Additional Admission Requirements

MA Somatic Counseling Psychology

In addition to the standard graduate admission requirements, the following is required for MA Somatic Counseling Psychology:

For Applicants in Both Concentrations:

• All applicants must have strong academic skills, be motivated to work with others and demonstrate a high level of movement integration.
• All applicants are strongly encouraged to have one to two years of experience in individual or group psychotherapy.
• Selected applicants will be asked to come to the university to participate in a two-day-long group interview process consisting of both group and individual interviews. These sessions are normally held in March, April and May. Applicants’ admissions files must be complete before the interview.
• BA degree, preferably in a field related to dance therapy (i.e. psychology, dance, health and healing) or body psychotherapy.
• A minimum of 100 hours of fieldwork experience in service to others (mental health work, hospital work, hospice, community projects, etc.). Ideally this exposure gives you a basis of experience that can help to clarify career goals and potential populations of interest.

For Dance/Movement Therapy Applicants:

Download Dance/movement therapy Forms, which include:

• Dance/Movement Therapy Prerequisite Form
• MA Somatic Counseling Psychology Supplemental Application
• Requirements

International students must complete an additional supplemental application.

In-depth experience with at least three of the following forms: modern dance, ballet, jazz, tap, folk dance, ethnic dance, yoga, t’ai-chi ch’uan, aikido, Authentic Movement, NIA, Gabrielle Roth’s Five Rhythms, Continuum Movement.

• Intermediate competency in modern dance technique and/or a maturity with integrating body and spatial awareness.
• In-depth experience with improvisation and exposure to composition, performance, dance history and choreography.
• Prerequisite course work:3 semester credit hours (45 contact hours) of course work with a grade of “C” or above from an accredited college or massage school must be completed in each of the following:
• Introduction to Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Theories of Personality
• Anatomy and Physiology

For Body Psychotherapy Applicants:

Download Body Psychotherapy Forms, which include:

• Body Psychotherapy Prerequisite Form
• MA Somatic Counseling Psychology Supplemental Application

International students must complete an additional supplemental application.

• Prerequisite Course work: 3 semester credit hours (45 contact hours) of course work with a grade of “C” or above from an accredited college or massage school must be completed in each of the following:
• Introduction to Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Theories of Personality
• Anatomy and Physiology

• Documentation of training, for a minimum of 250 hours, in an approved body/mind/movement discipline is required. Some forms that have been approved are Rolfing Structural Integration, Aston-patterning, Body-Mind Centering, Lomi, Hakomi, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Body Mind Psychotherapy, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Laban Movement Analysis, Reichian Therapy, Bioenergetics, Radix, Aikido, Bartenieff Fundamentals, some massage certifications, and some yoga therapy and yoga teacher trainings. Other forms will be evaluated by the department. Please include documentation of training.