Assistant Professor of Counseling and Art Therapy Program Director

Springfield College•Springfield, MA

About The Position

The Department of Counseling at Springfield College seeks a nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Counseling to oversee the Art Therapy concentration within the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) major. The role combines graduate teaching, clinical preparation, program leadership, scholarship, and service. The successful candidate will help shape the newly designed concentration, support students’ pathways to licensure and employment, and preserve fine-art focus and preparation for professional art therapy credentials. Teaching and administrative responsibilities are equivalent to a 12-credit load per semester, with assigned administrative work recognized within that load. Courses may be offered face-to-face or online. The position includes directing the concentration; curriculum and program development; faculty recruitment consultation; accreditation and assessment work; student advising and professional development; teaching art therapy and counseling courses; coordinating clinical fieldwork; and providing clinical instruction and supervision consistent with qualifications and program requirements. The candidate will also engage in scholarship, professional service, and collaborative College initiatives, while promoting an inclusive learning environment that supports students’ professional identities as counselors and art therapists.

Requirements

Doctorate in Counseling or a related field.
Master’s degree in Art Therapy or a closely related degree that meets professional art therapy credentialing requirements.
Current Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) certification through the Art Therapy Credentials Board, or an equivalent national art therapy certification meeting CAAHEP/ACATE requirements through a certification organization accredited by NCCA, ANSI, or under ISO.
Licensure, or ability to obtain licensure, as a mental health counselor in Massachusetts within one year of hire.
At least three years of relevant clinical experience.
Demonstrated commitment to culturally responsive practice, ethical professional preparation, and student success.
Strong organizational, communication, and collaborative leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

Earned doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision, ideally from a CACREP-accredited Counselor Education and Supervision program.
Experience teaching graduate courses in art therapy and counseling.
Experience with CAAHEP/ACATE accreditation, program assessment, curriculum development, or program administration.
Experience supervising art therapy students and coordinating clinical placements.
Evidence of scholarship or a developing research agenda relevant to art therapy, counseling, or counselor education.

Responsibilities

Direct the Art Therapy concentration, including administration, organization, curriculum development, course scheduling, recruitment, and program assessment.
Consult on the recruitment and hiring of qualified faculty to support teaching in the Art Therapy concentration.
Convene an advisory committee regularly to maintain accreditation and guide curricular development.
Lead CAAHEP/ACATE re-accreditation and annual review, including documentation, reporting, continuous quality review and improvement, and coordination with Counseling Department leadership.
Provide academic oversight and support integration of art therapy preparation with the CMHC curriculum and applicable accreditation and professional credentialing requirements.
Ensure Art Therapy students have faculty advisors and receive support for academic progress, professional development, and credentialing preparation.
Teach courses aligned with the candidate’s expertise, potentially including art therapy foundations and theory, assessment, human development and specialized populations, research, advanced seminar, and core counseling courses.
Coordinate art therapy fieldwork with the department’s clinical coordinator, including identifying placements, supporting site supervisors, and monitoring students’ clinical development.
Provide clinical instruction and supervision consistent with the candidate’s qualifications and applicable program requirements.
Engage in scholarship, professional service, and collaborative departmental and College initiatives.
Promote an inclusive learning environment that supports students’ professional identities as counselors and art therapists.