Application Requirements

• A completed graduate study application form (Apply online now for free!).
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and official undergraduate transcripts from all institutions attended.
• Official transcript(s) from any institution(s) in which postbaccalaureate or graduate course work was completed.
• Two letters of recommendation written by appropriate professionals.
• A current resume.
• Portfolio of artwork containing 10 - 13 examples of your own artwork, including work in drawing, painting and clay. Submit by uploading to your online application or via email.  
• Preparatory Coursework Form (PDF). (See below for more information on Preparatory Coursework.)
• Recent sample of your academic or professional writing (preferably in APA style).
• Personal Statement of Interest (see directions below).

Personal Statement of Interest

Please answer the following questions, in order. In your statement, include the number of the question or prompt with your response.

1. We are curious about your interest in applying to an art therapy program.  Please summarize why you wish to become an art therapist and the reasons why becoming a mental health therapist specifically are important to you.
2. Please describe ways you engage in art-making for personal growth.
3. What do you envision personally being the most challenging aspect in becoming an art therapist (beyond managing the workload of graduate school)? 
4. What interests you in the Seton Hill University Art Therapy program in particular? How might Seton Hill, as opposed to studying elsewhere, help you achieve your professional goals?   
5. The program demands a large amount of self-discipline and productive work habits (much reading and writing) even while typically working part-time. How do you plan to handle this academic workload while you may also be working in a place of employment, and what challenges might you encounter?
6. Seton Hill is committed to preparing graduates who are culturally competent social change agents who understand the relevance of not just cultural differences but also privilege and oppression. How does awareness of social injustice align with your interest in becoming an art therapist? 
7. For this final prompt, respond in 1 - 2 pages:  Think about a helping relationship you've been engaged in during the past year, a time when you were attempting to help someone. We request you do not use names or identifying information of individuals in your story, in order to preserve privacy. 

a. Describe the situation as it occurred at that time. 

b. What did you do in the situation? 

c. How did you feel about the situation at the time you were experiencing it and also now, looking back, how do you feel about it now? Is there any part you might change? 

d. How did reflecting in this way help you learn something about yourself as a future art therapist?  

Preparatory Coursework

Applicants must have completed the following preparatory coursework at an accredited academic institution with grades of B (3.0) or better. These courses may or may not have been included in the undergraduate degree. These may be undergraduate or graduate-level courses.

18 semester credits of studio art including:

• Three credits each of: drawing, painting, 3-D art media (may include clay, ceramics, 3D methods or sculpture).
• Nine credits of additional studio art coursework in any media.
• Requests to apply a limited amount of coursework taken as part of community arts studios or workshops may be considered.

6 semester credits of psychology courses including:

• Three credits of a developmental psychology.
• Three credits of abnormal psychology or related coursework. 

Potential coursework review may be requested.

Applicants will be considered for admission based on their overall academic ability, foundational life and work experience, expression of interests and connection of their goals to Seton Hill’s program philosophy, along with the capacity for professional dispositions necessary in the helping professions.

Provisional Admission

Applicants lacking preparatory coursework may request to be admitted to the graduate program provisionally, with the understanding that any outstanding preparatory coursework must be completed by the end of the first year of graduate study. It is our policy to review files that have no more than two of the required prerequisite courses outstanding. When this coursework is completed the applicant will be granted regular graduate student status, which is required in order to continue into the second year of study. Use the bottom portion of the Proof of Completion of Preparatory Coursework form to request Provisional Admission.

Admission Process

Deadlines

The program has rolling admission up to deadlines for each semester -- June 1 for fall admission and November 15 for spring admission, or until all seats are full. At that point, applicants will be considered for the following semester start, with the possibility of a waitlist spot for the current cycle.

Process

You may submit application materials all at once or piecemeal. All materials not submitted as part of the online application can be submitted via email to gadmit@setonhill.edu or by mail to:

Office of Graduate and Online Studies
Seton Hill University
1 Seton Hill Drive
Greensburg, PA 15601

As soon as the Office of Graduate and Online Studies receives any application materials from you an electronic file is created. You will have access to the file, to enable you to track the progress of your application. After all materials have been received your application will be reviewed and you will be notified in writing of the admission decision.