Program of Study
The Master of Arts in art therapy counseling requires a minimum of 60 semester hours.
Required courses (42 hours)
- ART 550 Counseling Techniques in Art Therapy
- ART 552 Assessment of Individuals and Families
- ART 555 Art Therapy with Groups
- ART 556 Family Art Therapy
- ART 557 Developmental Theory and Art Therapy
- ART 561 Multicultural Issues in Art Therapy
- ART 566 Research Methodology in Art Therapy
- ART 573 Counseling Theory and Art Therapy
- ART 574 Career Counseling
- ART 575 Professional Ethics and Legal Issues
- ART 595 Research Projects
- ART 553 Advanced Art Therapy Counseling: Diagnosis and Techniques with Children and Adolescents
- ART 554 Advanced Art Therapy Counseling: Diagnosis and Techniques with Adults
- SOCW 564 Substance Use Services
Required Options (Six hours)
- (3) Studio Art
- (3) Psychopathology (PSYC 431, 531, or 553; or SOCW 537)
Required Fieldwork (Three hours minimum)
- ART 564
Required Practicum (Seven hours minimum)
- ART 559
Electives
- Two or more hours in studio art, psychology, social work, or a related field
This program of study, approved by the American Art Therapy Association in 1992, is designed to meet the requirements for students to become:
- Licensed as clinical professional counselors in the state of Illinois
- Registered art therapists with the American Art Therapy Association
- The program can be completed in three years of full-time study
During their first year in the program, all students begin fieldwork in Head Start facilities. This introductory practicum is completed in concert with coursework in developmental theory, assessment and child art therapy.
During their second and third years in the program, each student’s experience becomes more individualized, with the student choosing from over 100 practicum sites with a wide range of client populations. Prior to beginning ART 559 (Practicum in Art Therapy), students must undergo a mid-course review to determine readiness to work with a client population in a counseling setting. The review is comprised of a self-critique, evaluations from all instructors, and a meeting with the program director and faculty. The faculty will evaluate a student's ability to continue in the program based upon an examination of the student's performance in fieldwork, academic learning, professionalism, ability to participate in and process class experiential learning, and psychological readiness to take on a more intensive practicum.
Elective Examples:
- ART 572 Medical Art Therapy
- ART 549 Special Topics in Art Therapy
- Recent topics include arts-based community development
