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Creative Arts Therapies PhD

Major: Creative Arts Therapies
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.2399
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1129

About the Program

The PhD in Creative Arts Therapies is a research degree program for art therapists, dance/movement therapists and music therapists who are interested in pursuing advanced scholarship and assuming academic leadership in their discipline. The primary mission of the program is the cultivation of scholars and academic leaders in the creative arts therapies who can:

Generate and disseminate relevant, robust, rigorous research
Contribute to theory evaluation and building
Develop evidence-based best clinical practices
Cultivate academic proficiency in educating the next generation of art therapists, dance/movement therapists and music therapists

The PhD program consists of four interactive learning modules plus a dissertation:

Interdisciplinary- Delivered as seminars, these modules challenge students to study, explore, critically evaluate and synthesize areas of interdisciplinary knowledge relative to creative arts therapies origins, philosophy and theory.
Research- Includes intensive study of multiple approaches to research. The purpose of the research module is to develop research skills along a spectrum of traditional and innovative approaches. The research curriculum contributes to the generation and dissemination of robust and relevant research in the students’ respective fields.
Self/Other Artistic Knowledge- Introduces the exploration of the intrinsic intersubjective therapeutic processes emergent through artistic inquiry and parallel to the actual arts therapies experience.
Practicum- Emphasizes the transformation of theoretical knowledge to practical application and specialization. The research practicum is aimed at helping students gain hands-on experience in the design and conduct of research, collaborative teamwork, grant writing, data analysis and writing of research reports and publications. All students are required to complete a teaching practicum for one term.
Dissertation- An original robust research project that directly relates to the development of and contribution to the theory and practice of the students' creative arts therapy specialization. The dissertation is the culmination and representation of the students' doctoral work that not only advances knowledge in their field but also positions them for career opportunities in academia and research.

Research

The professions of art therapy, dance/movement therapy and music therapy have grown and become increasingly integrated as interventions in health care, education and human services. Implicit in the emergent growth and integration of these professions is our responsibility to evaluate existing and develop new evidence-based theories and clinical practices. The mission of the PhD in Creative Arts Therapies is to generate, critically evaluate and disseminate research to address this need and ultimately to advance the knowledge and evidence bases for these professions. Consequently, we have identified the following core values central to our research agenda.

Stewardship and scholarship in the Creative Arts Therapies include:

Critical evaluation of the philosophical assumptions inherent in and essential to the understanding, preservation and advancement of theory and practice of the CATs
Critical evaluation of the research approaches and methods best suited for the investigation of theories, processes, mechanisms and outcomes in the creative arts therapies
Generation of knowledge that contributes to the construction, evaluation and credibility of evidence-based theory and clinical practices
Translation, dissemination and application of rigorous research that contributes to the preservation and advancement of our fields and the health of society.

Additional Information

For more information about the program, visit the College of Nursing and Health Professions' PhD in Creative Arts Therapies webpage.

Degree Requirements

Research and Statistics Courses
CATX 712	Philosophy and Theory in Research	3.0
CATX 715	Expanded Perspectives on Research Methodologies	3.0
RSCH 700	Foundations in Quantitative Research	3.0
RSCH 714	Qualitative Research Methods I	3.0
RSCH 720	Foundations of Biostatistics	3.0
RCRG 600	An Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research	0.0
Research Elective		3.0
Select one of the following:
CHP 806	Community Based Participatory Research
RSCH 715	Qualitative Research Methods II
RSCH 721	Intermediate Statistics in Health I
RSCH 722	Intermediate Statistics in Health II
RSCH 813	Measurement Theory in Healthcare
RSCH 816	Intermediate Mixed Methods Research
RSCH 723	Interpretation of Data
Writing Elective		3.0
Select one of the following:
RSCH 742	Scientific Writing	3.0
RSCH 743	Grantsmanship	3.0
Optional Elective ^*		0.0-6.0
Interdisciplinary Seminars
CATX 703	Interdisciplinary Seminar I	3.0
CATX 704	Interdisciplinary Seminar II	3.0
CATX 705	Interdisciplinary Seminar III	3.0
Self/Other Artistic Knowledge Studio Labs
CATX 716	Studio Based Artistic Inquiry	3.0
CATX 717	Intro to Arts-Based Research	3.0
Practical Application Courses
Practica in either research, teaching, clinical supervision, or advanced clinical practice.
CATX 808	Practicum I	2.0-9.0
CATX 809	Practicum II	2.0-9.0
CATX 812	Teaching Practicum	1.0
Dissertation Research ^**		4.0-72.0
CATX 804	Dissertation Research I
CATX 805	Dissertation Research II
CATX 806	Dissertation Research III
CATX 807	Dissertation Research IV
Total Credits		51.0-139.0

*: Students are permitted to take up to two additional courses from RSCH 700-899, NPH 700-899, IPS 700-899 or CATX I899.
**: Dissertation Sequence: Students are required to complete the following courses: CATX 804, which focuses upon choosing a research topic for the dissertation; CATX 805, with faculty advisement, the student writes the dissertation proposal; CATX 806, the student revises the dissertation proposal based upon the results of the Dissertation Proposal Defense and collects the data; and CATX 807, the final stages of the dissertation in which the student analyzes the data, writes the final dissertation, and completes the oral defense. Courses in this sequence can be repeated multiple times until the stage of the dissertation process is complete for each course, and students must complete each course in the sequence. A minimum of 4 credits is required.

All electives must be graduate courses and can be selected from those courses offered at Drexel University. In particular, doctoral-level courses in the College of Nursing and Health Professions, School of Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences, and/or the School of Education may be the most relevant to students in this program. (The Creative Arts Therapies PhD program director will obtain permission for the student to take the elective from the relevant dean of the College or School and the relevant program director and course instructor.)

Content areas that are acceptable for electives include the following: anthropology, biology, creativity, culture and communication, ethics, health psychology, literature, neuroanatomy, neuropsychology, philosophy, psychology, psychoanalysis, sociology, and advanced statistics. Additional content areas may be added by special request as approved by the supervising faculty advisor and program director.

Sample Plan of Study

First Year
Fall	Credits	Winter	Credits	Spring	Credits
CATX 703	3.0	CATX 704	3.0	CATX 705	3.0
CATX 712	3.0	CATX 717	3.0	CATX 715	3.0
CATX 716	3.0	RSCH 700	3.0	RSCH 714	3.0
		RCRG 600	0.0
	9		9		9
Second Year
Fall	Credits	Winter	Credits	Spring	Credits
RSCH 720	3.0	CATX 804^**	1.0-9.0	CATX 805^**	1.0-9.0
CATX 808	2.0-9.0	CATX 809	2.0-9.0	CATX 812	1.0
Research Elective	3.0	Writing Elective	3.0	Optional Elective^*
	8-15		6-21		2-10
Third Year
Fall	Credits	Winter	Credits
CATX 806^**	1.0-9.0	CATX 807^**	1.0-9.0
Optional Elective^*
	1-9		1-9
Total Credits 45-91

*: Students are permitted to take up to two additional courses from RSCH 700-899, NPH 700-899 or IPS 700-899 or CATX I899.
**: Dissertation Sequence: Students are required to complete the following courses: CATX 804, which focuses upon choosing a research topic for the dissertation; CATX 805, with faculty advisement, the student writes the dissertation proposal; CATX 806, the student revises the dissertation proposal based upon the results of the Dissertation Proposal Defense and collects the data; and CATX 807, the final stages of the dissertation in which the student analyzes the data, writes the final dissertation, and completes the oral defense. Courses in this sequence can be repeated multiple times until the stage of the dissertation process is complete for each course, and students must complete each course in the sequence. A minimum of 4 credits is required.

Creative Arts Therapies Department Faculty

Joke Bradt, PhD, MT-BC (Temple University) Director, PhD Program in Creative Arts Therapies. Professor. Research in music therapy, chronic pain, systematic reviews.

Natalie Rae Carlton, PhD, ATR-BC, LPCC (Lesley University) Director, Art Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Associate Clinical Professor. New media and comics, zines and graphic novel uses in art therapy.

Christina Devereaux, PhD, LCAT, LMHC, BC-DMT, NCC (UCLA) Program Director for Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling. Associate Clinical Professor. Dance movement therapy, children, attachment, autism spectrum disorder, trauma, group work, clinical supervision.

Girija Kaimal, EdD, MA , ATR-BC (Harvard University) Interim Department Chair, Assistant Dean for the Division of Human Development and Health Administration. Associate Professor. Art therapy, indigenous arts, oncology, trauma leadership, program evaluation.

Clarissa Lacson, PhD, MT-BC (Drexel University) Core Counseling Course Coordinator, Creative Arts Therapy MA Programs. Assistant Clinical Professor. Interprofessional collaboration, program development, clinical supervision, research coordination, pediatric and medical music therapy

Marisol S. Norris, PhD, MT-BC (Drexel University) Director, Music Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Assistant Clinical Professor. . Community music therapy, critical pedagogies, Black aesthetics, culturally sustaining practice, radical healing framework.

Nalini Prakash, BC-DMT, CMA (Drexel University). Assistant Clinical Professor. Dance/Movement Therapy. movement analysis, mental illness, criminal justice, violence prevention, clinical supervision, arts and culture, arts-based community development.

Michele Rattigan, MA, ATR-BC, NCC, LPC, LPAT (MCP Hahnemann University). Associate Clinical Professor. Art Therapy. self-compassion, community compassion, and mindfulness-based arts therapies approaches for U unresolved trauma; post-partum depression and anxiety; disordered eating and body image concerns; self-harming behaviors; & dissociative disorders. Critical compassionate pedagogy, interprofessional collaboration, & Universal Design for Learning in higher education. Doctor of health science student; higher education concentration.

Minjung Shim, PhD, BC-DMT (Drexel University). Assistant Professor. Medical dance/movement therapy, chronic pain management, mindfulness-based interventions, healthy aging, virtual reality and eHealth interventions, clinical trials, theory/model-building, scoping reviews.

Adenike Webb, PhD, MT-BC (Temple University) Clinical Education Coordinator, Creative Arts Therapy MA Programs . Assistant Clinical Professor. Anti-oppressive pedagogy, wellbeing and creativity, social justice, culturally sustaining practice.

Denise Wolf, ATR-BC, ATCS, LPC, LPAT (Drexel University). Associate Clinical Professor. Consulting, trauma sensitive care/complex interpersonal trauma, clinical supervision, hand paper-making, Dialectical behavior therapy, art museum spaces, school-based art therapy, community engagement.

Emeritus Faculty

Nancy Gerber, PhD, ATR-BC (Union Institute and University). Associate Clinical Professor Emerita. Art therapy assessment and treatment of adolescents and adults; modern psychoanalysis and art therapy; arts therapy education and doctoral education; arts based research and mixed methods research.

Sharon W. Goodill, PhD, BC-DMT, NCC, LPC (Union Institute and University). Clinical Professor Emerita. Medical dance/movement, mind/body studies, movement assessment for DMT, CAT research and leadership.

Florence Ierardi, MM, MT-BC, LPC (Temple University). Associate Clinical Professor Emerita. Clinical improvisation, trauma-informed music therapy, multicultural music therapy perspectives.

Ellen Schelly-Hill, MMT, BC-DMT, NCC, LPC (Antioch NE Graduate School). Associate Clinical Professor Emerita. Adults diagnosed with mood disorders, anxiety, chronic pain and with histories of trauma; clinical supervision; ethics.

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