Art Therapy and Counseling Information

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Admission

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.

Applicants to the program must have:

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)
Completed the online application including the following:
- Official transcript(s) from all academic institutions attended
- Official GRE score report (optional)
- Official TOEFL scores (if applicable)
- Writing sample
- 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:

Credentials Solutions
Parchment
National Student Clearinghouse

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

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.

Early Assurance Program

To be eligible for the Early Assurance Program (EAP) with Regent University, a student must:

Be at least in their junior year at Regent University and with only one academic year left to complete their undergraduate education when applying. Interested students should meet with the Regent University EAP Advisor (advising@regent.edu | 757.352.4385) during their freshman year or within the first semester of coursework to express interest in the EAP;
Meet citizenship requirements of the program;
Meet all Regent University institutional and degree requirements to continue as a student in good standing;
Have an overall (cumulative) GPA of 3.0 or better;
Have no academic or other code of conduct violations;
Follow the Admission guidelines;
Have a pre-matriculation meeting with the Program Director during the spring semester before the fall matriculation date.

The guarantee of admission through the EAP is contingent upon the student’s continued eligibility in the EAP.

Technical Standards

Observation Skills Technical Standard
1. Demonstrate sufficient attention and accuracy in observation skills (visual, auditory and tactile) in the classroom, lecture hall, studio and internship settings.
2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
  - Accurate observations of a patient near and at a distance; recognizing non-verbal and verbal signs.
  - Accurate identification of differences in color, texture, shape and other formal elements of artwork.
  - Accurate visualization and discrimination of text, numbers, patterns, graphic illustrations and key characteristics of other images.
Communication Skills Technical Standard
1. Demonstrate effective communication skills with all ages and genders of patients who have a variety of diagnoses, disabilities, cultures, ethnicities and personalities.
2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
  - Clear, efficient and intelligible articulation of verbal language.
  - Legible, efficient and intelligible written English language.
  - Accurate and efficient reading skills (English language).
  - Ability to prepare and communicate concise oral and written summaries of patient encounters.
  - Ability to accurately follow oral and written directions.
Critical Reasoning Skills Technical Standard
1. Demonstrate critical reasoning skills, including, but not limited to, intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities.
2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
  - Demonstrate ability to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize information.
  - Demonstrate ability to acquire, retain and apply new and learned information.
  - Demonstrate appropriate judgment in patient assessment, diagnosis, monitoring and evaluation, including planning, time management and choice of art materials.
Motor And Sensory Function Technical Standard
1. Demonstrate sufficient motor and sensory function to perform typical functions of art therapists, including, but not limited to, assessments, evaluations and individual, group and family treatment.
2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
  - Functional and sufficient sensory capacity (visual, auditory and tactile) to adequately perform a complete Art Therapy Projective Imagery Assessment (AT-PIA).
  - Execute motor movements to assess patients, provide assistance with art materials and techniques and implement basic art therapy processes.
  - Execute motor movements that demonstrate safety and efficiency in the various learning settings (i.e., classroom, lecture hall and clinical settings).
  - Properly use art materials and tools for art making, including, but not limited to, drawing implements, brushes, clay tools, glue guns, etc.
  - Physical stamina sufficient to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study, which may include prolonged periods of sitting, standing and/or rapid ambulation.
Behavioral And Social Attributes Technical Standard
1. Demonstrate the behavioral and social attributes vital to participation in a professional program and service as a practicing professional art therapist.
2. Indicators include, but are not limited to, these examples:
  - Possess the emotional health required for full utilization of mental faculties (judgment, orientation, affect and cognition).
  - Ability to develop mature and effective professional relationships with faculty, patients, the public and other members of the health care team.
  - Possess personal qualities that facilitate effective therapeutic interactions (compassion, empathy, integrity, honesty, benevolence, confidentiality).
  - Demonstrate impartial motives, attitudes and values in roles, functions and relationships.
  - Ability to monitor and react appropriately to one’s own emotional needs and responses.
  - Display appropriate flexibility and adaptability in the face of stress or uncertainty associated with clinical encounters and clinical environments.
  - Compliance with standards, policies and practices set forth in the Art Therapy and Counseling student handbook.