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We see you making a difference in the lives of others and in your community. Our studio-based art therapy program is designed for students who wish to explore their talents in a studio concentration and make a positive impact on others.  

Our program is taught by registered and board-certified art therapists and practicing studio artists. We’ve aligned our curriculum with the American Art Therapy Association’s guidelines to fully prepare you to pursue a graduate degree in art therapy. A master’s degree in art therapy is a minimum requirement to practice art therapy.  

As an art therapy major at Cedar Crest, you will have access to several inspirational customized studio spaces, which include indoor and outdoor kilns, models, still life stands, a wood shop, and studios dedicated to sculpture, printmaking, painting, ceramics, and papermaking. In addition to developing your talents in multiple studio areas, you will be introduced to coursework in psychology, taught by psychology faculty members who hold doctoral degrees in their areas of expertise. 

Program Highlights

  • Curriculum that aligns with the guidelines of the American Art Therapy Association.
  • Real-world experience: students have the opportunity to observe and serve as art mentors with a variety of populations through existing community partnerships in the Lehigh Valley
  • Credentialed faculty members who are experts in their field.
  • Art studio facilities in book arts, ceramics, illustration, painting, papermaking, printed images, and sculpture.
  • Flexible scheduling includes accelerated seven-week, online, hybrid, evening/weekend, and daytime courses.

With our own accredited Master of Art in Art Therapy program, Cedar Crest undergrads can move into our master’s program.  

Dive A Little Deeper

Portfolio Reviews

In support of the continuing advancement of the art therapy major, portfolio reviews are held each semester. Students present a portfolio of current work reflecting their studio concentration and other studio investigations created in Cedar Crest College studio courses. The purpose of the portfolio review is to provide the student with feedback on the progress of their work, determine candidacy in the art program as well as to serve as an assessment tool for the Art Department. Successful completion of two portfolio reviews is required for graduation.    Art Therapy majors must schedule their first portfolio review in the spring of sophomore year or fall of junior year. The second portfolio review is completed through the Art Therapy Practicum Exhibition. 

College Wide Requirements

Students fulfill the embedded requirements for the Art Therapy Major as follows:

  • Oral Presentation requirement is met by the satisfactory completion ART 103, 403, and portfolio reviews
  • Technology requirement is met by the satisfactory completion of ART 238 Elements of Design or COM 107 Digital Imaging with Photoshop.
  • Information Literacy requirement is met by the satisfactory completion of the art history requirements (ART 105, ART 106) and Art Therapy courses (ART 103, 204, 403)
  • All other college-wide requirements can be satisfied by the student’s choice with the final approval of the Registrar’s office through a graduation audit. Courses are identified in the catalog with their college-wide designations. In regard to the ML requirement the Art department recommends Math 102.

Student Learning Outcomes for the Art Therapy Major

  • Examine art therapy theory and practice to provide historical and contemporary context for the understanding of the profession. 
  • Demonstrate civic awareness and outreach through art-based practicum and community art projects.  
  • Develop creative and academic language related to studio applications that support competency in two-dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) visual language.
  • Build confidence that builds innovative leaders by developing creative problem-solving, independent thinking and compassionate interaction with community residents.
  • Identify psychological theories as integral components to the field of art therapy.

Departmental Review for Field/Practicum Placement

Students majoring in Art Therapy are required to complete a field practicum or clinical experience similar to other health professions. Because this requirement necessitates working with vulnerable populations in a community setting, it is important that the student has advanced interpersonal skills, appropriate judgment, and professional demeanor.  Prior to practicum, students will formulate learning and personal growth goals to help guide their experience.   

Foundations: 6 credits

ART 101 Drawing
ART 110 Principles of Visual Organization
Art History: (choose 1) 3 credits
ART 105 Art History I (Fall, Winter or Summer 1)
ART 106 Art History II (Spring or Summer 2)
ART 200 Modern Art (Fall)
ART 210 Contemporary Art (alternating Spring)
ART 220 Women Artists (alternating Spring)

Technology: (choose one) 3 credits
ART 238 Elements of Design
COM 107 Photoshop
COM 108 Illustrator

Introductory Studios: four studio electives (choose at least one 2D and one 3D) 12 credits

2D courses                                       
ART 111 Printed Image
ART 113 Illustration           
ART 123 Painting                            
ART 124 Papermaking                   
3D courses
ART 127 Sculpture
ART 131 Ceramics
ART 139 Book Arts

200 level studio: 3 credits
(Pre-requisite 100 level studio)
ART 211 Printed Image
ART 227 Sculpture
ART 223 Painting
ART 231 Ceramics
ART 224 Papermaking       
ART 239 Book Art
ART 250 Studio Concepts 2D

Art Therapy Courses: 10 credits
ART 103 Introduction to Art Therapy
SPS 171 Understanding and Using APA Editorial Style (Fall I, 7-week hybrid) (1 credit)
ART 204 CREATE (Fall) OR ART 205 Community Art and Ethics (Spring)ART 403 Art Therapy Practicum (spring semester of senior year)

Psychology Courses: 9 credits
PSY 100 Introduction to Psychology
PSY 210 Life Span Development
PSY 309 Psychopathology “

TOTAL CREDITS: 46 credits

The Art Department highly recommends upper-level studio courses as general electives to supplement your portfolio for entrance into a Master’s program. The department also recommends the following Art History, Psychology, Sociology and English

ART 204 CREATE
ART 205 Community, Art, and Ethics
ART 221 Exploring Art Across Disciplines
CRJ 202 Probation and Parole
CRJ 221 Victimization
CRJ 301 Juvenile Justice
CRJ 306 Corrections: Crisis in America
PSY 227 Principles of Helping Relationships
PSY 230 Team Building and Group Dynamics
PSY 242 Child and Adolescent Psychology
PSY 315 Child Counseling
PSY 316 Systems of Psychotherapy
ENG 234 Creative Writing: Poetry
SOC 100 Introduction to Culture and Society
SOC 222 Global Social Justice
SOC 313 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice
SOC 321 The Family as a Social Institution
SWK 203 Addiction, Assessment, and Intervention
SWK 303 Human Behavior and the Social Environment
SWK 304 Child Abuse Maltreatment and Neglect

Hear From Your Peers

I chose Cedar Crest College because of their values, small classes, and variety of majors. I loved the campus and the staff. The teachers are caring and supportive towards us as students. I’ve received a lot of encouragement and kind words from my professors, which has allowed me to grow professionally. The students here are very accepting and supportive as well. I’ve felt nothing but support from them.

Diana Samoylova ’28

Art Therapy Mission Statement

The art therapy major at Cedar Crest College provides a supportive and inclusive classroom environment that fosters respect for each person and empowerment of the individual through relationship building, leadership development, civic engagement, global connectivity, and health and wellness initiatives. Coursework inspires social awareness, and community advocacy, and prepares students to be compassionate leaders using the healing potential of the arts.

How To Apply

Ready to apply as an undergraduate student?

Accreditation

Cedar Crest College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801

Faculty & Staff

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