Art Therapy

Admission Deadline:

Fall: Admission is reviewed on a rolling basis from November 15 to February 1. Applications are reviewed starting on November 15. Applicants seeking funding are strongly encouraged to submit their completed applications no later than January 5. Please be aware that in-person interviews are required for the program, dates on the program page.

Standardized test scores:

GRE is not required.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the PTE Academic is required of all applicants except those who hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university in the United States or from an institution located in a country in which English is the official language, provided English was the language of instruction. 

Minimum scores for the M.A. program are:

• Academic IELTS: an overall band score of 7.0 with no individual score below 6.0; or
• TOEFL: 600 on paper-based or 100 on Internet-based;  or
• PTE Academic: 68

Recommendations required:

Two (2) recommendations

Prior academic records:

Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission.

If transcripts are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translation alone should be uploaded into your application.

Prerequisite Requirements:

Statement of Purpose:

A bachelor's degree, with 18 credits in art, including painting, drawing, and figurative clay, and 12 credits in the behavioral and/or social sciences, including abnormal psychology and  human development. Coursework grades must be B or above to be accepted.

In an essay of approximately 500 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study in Art Therapy and specifically why you are interested in the GW Program. Include why you have chosen this field over any other you considered and what led you to this decision. We are not looking for a reiteration of your CV, but rather your exploration of the field, your sense of self awareness, and your level of maturity. 

Interview:

An interview is required; options available for international applicants. 

Portfolio:

Please submit your portfolio directly to the Art Therapy Department via email or Google Drive at [email protected]. You can submit a PDF, PowerPoint presentation or individual photos. See website for specific requirements.

Course Summary Sheet:

Applicants must submit an Art Therapy Course Summary Sheet with their applications. The template may be downloaded from the Art Therapy Department website. 

International applicants only:

Please review International Applicant Information carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, and English language requirements.