Expressive Therapies Dual Degrees for Lesley Undergrads

Start your master's degree in Expressive Therapies as an undergraduate.

Learn how to use creative expression to promote health and well-being in others. Discover the power of creative arts in the healing process. Gain the academic requirements and clinical experience needed to become a registered art therapist or expressive arts therapist.

These are the skills you'll develop in one of our dual degree programs in expressive therapies. Combine the curriculum from your undergraduate major—a BS in Art Therapy or BS in Expressive Arts Therapy—with a Master of Arts (MA) program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling focusing on Art Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, or Dance/Movement Therapy.

Three licensure-oriented accelerated dual degree options:

BS in Art Therapy & MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Art Therapy
BS in Expressive Arts Therapy & MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Expressive Arts Therapy
BS in Expressive Arts Therapy with Dance/Movement specialization & MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Dance/Movement Therapy

All three graduate programs are 60 credits, putting you on the path toward becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Massachusetts—a credential that qualifies counselors to practice independently.

How It Works

All Expressive Therapies graduate programs are 60 credits. By completing some graduate credits as an undergraduate student, you'll save both time and money.

Complete 24–27 of your graduate program's 60 credits in your junior and senior year. These credits are included in your undergraduate tuition.
Finish the remaining 33–36 credits after senior year, at the graduate tuition rate.
Earn both degrees in about 6 1/2 years of full-time study. This is about a year faster than if you entered Lesley as a graduate student.
Save an additional $14,280 on graduate tuition with the Lesley Dividend award (12 free graduate credits) for a total of up to 65% off your graduate tuition.
Because this is a dual degree program, you'll receive your BS and MA at the same time (one diploma), once you complete the requirements for the master's degree.

Eligibility & Applying

These honors-level dual degree programs are for exceptional students who have demonstrated a high level of academic potential and proficiency in the arts. We're also looking for students who can achieve a level of introspection and cultural awareness needed to engage in clinical work.

Other qualities for admission include:

Empathy and compassion
Psychological strength to work with different populations
Organized, independent, and motivated
Ability to handle complexity
Conceptual literacy
Willingness to take creative risks
Experience using a variety of art forms

Application Requirements

Apply for the program by late September of your junior year. Transfer students may follow an alternate timeline with a late December or early January application deadline. You must be accepted for admission by the Department of Graduate Expressive Therapies within Lesley's Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences.

BS/MA Art Therapy
3.3 GPA

12 credits of specific psychology courses (with a B or better)

18 credits of studio art courses

Portfolio with 15 slides of your artwork in a variety of media

3-credit course in Principles of Art Therapy (or equivalent)

Letter of academic support from the undergraduate faculty advisor or the Art Therapy undergraduate program coordinator, or from core faculty in your department in consultation with the Art Therapy program coordinator

Successful admissions interview

View the details for these admissions criteria.
BS/MA Expressive Arts Therapy
3.3 GPA

6 credits of specific psychology courses (with a B or better)

12 credits of arts courses

Portfolio demonstrating proficiency in a form of creative expression

Letter of academic support from the undergraduate faculty advisor, the undergraduate Expressive Arts Therapy Program Coordinator, or recommendation from core faculty in your department in consultation with the Expressive Arts Therapy Program Coordinator

Letter of recommendation from an internship site supervisor or work supervisor in a human services setting

Successful admissions interview

View the details for these admissions criteria.
BS Expressive Arts Therapy/MA Dance & Movement Therapy
This dual degree program is for undergraduate Expressive Arts Therapy majors specializing in Dance/Movement Therapy.

3.3 GPA

6 credits of psychology courses (with B or better)

12 credits of arts courses

Dance background

Portfolio demonstrating proficiency in dance (DVD of dance/dramatic performance)

Letter of academic support from the undergraduate faculty advisor, the undergraduate Expressive Arts Therapy Program Coordinator, or recommendation from core faculty in your department in consultation with the Expressive Arts Therapy Program Coordinator

Letter of recommendation from an internship site supervisor or work supervisor in a human services setting

Successful admissions interview

View the details for these admissions criteria.

Nancy Jo Cardillo, Expressive Therapies Dual Degree Coordinator

cardillo@lesley.edu

617.349.8429

Colleen Shannon stands in a room at the Children's Place.

Colleen Shannon ’04

Combining art with therapy, Colleen gives grieving children a healthy way to process death.

Expressive arts therapy can treat:

Eating Disorders
Anxiety
Depression
High Levels of Stress
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity
Developmental Disabilities
Traumatic Brain Injury
Post-Traumatic Stress
Chronic Medical Conditions

How to Become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Discover the steps to beginning your counseling career in Massachusetts.

Learn more about becoming an LMHC.

How Creative Expression Can Benefit Older Adults

Expressive therapies professor Raquel Stephenson talks about the power of art making.

Learn about the benefits of creative expression.

Gain Professional Credentials

Through this program, you'll gain eligibility for the Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) and the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Massachusetts.