Art Therapy

Mount Mary University’s undergraduate art therapy program is a pre-professional degree program that emphasizes community building, a solid foundation in art and psychology, and competence in areas that enhance your ability to be expressive and communicate well with others.

Community building in class – At Mount Mary, you’ll be a student leader, caring friend and creative thinker. In the classroom, you’ll get to know other students and better understand yourself as you explore ideas and feelings through our arts-based curriculum.

Service learning and internships – As a student you will gain real-world experience working together or individually in a variety of settings that might include: schools, art museums, churches, community art studios, elder care facilities and summer youth art programs. You also can study abroad to witness and become a part of art making in service within the global community. 

Senior capstone project – During your senior year, you’ll design a final project that may include art, social action, research and/or poetic reflection and then share your project in a culminating presentation to the community. 

Learn from experts – Our faculty members have more than 25 years of experience as art therapists and bring real-world experience and examples into the classroom. Our faculty members have worked in a variety of art therapy settings: inpatient child and adolescent care, drug and alcohol treatment, private practice, community-based arts groups and adaptive arts for Milwaukee Public Schools.

Mount Mary University offers a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy degree. The undergraduate art therapy program is an interdisciplinary major that requires a strong foundation in studio art and art history (a minimum of 21 credits), behavioral sciences (minimum of 12 credits) and communication and art therapy courses (15 credits). You also must complete the university’s core curriculum requirements.

Complete degree requirements and a listing of courses are available in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Mount Mary University’s undergraduate art therapy program prepares women with the capacity for compassion and creative action, equipped with the knowledge of art’s role in the reflection and transformation of individuals and society for pre-professional employment and for graduate study in art therapy or related helping professions.

Program Objectives

As an art therapy student you will:

Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills

• Learn to listen actively, respond empathetically, express yourself and learn about others through art making poetic response, movement and music.
• Build from a solid foundation in art studio, behavioral science and communication classes.

Understand yourself

• Reflect and connect to your intuition and creativity.
• Identify your strengths and talents.
• Learn from challenges and risk taking.
• Become flexible and adaptable.

Work together with others

• Become part of a vibrant community on and off campus, collaborate, and build bridges of connection through art and relationships.
• Celebrate our differences and our interconnectedness.
• Explore culture and diversity through the arts and see the world through multiple viewpoints.

Make a difference

• Share your passion for helping and your commitment to social justice.
• Identify ways you can share yourself as a change agent.
• Develop integrity and professionalism through ethical behavior and responsible action.
• See the good in yourself, each other and the world.

An undergraduate program in art therapy is a pre-professional program that prepares you for graduate study in art therapy or in other helping professions such as psychology, social work, education, fine arts and counseling.

Employment after graduation – Mount Mary University's art therapy bachelor’s degree graduates are employed in pre-professional work as activity therapists, case workers, after school art specialists and group home supervisors. They often work with agencies that offer services to veterans, children with autism, at risk and homeless youth, the elderly and people with developmental and physical challenges.

As an art therapy student at Mount Mary University, you can participate in a number of student clubs and organizations, as well as participate in social action and service learning activities.

The Student Art Therapy Association provides opportunities for you to develop a sense of community and social responsibility. Through the association, you can volunteer, connect with the Wisconsin Art Therapy Association and participate in social and career development events.

Contact our Art Therapy faculty for information on joining this group.

In addition to academic scholarships, art therapy majors at Mount Mary may qualify for the Layton Art Scholarship. Current students majoring in art education, art therapy, fashion, fine arts, graphic design and interior design can apply each year for scholarships of up to $3,000. Find out how to apply for the Layton Art Scholarship.

Learn more about other scholarships available at Mount Mary.