Notre Dame de Namur University Reviews of Master's in Health Sciences

"The Art Therapy Psychology program was a wonderful experience. We are lucky to have such supportive professors that are invested in our future careers and development. The program goes a great job at challenging each individual while encouraging growth. I always appreciated the ability to incorporate art making into the classes. The relationships that this program has formed with the community are both strong and impactful."

"I graduated from the art therapy and marriage and therapy master’s program. All professors were very professional and compassionate; they were always open to help and share their knowledge. NDNU is the only school that has art therapy in the Bay Area. The NDNU art therapy program has a lot of recognition inside and outside the U.S."

"The Art Therapy program is the only one in the Bay Area and it is a great program to become an art therapist and/or a marriage and family therapist. The program provides many classes that cover diverse topics in the field. Moreover, NDNU Art Therapy program has PhD which is rare, and it gives more opportunities to meet experts in art therapy. All of the art therapy professors have their own interests and it leads students to find their own interests!"

"The Art Therapy program is the only one in the Bay Area and it is a great program to become an art therapist and/or a marriage and family therapist. The program provides many classes that cover diverse topics in the field. Moreover, NDNU Art Therapy program has PhD which is rare, and it gives more opportunities to meet experts in art therapy. All of the art therapy professors have their own interests and it leads students to find their own interests!"

"I'm currently in my second semester of the Art Therapy program at NDNU and I absolutely love it. The quality of the professors is wonderful as they are engaged and truly want the best for their students. The Art Therapy program has provided an amazing opportunity for me to gain knowledge about the field through experienced teachers and the curriculum. This program has a large impact on our surrounding community and teaches us invaluable lessons for our future careers. I look forward to advancing in this program while I continue to engage and build relationships with my peers and professors."

"Notre Dame de Namur University provided me the opportunity to prove to myself that I can make an impact in the world. I studied art therapy and marriage and family therapy at NDNU. I was given the opportunity to make and impact in our homeless community. This experience has led me to continue to work with the Bay Area homeless population. In addition to this work I represented the art therapy department through NDNU's student senate. I feel that this opportunity has given me the confidence to serve as a board member for our Northern California Art Therapy Association (NORCATA). Through the support or NorCATA and our northern California art therapist community I have been able to be part of the recovery process related to the Paradise fires in Butte county that took place last year. NDNU has given me the confidence to go out into our world and make a difference through the use of art therapy. I was not a traditional student, I was in my thirties and had children (one who is disabled). NDNU never made me feel out of place, too old or too burdened by family life. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to educate myself and make a difference in the world that NDNU gave me! It is my hope that they will be able to continue helping people achieve their education goals."

"I've loved the art therapy program at NDNU so far. The professors are knowledgeable and supportive of students, and the department emphasizes a creative learning community of students, alumni, and professionals working in the field. It's an engaging program that will push you to stretch and grow."

"I am proud of my education at NDNU and was well equipped for a future as an MFT and art therapist. The professors are amazing mentors who deeply care for their students and take pride in the rigorous education they provide in psychology and art therapy. The program has relationships with agencies, schools, and Hospital settings throughout the bay that has served as a path from internship to career. I love the program and believe in it so much that I have recently applied and gotten accepted into the PhD art therapy program. Not only am I able to have the career I want, but my passion for the field has been fostered in ways I never thought possible!"

"Deep understanding of the subject matter as well as the laws and ethics one must know inside and out as a therapist were held in the highest regard. The classrooms were safe places to ask questions and practice “doing therapy” with fellow students at the close watch of the professor. In each class, through practicum, supervision, and internships I felt guided and prepared to go into the field. Of course I experienced nervousness in the beginning but quickly found answers through my supervision and continued availability of my professors even after I graduated. I loved my experience at NDNU’s Art Therapy Graduate program!"

"I am in the Art Therapy Psychology Department, and I would advise this highly-prestige program to anyone interested in receiving their Marriage and Family Therapy license, and an Art Therapy credential. The professors are top-notch and #1 in their field! It is a very fun and innovative program to be apart of, and the school campus is located in a beautiful area of Belmont,CA."

"The Art Therapy / MFT program offers a distinctive curriculum and sets up graduate students for success. Students leave the program with the resources and expertise needed to have a profound impact on their community. The professors are leaders in the field of art therapy and psychology, offering students an unparalleled experience. NDNU’s art therapy department rivals as one of the best in the nation and is the only graduate program of its nature serving the robust needs of the Northern CA area. After having the honor to graduate from this program, it is clear why students from around the nation and the globe come to NDNU for an art therapy graduate education. The program was a life changing and transformative experience, both personally and professionally."

"The Art Therapy Psychology program at NDNU was pivotal in my career. I have not regretted my choice in schools and feel that the education I received was excellent in preparing me for a deeply rewarding career. The professors were warm, welcoming, and encouraging. I am grateful for my experiences while there."

"Fantastic faculty who are extremely qualified, passionate and authentically care for all students. NDNU's Art Therapy Department pushes positive boundaries, allowing for great strides in the fields of Art Therapy, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Clinical Counseling. Students and faculty desire to learn and grow together, both in and outside the classroom. I highly recommend NDNU's Masters in Art Therapy, MFT, LPCC!"

"The Art Therapy Psychology Department provided me the best training in coursework, fieldwork experience, relevant research in the field, and mentorship and supervision from renowned professors in the worlds of Art Therapy, Psychology, and Marriage and Family Therapy. As one of two approved programs offered to me in the entire state of California at the time I entered my masters, NDNU provided an invaluable presence in the education, service, and betterment of the world. NDNU also offered values for higher education, social justice, and community that align with my views being a professional and citizen of the world."

"Getting my Masters in Art Therapy at NDNU was a good experience, and I've experienced a positive return on my investment in terms of professional income. The professors were engaged and engaging and art-making is centered in the program, which is crucial in the development of Art Therapist skills. There was a lack of diversity in the faculty that I hope will be addressed over time, as well as a current trend (since my graduation) to hire their own PhD graduates to teach in the program, resulting in a lack of institutional cross-pollination . The program prepared me quite well to function in my internship, and I found myself more knowledgable about Law and Ethics and Theoretical Orientations than my compatriots. I appreciated the perspectives of the adjunct faculty who taught weekend and summer classes and some of them were my standout instructors in the program that I still refer to and notice their influence on my practice."

"The M.A. MFT/Art Therapy program is unmatched. It offers a truly unique and invaluable education, with faculty who are not only extremely knowledge in their field, but care deeply about their student’s success. Not only will you leave the program with all the tools and support you need to embark on your career, but you also leave with a passion for social justice and a drive to give back to the community."

"My experience in the MFT & Art Therapy program at Notre Dame de Namur has been very positive. I have been able to continue my learning and work towards the completion of my degree with the support of my professors who have been fully invested in providing the best education and contribute to my learning. The classes, especially, the core classes have expanded my knowledge in Psychology as a whole and have been useful in acquiring new knowledge of how art therapy can contribute to the healing process as well. The fellow students and our shared desire to become therapists has really encouraged me and has made my participation in the NDNU community very enjoyable and self-fulfilling. I am very excited in having a career and entering into a field where my work will be valuable and will have a lasting effect in people's lives. I am hopeful that this community keeps thriving so that more people can benefit and heal through the work that students like myself are learning to do."

"Faculty in this graduate program are exceptionally experienced in their field and share real-life, applicable information and true-and-tested clinical knowledge with their students. Neither theory nor serviceable action seems to be dominant in the program. Instead, our staff aims to teach both on equal footing and attempts to relate them together as much as possible. It is also clear that each and every staff member genuinely cares about their students. They promote active participation, authentic conversations, and critical processing while maintaining an atmosphere of openness, confidentiality, and compassion. Staff are willing to work with individual students regarding personal issues, as well as educational disruptions, in a sincere attempt to give each student the best chance at success of understanding and applying the knowledge and material presented in each class. I feel that this program is providing me foundational, applicable, and deeply substantive knowledge about psychology and art therapy. I am truly grateful to have the privileged to study under the faculty in our program and grow together with my cohort to become the next generation of art therapists and advocates."

"I was one of the few who attended NDNU for undergrad and graduate school. Both of my experiences were great. During my time here, I felt supported and connected with many of my classmates and professors. The school is small but that’s part of its charm. Having such small classes makes it easy to create positive relationships with the students and professors, made me feel comfortable to participate in discussions and made it impossible to slip through the cracks. Every teacher I had here at NDNU made me feel like they genuinely cared about me succeeding. I will never forget several professors in particular who would notice something stressing me out and then would take the time to check in on me before or after class to make sure I was doing okay and if I wasn’t, they would help me figure out what I needed. After moving back to my hometown and reconnecting with high school friends I’ve come to learn that NDNU is one of the few schools that actually care and put effort into developing its students as a whole. NDNU cared not only about students achieving academically but they provided countless opportunities to grow spiritually and emotionally with numerous meditation or self care events, encouraging students to take a break while studying, countless volunteer and community engagement opportunities and fun events to reward everyone’s hard work. During weekly student mass (which was respectful towards students with different religions/spiritualities and was never mandatory like other religious schools) the priest would speak with the intention of relating the homily to the students. They would invite students to come up and share but never forced anyone or shamed them for declining. Even though I went inconsistently, the priest and other parish faculty began to recognize me and would talk to me throughout the week. For the first time, I felt comfortable enough to participate in mass. During the graduate program, professors would check in with students and would always stress the importance of self care. During class, sometimes it would seem silly, but now that I’m working full time in the mental health field, I see other therapists who are just as new as me, burning out while I’m still practicing my daily self care and feel ready to continue. Many of the professors here encourage students to always self reflect and check in with how what they are doing relates to their inner values and the hallmarks set forth by the school. NDNU provided me many opportunities to work with children and gain the experience I needed to pursue my goals. After graduation (both times) I was able to get a job within a month doing something that I loved and actually putting my degrees to work. I currently work for a non profit doing art therapy with children and their families and I love it. Without NDNU I don’t think I would be where I am now."

"The caliber of the professors was excellent. In the MFT & Art Therapy program we were challenged to become the best therapists we could be, thinking outside the box, always considering the others’ perspective with a eye to social justice. I have since returned to the east coast to put in practice all the skills they taught us and helped 100s of Domestic Violence survivors overcome their trauma using those very skills. The students who graduate from this school make a difference in the world."