Approved Masters Programs

ADTA Approved Graduate Programs in Dance/Movement Therapy

The ADTA approves programs that meet the ADTA Standards for Education and Clinical Practice. Graduates of approved programs meet all professional requirements for the Registered Dance/Movement Therapist (R-DMT) credential. As of August 1, 2023, all approved programs will need to be in compliance with the revised ADTA Standards for Education and Clinical Practice. 

Information on Approval for Graduate Programs

ADTA Standards for Education and Clinical Training.

ADTA Standards for Dance/Movement Therapy Master’s Programs (effective through July 31, 2022)

A dance/movement therapy education provides students with culturally informed knowledge in four broad core curriculum content areas: History, Theory, Practice, and Professional Development.  The theoretical content that substantiates the core principles of dance/movement therapy includes: Dance, Relationships, Human Development, Neuroscience, and Assessment.  Operationalized competencies for each core area are articulated in the ADTA Standards for Education and Clinical Practice and specific to the following:

  • Elements of dance and movement in health and healing
  • Creativity and aesthetics
  • Psychology of groups and group process
  • Dance/movement therapy group work
  • Therapeutic movement relationship
  • Body/mind integration
  • Neurology of movement
  • Neuropsychology
  • Movement observation, assessment, and analysis
  • Assessment tools
  • Multidisciplinary psychodiagnosis

Programs also provide at least 700 hours of supervised clinical training through fieldwork and internship experiences.

For further information about specific programs, including curriculum, admissions, prerequisites, financial assistance, and housing, please contact each college or university directly.

ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY | New England

40 Avon Street
Keene, NH 03431-3516
Telephone: 603-283-2137
Website: http://www.antiochne.edu/applied-psychology/dance-movement-therapy/

Contact: Tomoyo Kawano, Director — [email protected] or Jamie Wheeler, Admissions Counselor [email protected]

MA in Dance/Movement Therapy with a Concentration in Couple and Family Therapy, Department of Applied Psychology

DREXEL UNIVERSITY | Philadelphia, PA

Health Sciences Building 60
North 36th Street 11th Floor #11W05

Philadelphia, PA 10104

Telephone: 267-359-5742
Website: http://drexel.edu/cnhp/academics/graduate/MA-Dance-Movement-Therapy-Counseling/

Contact: [email protected]

Masters Program Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling, Creative Arts Therapies Department.

LESLEY UNIVERSITY | Cambridge, MA

29 Everett Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Telephone: 617-349-8413
Website: http://www.lesley.edu/master-of-arts/expressive-therapies/dance-therapy/mental-health-counseling/

Contact: Nancy Beardall — [email protected]

M.A. In Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Specialization Dance/Movement Therapy

NAROPA UNIVERSITY | Boulder, CO

2130 Arapahoe Avenue
Boulder, CO 80302-6697
Telephone: 303-546-3572 and 800-772-6951
Website: http://www.naropa.edu/academics/masters/clinical-mental-health-counseling/somatic-counseling/dance-movement-therapy/index.php

Contact: Jaime Tousignant, Admissions — [email protected]  or Wendy Allen — [email protected]

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration in Somatic Counseling: Dance/Movement Therapy

PRATT INSTITUTE | Brooklyn, NY

200 Willoughby Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11205

Telephone: 718-399-4532
Contact: Valerie Hubbs, Chair Graduate Creative Arts Therapy Dept. [email protected]

Masters Program in Dance/Movement Therapy

Low Residency Masters Program in Dance/Movement Therapy

Website

RIDER UNIVERSITY | Lawrenceville, NJ

2083 Lawrenceville Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Telephone: (609) 896-5000, ext. 7067
Website
Contact: Dr. Eri Millrod- [email protected]

MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Dance/Movement Therapy Concentration

SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE | Bronxville, NY

One Mead Way
Bronxville, NY 10708
Telephone: 914-395-2618
Website: https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/dance-movement-therapy/

Contact: Elise Risher, Director — [email protected] 

MS Degree Program in Dance/Movement Therapy