Art therapy, a well-respected discipline within the human services profession, offers an exciting career opportunity for the studio art major. It utilizes art as a non-verbal means of communication and self-expression, and thereby provides a creative vehicle through which to explore personal problems as well as personal strengths and potentials. Art therapy recognizes that the entire art process, how it unfolds, the drawn forms and content, as well as the verbal associations, are all reflections of the individual client.
Art therapists work with children and adults of all ages in a variety of settings. These include psychiatric and medical hospitals, schools, clinics, community centers, nursing homes, and drug and alcohol treatment clinics. As members of a team, art therapists may work with physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and educators. The art therapist uses artwork for both diagnosis and treatment. Art therapy may also be utilized as a means of promoting creativity and wellness, and may therefore be viewed as a force in the prevention of illness.
While enrolled in one of the BFA programs within the College, students may also elect a concentration in Art Therapy. This gives students a chance to explore a career option while they are engaged in undergraduate study.
Students who do not wish to pursue the professional degree will nonetheless find that their study of art therapy is beneficial in other fields, particularly in education, and in their own personal development.
Students who elect the Art Therapy program take four designated courses in psychology and five courses in art therapy, each of which meets overall requirements toward the Bachelor of Fine Arts. At graduation, Art Therapy Concentration students receive a certificate of completion in Art Therapy along with the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
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