Application Requirements: Art Therapy Programs
The application requirements listed here are applicable to the following programs:
- Psychology MA with Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy: Los Angeles (low-residency)
- Post-Master’s Program in Art Therapy: Los Angeles (low-residency)
Click here to download a PDF version of the application requirements for the Art Therapy programs, for easy printing and reference.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
1. Online Graduate Application Form
Required for all applicants.
2. Non-refundable $65 Application Fee
Required for all applicants.
3. Official Transcripts
Required for all applicants.
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work are required. Transcripts must be submitted from each institution attended, even if transfer units appear on another document. If you attend(ed) an institution with pass/fail grades, please also include any accompanying narrative evaluations.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to see that all transcripts are submitted as a part of the application. It may be necessary to submit transcripts on which final grades have not yet been posted, in which case you should provide supplementary transcripts as soon as possible. If there is a delay in processing your official transcript request, you should submit unofficial photocopies of transcripts in the interim. Without a complete set of transcripts, your application will be considered incomplete.
International applicants and those who received bachelor’s degrees and/or master’s degrees from higher education institutions outside the United States are required to submit official transcript evaluations. See the Graduate Admissions Requirements for further instructions.
4. Grade Point Average Exemption Petition
Required only if GPA is below 3.0.
California School of Professional Psychology requires that applicants have an undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. If your undergraduate or graduate (if applicable) GPA is below 3.0, you must submit a petition requesting an exemption from this academic requirement. Please use the designated space in the online application to indicate which of the following options will constitute your GPA exemption petition:
- A brief statement discussing past special academic or personal circumstances explaining academic performance below 3.0
- Official copies of test scores (GRE) supporting academic ability (strongly recommended)
- A list of scholarly publications supporting past academic/intellectual achievement
If you choose to submit the statement or the supporting publication material, please do so in the GPA Exemption Petition field on the online application. If you choose to submit official test scores, please provide additional detail in the Test Scores section of the online application.
5. Resume/Curriculum Vita
Required for all applicants.
Submit a current resume or curriculum vita, which includes your experience relative to the field of clinical psychology, including volunteer work if applicable.
6. Portfolio
Required for all applicants.
Applicants to all Art Therapy programs must submit a portfolio of original artwork, demonstrating competence with art materials, as a part of the application. The portfolio may be uploaded as a supplemental document to the online application, in lieu of an essay. A minimum of 10 art pieces is required. For face-to-face interviews, applicants should provide a hard copy of the portfolio on glossy 8.5” x 11” paper.
7. Course Descriptions
Course descriptions are required in the following two instances:
Graduate Entry Requirement: If you are using courses to meet the graduate entry requirements for a program, you must submit course descriptions if the courses you are using to fulfill the required subjects are titled differently from program requirements. Appropriate documentation includes copies of course descriptions, outlines or syllabi. This information should be submitted with your application material.
Art Therapy Graduate Entry Requirement: Prerequisite Coursework
Each student admitted to the Art Therapy programs shall successfully complete the
following coursework requirements no later than twelve months after entering the program,
and this may include coursework completed before admission to the program. Please
use the designated space in the online application to indicate the courses you have
taken or plan to take to fulfill this requirement.
- A minimum of 18 semester units (or 27 quarter units) of study in studio art, to demonstrate
proficiency and disciplined commitment in art making. This coursework should evidence
a range of experience using a variety of art materials and processes. Once enrolled
in the program, students will complete 3 units of studio art, which are a part of
the program curriculum; these units may count towards the 18 required prerequisite
units of studio art. Equivalency of non-academic studio art experience or art therapy
based coursework may be considered and must be approved by the program.
- A minimum of 12 semester units (or 18 quarter units) of study in psychology, which must include developmental psychology and abnormal psychology.
Applicants should complete the prerequisites as soon as possible, as they support the application and interview process. In some cases, applicants may take some of their prerequisites after they have completed the admissions process and these must be completed within the first year of the program. All coursework used to fulfill graduate entry requirements must have been taken at fully accredited institutions.
Alliant’s Continuing Education Division offers many of the prerequisite courses in an online format. Contact your admissions counselor or the CE website for details.
Transfer Credit: If you are petitioning to receive transfer credit for previous graduate work, you must submit a detailed coursework portfolio along with your application, which includes course outlines, syllabi or letters from instructors describing specific course content for all relevant graduate courses completed. If coursework was taken at more than one institution, indicate the institution where each course was taken.
A maximum of 9 semester units of graduate coursework can be accepted for transfer into the Art Therapy master’s program, at the discretion of the program. These credits must be completed with a grade of “B” or better from a regionally accredited institution within the past seven years.
All applicants must meet the graduate level entry requirements for the program of application before they will be reviewed for transfer credit. Program-specific information about transfer credit eligibility may be obtained from the admissions office and is included in the university catalog.
8. Test Scores
Test scores are required in the following two instances. In these cases, please include
this information in the Test Scores section of the online application.
- English Proficiency: Applicants whose native language is not English or who have not earned an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited U.S. higher education institution are required to submit test scores to show English proficiency. Please see the Alliant International University Graduate Admissions Requirements for further instructions. If you have a unique situation and can demonstrate English proficiency in a manner not outlined in one of these options, please contact your admissions counselor directly to request an exemption from this requirement.
- GPA Exemption Petition: Applicants may elect to submit GRE scores to support the GPA Exemption Petition.
9. Recommendations
Two recommendations are required for all applicants.
Recommendations should be from references familiar with your work, your academic abilities, or your potential for scholarship and professional accomplishment. If you have been out of school for several years, please feel free to submit recommendations from persons who are familiar with you on any level of professional involvement.
10. Additional Requirements for International Applicants
International applicants should review the additional requirements outlined in the
Alliant International University Graduate Admissions Requirements.