Bachelor of Arts in Art TherapySchool of Arts and Sciences

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The therapeutic world of art

Art Therapy is a mental health profession that combines psychotherapeutic theories with an understanding of art materials and their affective properties. Art therapy uses art media and the creative process to help foster self-expression and coping skills.

As an Art Therapy major at Edgewood College, you will work alongside award-winning faculty who are actively engaged in field research. With active guidance in addition to state-of-the-art LEED-certified facilities, you can expect to gain knowledge in creative expression, team skills, effective communication, and commitment to using art as a form of healing. The curriculum emphasizes both theoretical and practical aspects of art therapy, encompassing supervised field experience across diverse settings, psychology fundamentals, and studio art training.

Nestled in the vibrant city of Madison, Wisconsin, Edgewood offers an inspiring environment for aspiring artists to flourish and shape their futures. With our rich cultural scene and ample opportunities for artistic exploration, we provide a nurturing and supportive setting where students can cultivate their passion for helping others through art and unlock their creative potential.

We offer a seamless path to earning both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art therapy, all in one place. Our master’s program is a comprehensive two year, fully online program designed to provide you with the advanced knowledge and skills needed to excel in the field of art therapy. Once you complete the master’s degree program, you will be eligible to apply for provisional art therapy registration (ATR-P) and ultimately achieve art therapy registration (ATR-BC). This specialized expertise will set you apart as a qualified and knowledgeable professional in the field of art therapy.

Locations
Madison, WI

Formats
On-campus

Number of Credits
120

Next Start Date
January 21, 2025

Careers in Art Therapy

$62,923

Average annual salary for an Art Therapist*

https://www.salary.com/research/salary/core/art-therapist-salary

A bachelor’s degree in art therapy prepares you for a variety of career paths. Those marked with an asterisk (*) require a master’s level degree.

Art Therapist*
Occupational Therapist*
Special Education Teacher
Speech Language Pathologist*
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

**Stats about your major can include numbers such as how many partners/clinical sites/internship sites you have, student:faculty ratio, class size, retention rate, graduation rate, job placement, how many students attended graduate school post-graduation in the last two years, the number of community partners, the number of research hours or projects students will complete this year, the combined years of work experience of faculty in the department, how many graduates in the program, how many students will present their research this year, etc.

Art Therapy Student Spotlight

Allison Clarke

Bachelor of Science in Art Therapy, Psychology minor, ’24 Fra Angelico Award Winner

“I’m incredibly thankful to be given the opportunity to work with and learn from the remarkable art professors at Edgewood and to create in a space as wonderful as The Stream. I miss the days I spent with paint on my hands, dried clay under my nails, and the glow of the sun lighting up the room. Edgewood College is grounds for inspiration, whether it be the ecological design of The Stream, the wooded lakeside landscape, or the effigy mounds outside its doors. It’s been my escape.”

Featured Courses in Art Therapy

ART 240 Introduction to Art Therapy

This course introduces students to the rapidly expanding field of art therapy with emphasis on the breadth and scope of its practice both in the United States and globally. Art therapists practice in a wide range of settings and with people of all ages and backgrounds–such as hospitals, schools, treatment programs for adolescents, nursing homes, mental health clinics, and juvenile detention centers and prisons and mobilize to respond to disasters at the international level. Classroom lecture and discussion are integrated with direct, hands-on experience with art media and the creative process. Students will explore expressive therapy approaches to personal growth and development while they are introduced to issues regarding practice in the helping professions. No special skills or abilities with art media are required.

ART 316 – Sculpture

Contemporary sculptural techniques, concepts, and expressions. Emphasis is on the student’s ability to use various media as a means to express personal concepts.

PSY 330 Death, Living losses, and Grief

This course will provide students with a deeper understanding of loss and grief through the lifespan. Using a bio-psycho-social-cultural perspective, the course will delve into both death and non-death/living losses. Additionally, the course will explore and critique theories and tasks related to grieving. Students will learn about grieving as an adaptive process, as well as understand risks related to complicated and prolonged grief. This course seeks to provide opportunities for each student to develop a keen and deeper appreciation of their lives by examining existential phenomenon as death, loss, grief, and resiliency.

Explore All Courses For This Program

Edgewood College Art Therapy Students

Introducing Edgewood College Art Therapy Students (ECATS), a supportive organization for students interested in art therapy. Whether you’re majoring in art therapy or simply curious about its potential, ECATS offers a community to explore the field, connect with peers, and engage in art therapy activities and discussions. Join us to discover the transformative power of art in therapy and be part of a creative and compassionate community at Edgewood College.

Faculty Spotlights

Jill McNutt

Director of the Master of Art Therapy Program

JMcNutt@edgewood.edu

Leara Glinzak

Clinical Coordinator

LGlinzak@edgewood.edu

View All Faculty

Fra Angelico Financial Award

In honor of Fra Angelico, a monetary award is given to an exemplary senior majoring in art. This is an extraordinary student who embodies the highest standards of the art program and the values of Edgewood College through their artistic excellence, academic curiosity, and community engagement.

Dominican Friar and artist Fra Angelico (1395-1455) was an Italian painter of the Early Renaissance. He is most well-known for his frescos on the walls of the monastery of San Marco in Florence including The Annunciation and St. Dominic at the Cross (1438 – 50) which appear in the Dormitory Corridors as aids to meditation and prayer.

Related Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About Art Therapy

Where do Art Therapists find work?

Art therapists with a bachelor’s degree often find employment in various settings such as
community centers, senior centers, retirement facilities, educational institutions, after-school programs, and through hospital artist residencies. Additionally, graduates are well-equipped to apply competitively for master’s degree programs in art therapy, further enhancing their expertise and career opportunities in the field.