapy range from providing a combination of psychology and studio art courses, offering art therapy courses and fieldwork experience, in addition to psychology and studio art, with variances in program curricula and requirements between the two extremes.

Therefore, graduates of undergraduate art therapy programs who further study art therapy at the graduate level enter with diverse levels of introduction to the field, preparation, and experience. Because differences in undergraduate art therapy educational experience may impact the graduate art therapy training experience, a survey was conducted.

Students who received bachelors' degrees in art therapy currently attending graduate art therapy programs were surveyed regarding their impressions and experiences of undergraduate art therapy education as preparation for graduate study in the field. Questionnaires were sent to 35 graduate art therapy training programs. The survey resulted in a total of 16 respondents, and respondents were divided into two groups: basic and expanded. Ten of the 16 respondents received art therapy specific courses, practicum/fieldwork experience, and art therapy supervision as part of their undergraduate art therapy education. These ten respondents make up the expanded group. The remaining 6 respondents, the basic group, received only a combination of psychology and studio art courses.

Respondents of the expanded group rated higher than respondents of the basic group regarding levels of preparation for graduate study, emphasis their programs placed on graduate study, and overall positive experiences. Despite differences in the undergraduate art therapy education received within the two groups of respondents, study in psychology ranked highest in preparation for graduate study with 13 responses (81%), followed by studio art with 9 responses (56%).

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