Art Therapy program
Undergrad minorUse art to improve wellbeing
Learn the practice of art therapy where the visual arts such as drawing, painting, sculpture and other art forms are used to enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
UWL’s Art Therapy Minor is a co-disciplinary field of study with psychology. The program is not a licensure program. If students intend to become an art therapist, the minor provides a foundation to apply to art therapy programs elsewhere.
Careers in art therapy
UWL's Art Therapy Minor serves to complement UW-La Crosse majors. It is a popular minor among psychology majors who want to explore art therapy as another method of treating patients. While the program does not provide licensure to become an art therapist, it provides the right foundation to apply to art therapy programs.
Art therapists work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, K-12 schools, educational institutions, community programs and other settings to help people address health and well-being, according to the American Art Therapy Association.
What is art therapy?
Art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship, according to the American Art Therapy Association.
What distinguishes UWL's art therapy program?
In addition to courses in art and psychology, a licensed art therapist teaches a course every other year. In ART 350 students explore art therapy theories, art therapy assessments, and the historical use of art therapy materials and media.
A low student-to-faculty ratio provides individualized mentorship and a rich sense of community in courses.
Art studios and classrooms offer students a dynamic creative environment for learning and feature a mix of new and traditional approaches to ceramics, digital art & design, drawing, metals, painting, photography, sculpture and more.