Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy, offered by the Department of Art Education and Community Arts Practices, introduces students to a professional pathway that integrates mental health, human services and the creative process. The program supports students' development of a broad range of skills needed to succeed in careers from art therapy to counseling, enriching the lives of individuals, families and communities.

While a master's degree is required in the professional field of art therapy, this program rigorously prepares students who are interested in pursuing advanced studies in art therapy at the graduate level or art therapy-related jobs. Students learn communication and collaboration, creative design and planning, critical observation and research and self-awareness and cultural responsiveness—skills that can be applied in many kinds of work and master's-level study in a variety of fields.

Tyler Art Therapy offers students access to the resources of a world-class art school; a large, urban, public research university; and faculty who are committed to the power of healing through art. Students benefit from the school's location in Philadelphia and the city's rich array of schools, communities, clinics, museums and galleries near Temple, opening up opportunities for networking, internships, jobs and graduate school.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: TA-ARTT-BA

Admissions

For information on how to apply, please visit Tyler’s Art Therapy admissions page.

Study Abroad

Students who plan to study abroad should arrange to meet with their academic advisor and the Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office as early as possible, preferably during the freshman year, in order to explore options and plan the sequence of courses that would be most appropriate.

Accreditation

Temple University is a non-profit accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). NASAD establishes national standards for undergraduate and graduate degrees and other credentials for art and design and art/design-related disciplines, and provides assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in artistic, scholarly, educational, and other art/design-related endeavors.

Contact Information

Lisa Kay, Art Education and Community Arts Practices Department Chair and Art Therapy Program Head
Tyler School of Art and Architecture
Tyler Building, Room B10J
215-777-9264
lisakay@temple.edu

Learn about the Bachelor of Art in Art Therapy.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements

The degree of Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy may be conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours of credit with a 2.0 GPA.

University Requirements

Students must complete the requirements of the General Education (GenEd) program (32 credits).

  • Summer or semester study abroad will satisfy the GenEd Global/World Society (GG) requirement. 
  • Successful completion (minimum grade of C-) in both FDPR 1511 and ARTH 1156 will waive the GenEd Arts (GA) requirement.

All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses at Temple University as part of the major. Writing-intensive courses are identified by the last two digits of the course number (xx96, xx97, xx98). These courses are also identified by the Course Attribute of "WI."

Foreign Language Requirement

Students must complete the second level of a foreign language (4-8 credits).

Major Requirements

ARTE 1001, ARTT 2011, ARTT 3004, ARTE 3202, and ARTT 4289 must be completed with a C or better to fulfill major requirements.

Students will be expected to complete a portfolio of artwork that shows advanced skills in at least one studio area.

Studio Requirements
ART 2011Socially Engaged Arts Practices in Communities3
FDPR 1511Foundation Drawing3
FDPR 15212D Foundation Principles3
FDPR 15323D Foundation Principles/C3
ART 2501Painting3
or ART 2503 Painting
or ART 2506 Painting Workshop
ART 2201Introduction to Fibers and Material Studies3
or ART 1201 Introduction to Fibers for Non-Tyler BFA Majors
ART 2702Survey of Etching and Relief3
ART 2101Beginning Ceramics3
or ART 1101 Introduction to Beginning Ceramics for Non-Tyler BFA Majors
ART 2601Photo I: Digital3
or ART 2602 Digital Imaging
or ART 2603 Photo I: Digital
or ART 2604 Introduction to Photography (Online Digital Course)
Studio Elective 3000+ level3
Art Therapy Requirements
ARTE 1001Professional Practices in Art Education and Art Therapy1
ARTT 3004Introduction to Art Therapy3
ARTT 2011Creative Process in Art Therapy3
ARTE 3202Teaching Artists3
ARTT 4289Field Work in Art Therapy4
Art History Requirements
ARTH 1155Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 13003
or ARTH 1955 Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300
ARTH 1156Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century3
or ARTH 1956 Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century
Art History Writing Intensive courses8
Psychology Requirements
PSY 1001Introduction to Psychology3
PSY 2301Foundations of Developmental Psychology3
PSY 2201Foundations of Psychopathology3
PSY 2103Foundations of Learning and Behavior Analysis3
Total Credit Hours70

Suggested Academic Plan

Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation and the availability of courses, your academic plan may look different. Please be sure to check your plan with your academic advisor.

Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
ARTE 1001 Professional Practices in Art Education and Art Therapy 1
ARTH 1155
Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300
or Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300
3
FDPR 1511 Foundation Drawing 1 3
FDPR 1521 2D Foundation Principles 3
FDPR 1532 3D Foundation Principles/C 3
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
4
 Credit Hours17
Spring
ART 2011 Socially Engaged Arts Practices in Communities 3
ARTH 1156
Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century 1
or Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century
3
PSY 1001 Introduction to Psychology 3
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
3
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ 4
 Credit Hours16
Year 2
Fall
ARTT 3004 Introduction to Art Therapy 3
Select one of the following: 3
Beginning Ceramics  
Introduction to Beginning Ceramics for Non-Tyler BFA Majors  
Select one of the following: 3
Photo I: Digital  
Digital Imaging  
Photo I: Digital  
Introduction to Photography (Online Digital Course)  
PSY 2301 Foundations of Developmental Psychology 3
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
ARTT 2011 Creative Process in Art Therapy 3
Select one of the following: 3
Introduction to Fibers and Material Studies  
Introduction to Fibers for Non-Tyler BFA Majors  
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Free Elective 3
Language Requirement - Second Level 2 4
 Credit Hours16
Year 3
Fall
PSY 2201 Foundations of Psychopathology 3
ARTE 3202 Teaching Artists 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Select one of the following: 3
Painting  
Painting  
Painting Workshop  
 Credit Hours15
Spring
ART 2702 Survey of Etching and Relief 3
PSY 2103 Foundations of Learning and Behavior Analysis 3
Free Elective 2
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Art History Writing Intensive 4
 Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
Studio Elective 3 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Free Elective 3
Art History Writing Intensive 4
 Credit Hours13
Spring
ARTT 4289 Field Work in Art Therapy 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Free Elective 3
Free Elective 3
 Credit Hours13
 Total Credit Hours120
1

These 2 courses constitute the waiver for the GenEd Arts category if the courses are completed with a C- or better.

2

If second level language (1002) is not required as determined by placement testing, these credits must be taken as academic elective.

3

Students must take a 3000-level studio course or higher in order to build advanced skills in at least one studio area.

Please Note: An approved study abroad program will waive the GenEd Global/World Society (GG) requirement. Art Therapy majors interested in studying abroad should consult with an academic advisor to discuss how a semester or a summer program fits in the program to remain on track for graduation.