Master of Arts
MA in Dance/Movement Therapy: Couple & Family Therapy
Harness the therapeutic power of dance.
As dance/movement therapists, we believe that a person’s lived bodily experience is central to the therapeutic process and that dancing is life-affirming. Relational bodily action is the primary agent of change. The DMT program presents both nonverbal and verbal approaches, enhanced by training in Couple and Family Therapy. Students determine the methods that resonate with their professional identity as dance/movement therapists and best serve a diverse clientele. Our graduates work with individuals, couples, families, and groups in a variety of settings, including psychiatric, VA, medical, rehabilitation, and pediatric hospitals; community mental health facilities; schools; residential treatment centers for children, adolescents, and elders; and correctional facilities. The DMT program holds an abiding commitment to social justice, multicultural inclusion, and anti-oppressive practice by working to transform relationships of power.
This degree is offered by Antioch University’s New England Campus.
Program Overview
The master’s program in Dance/Movement Therapy at Antioch University New England (AUNE) was one of the first to be approved by the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA). Students become registered dance/movement therapists (R-DMT) upon completion of the master’s degree requirements. Antioch’s MA in Dance Movement Therapy with a concentration in Couple and Family Therapy also meets education requirements in many states for licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist* (*Check with your state licensure board for verification). Service-based experiential learning. Students integrate theory and practice in a small classroom setting concurrent with a broad range of fieldwork experiences:
- 1st year DMT virtual practica opportunities in the fall and Spring to co-lead and lead online DMT groups.
- 2nd-year CFT internship near your home or at the Antioch University Couple and Family Therapy Institute at Keene.
- 3rd-year board-certified DMT (BC-DMT) supervised 700-hour internship anywhere in the U.S. or abroad.
Dance Therapy and Social Action. Dance can be a conduit for lifting the voices of marginalized persons and empowering communities. Our initiatives include the following:
- One Billion Rising – DMT students use dance to bring awareness to gender-based violence.
- Virtual Annual Dance Recital – DMT and other students celebrate personal experiences in the community through dance.
- Conferences – Students are encouraged and supported to present their social locations and experiences.
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Visiting Home & Reservation! Community members share the themes of home and reservation through the arts.
Degree Requirements
Program Length
This 63-64-credit program of coursework and clinical training spans three (3) years in a low-residency format.
The Low-Residency (summer entry only)
Year One:
- 2 DMT in-person residencies (June & Sept) and continue courses online
- CFT course are online with some synchronous classes held throughout the semester on Wednesday and/or Thursday evenings 7-9 ET
Year Two:
- 2 DMT in-person residencies (June & Sept) and continue courses online
- CFT Internship (300-500 direct hours supervised by an AAMFT-approved supervisor)
Year Three
- DMT Internship (700 hours, 6-9 months) anywhere in the US where there is an American Dance Therapy Association (BC-DMT) supervisor; 1 in-person residency in June. An accompanying online group internship seminar provides additional support.
Total Credits 63
“Surmount,” a group project by students Kayla Hamilton, Kali Skodack, and Vincent Ardizzone. The poem “Shadow Within” was written by Kohwoon Kim.
Students in the Dance/Movement Therapy & Counseling Program at Antioch University New England joined the One Billion Rising global movement and dance 
Credentials and Licensure
Graduates of the Dance/Movement Therapy: Marriage & Family Therapy program at AUNE are eligible to become registered with the American Dance Therapy Association for the R-DMT (Registered Dance/Movement Therapist) credential. After completing further requirements, including two years of work as a DMT, Registered Dance/Movement Therapists are eligible to apply for the BC-DMT (Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist) credential. For information on how to access requirements for Dance/Movement Therapy credentialing, contact The American Dance Therapy Association: www.ADTA.org.
Licensure Information
This program is designed to lead to state licensure.
Admissions
How to Apply
- Complete the online admissions application, including the following:
- Essay questions, admissions, and program-specific
- Resume/curriculum vitae (CV)
- Non-refundable $50 application fee
- Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities where you earned a degree or certificate.
- email transcripts to [email protected], or
- mail to: Office of Admissions Antioch University New England 40 Avon Street Keene NH 03431-3516
- Two letters of recommendation are required from people who are in a position to evaluate your professional or academic work. The person making the recommendation may not be related to you.
- There are additional requirements for International applicants and applicants without a Bachelor’s degree
- Interview with a faculty member of the department to which you seek entry if selected. This can be in person, by phone, or via Skype.
- Master’s and Certificate Programs do not require the GRE or any other standardized test for admissions. We consider all of your application materials and evaluate your academic potential in a variety of ways.
Official transcripts should be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to: Office of Admissions Antioch University New England 40 Avon Street Keene, New Hampshire 03431-3516 All application materials submitted become part of an applicant’s file and cannot be returned.
Admissions Prerequisites
In accordance with the ADTA (American Dance Therapy Association) admissions standards,
- We look for candidates with an undergraduate degree in diverse backgrounds such as liberal arts, dance, psychology, biology, engineering, etc. (A degree in psychology and/or dance is not required.)
- Significant experience in at least two different dance/movement forms (such as ballet, modern, jazz, improvisation, popular/street/indigenous, liturgical, ballroom, traditional/ethnic/folk, African, Caribbean, Korean, Latin, Middle Eastern, Native American, Tai-chi, Aikido, etc.) and in-depth knowledge of one of them is required.
- Teaching, performing, and/or choreography experience is preferred.
- College-level psychology courses are recommended.
Admission Deadlines
| Program | Term | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| MA in Dance & Movement Therapy (Low-Res/Online) | Summer | April 1 |
| Certificate in Dance & Movement Therapy | Summer | April 1 |
Tuition & Financial Aid
A college education is an investment in your future. Let us help you understand the costs and explore the resources available to help make your college education even more affordable. The majority of AUNE students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public, and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants—are right for you. Our staff is here to help you, so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program at AUNE.
Cost
| Degree | Tuition Cost per Credit | Total Program Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MA in Dance/Movement Therapy: Couple & Family Therapy | $1,168 | 63 |
| Dance Movement Therapy, Post Masters’ Respecialization Certificate | $816 | 29 |
| View the Cost of Attendance Components | ||
Alternate Route Training Options
As research and understanding of the benefits of embodied and artistic approaches grow in our culture, DMT is increasingly sought by clients in individual, couple, and group therapy treatment to complement verbal approaches. Dance/movement therapists engage in a variety of clinical, community, and educational settings to support clients with depression, trauma, anxiety, relationship concerns, social/emotional development, eating disorders, dementia, and medical conditions.
Low Residency Dance/Movement Therapy Certificate (Keene) Individuals with a master’s degree in education or mental health (Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Psychology, etc.) or those enrolled in a master’s degree can complete a 3-year certificate to fulfill the majority of requirements to become a registered dance/movement therapist via alternate route training. Students take DMT-specific courses during one-week residencies in June and September and continue online over the year. The instructors incorporate hands-on clinical experience to complement experiential classroom sessions providing cutting-edge information on the discipline of DMT as a body-mind-spirit approach to healing. Supervision resources for the 700 hours of ADTA required internship are embedded in the certificate.
Upcoming Events
Recent News
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Embodied Dialogue Study Addresses Democracy Through Antioch’s Dance/Movement Therapy Program
on December 18, 2024
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Bernell Elzey Presents on Ethical Counseling in an Anti-LGBTQ+ Climate at SACES Conference
on December 18, 2024
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Stephanie Hunter Jones Publishes Inspiring Book on Heroism and Personal Growth
on December 18, 2024