What are the required courses to become an art therapist for children?
i’ve been thinking a lot about different careers, and i’ve always wanted to work with children. Women and children would be nice, but especially children.
i’ve also always had a creative streak and think it would be wonderful to work that into things by doing some form of art therapy.
BUT!
i have no idea where to start!
What is it called, technically, as a career?
And what courses are required?
What are the starting steps?
Just so i can start looking into it in the colleges/universities here in BC =)
Thank you!
I am an art therapy major in college right now. There are 4 forms of art therapy you can choose from which include visual arts, drama, music, or dance. Depending on which one u choose you have to take a number of those courses in the area. I chose visual arts so I take a lot of art classes. You have to take a number of psychology courses like developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, intro psychology and group counceling along with a lot of specific art therapy courses. Its a really fun major and I have already done some group/individual sessions with children and adults under the supervison of my teacher.
Career wise you will need a master’s degree and the career is called art therapy. You would be an art therapist, music therapist, drama therapist, or a dance/movement therapist depending on what you choose. Try to research the area you live or areas you would want to work to see what the work field might be like. You can go to payscale.com n it will tell you some information so you can get a basic idea.
You can go to the American Art Therapy Associtaion website for any information. It has a list of schools that are accredited and where they are located and contact info. The schools that you are intersted in go to their website and it will tell you all you need to know about art therapy, their program, and how to apply. If you have any questions you could even call the admissions department at the school you want to apply to.
Art therapy does have a lower income than i think it deserves so make sure its worth it to you. Even though I am a Art therapy major now, I am going to graduate school for occupational therapy because it has a much higher income and art therapy can be incorporated with occupational therapy. I also think it will be easier to get a job in Occupational therapy. But i at least will have my Bachelors degree incase I ever want to go back to it and I absolutly love art therapy.
Good luck!
I am an art therapy major in college right now. There are 4 forms of art therapy you can choose from which include visual arts, drama, music, or dance. Depending on which one u choose you have to take a number of those courses in the area. I chose visual arts so I take a lot of art classes. You have to take a number of psychology courses like developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, intro psychology and group counceling along with a lot of specific art therapy courses. Its a really fun major and I have already done some group/individual sessions with children and adults under the supervison of my teacher.
Career wise you will need a master’s degree and the career is called art therapy. You would be an art therapist, music therapist, drama therapist, or a dance/movement therapist depending on what you choose. Try to research the area you live or areas you would want to work to see what the work field might be like. You can go to payscale.com n it will tell you some information so you can get a basic idea.
You can go to the American Art Therapy Associtaion website for any information. It has a list of schools that are accredited and where they are located and contact info. The schools that you are intersted in go to their website and it will tell you all you need to know about art therapy, their program, and how to apply. If you have any questions you could even call the admissions department at the school you want to apply to.
Art therapy does have a lower income than i think it deserves so make sure its worth it to you. Even though I am a Art therapy major now, I am going to graduate school for occupational therapy because it has a much higher income and art therapy can be incorporated with occupational therapy. I also think it will be easier to get a job in Occupational therapy. But i at least will have my Bachelors degree incase I ever want to go back to it and I absolutly love art therapy.
Good luck!
References :
Im a art therapy major in college