MERGE VISUAL ART & PSYCHOLOGY WITH HELPING PEOPLE
The art therapy minors at SUNY Plattsburgh offer students majoring or minoring in art or psychology the competitive edge for acceptance in a master’s level graduate program in art therapy.
Art Therapy Minors
The art therapy minor is open to all students, but preparation for graduate programs requires a combination of art and psychology courses. Through the planned combination of courses in art, psychology and art therapy, you can gain the knowledge and hands-on experience graduate schools are looking for.
What Will I Learn?
We offer two tracks, one for art students and one for psychology students.
The art therapy minor for art students consists of primarily psychology courses and the art therapy minor for psychology students is primarily art courses. Both art therapy minors include two specially developed courses:
- Introduction to art therapy
- Art therapy with special populations
Students intending a career in art therapy are advised to combine the minor in art therapy with the appropriate major or minor or to complete both art therapy minors.
Art therapy has opened a whole new world to me. Just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about myself, I found out more about my inner self; not only that, I found how art and therapy come together as one.
Nikki Venditti
Graduate School Preparation
The art therapy minor is open to all students, but preparation for graduate programs requires a combination of art and psychology courses. Through the planned combination of courses in art, psychology and art therapy, students can gain the knowledge and hands-on experience graduate schools are looking for. Students intending a career in art therapy are advised to combine the minor in art therapy with the appropriate major or minor or to complete both art therapy minors.
What is Unique About Our Program?
Students interested in pursuing graduate work in the field are provided a diverse, challenging and creative blend of course work that follows the American Art Therapy Association guidelines for undergraduate study. Students learn specifically about the field through two art therapy courses, both taught by an art therapist.
My practicum at the Traumatic Brain Injury Center at the college was an experience of a lifetime. I find art therapy to be an important medium for healing mental and physical needs.
Omewha Beaton
What Are My Career Opportunities?
Art therapy is one of the fastest growing psychotherapeutic fields. Art therapists typically work as part of a clinical team in a variety of settings such as:
- Schools
- Mental health centers
- Rehabilitation programs
- Nursing homes
- Wellness centers
Art therapists also work independently in their own practice, conduct research and offer consultation services.
In New York State and throughout the country, licensure for art therapists has been or is being recognized by mental health licensing boards, including the NY State Office of Professions Licensure in Creative Arts Therapy. Effective 2005, New York State residents with a master’s degree in art therapy or related fields can apply for licensure to practice their profession. For more information contact the Art Therapy Certification Board.