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
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2025-2026. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2025 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.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Requirements | ||
| ART 2011 | Socially Engaged Arts Practices in Communities | 3 |
| FDPR 1511 | Foundation Drawing | 3 |
| FDPR 1521 | 2D Foundation Principles | 3 |
| FDPR 1532 | 3D Foundation Principles/C | 3 |
| ART 2501 | Painting | 3 |
| or ART 2503 | Painting | |
| or ART 2506 | Painting Workshop | |
| ART 2201 | Introduction to Fibers and Material Studies | 3 |
| or ART 1201 | Introduction to Fibers for Non-Tyler BFA Majors | |
| ART 2702 | Survey of Etching and Relief | 3 |
| ART 2101 | Beginning Ceramics | 3 |
| or ART 1101 | Introduction to Beginning Ceramics for Non-Tyler BFA Majors | |
| ART 2601 | Digital Photography I | 3 |
| or ART 2602 | Digital Imaging | |
| or ART 2603 | Photo I: Digital | |
| or ART 2604 | Basics of Photography (online) | |
| Studio Elective 3000+ level | 3 | |
| Art Therapy Requirements | ||
| ARTE 1001 | Professional Practices in Art Education and Art Therapy | 1 |
| ARTT 3004 | Introduction to Art Therapy | 3 |
| ARTT 2011 | Creative Process in Art Therapy | 3 |
| ARTE 3202 | Teaching Artists | 3 |
| ARTT 4289 | Field Work in Art Therapy | 4 |
| Art History Requirements | ||
| ARTH 1155 | Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | 3 |
| or ARTH 1955 | Honors Arts of the World I: Prehistoric to 1300 | |
| ARTH 1156 | Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | 3 |
| or ARTH 1956 | Honors Arts of the World II: 1300 to the 21st Century | |
| Art History Writing Intensive courses | 8 | |
| Psychology Requirements | ||
| PSY 1001 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 2301 | Foundations of Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 2201 | Foundations of Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 2103 | Foundations of Learning and Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 70 | |
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 2025-2026 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ARTE 1001 | Professional Practices in Art Education and Art Therapy | 1 |
| ARTH 1155 or ARTH 1955 | 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 Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ART 2011 | Socially Engaged Arts Practices in Communities | 3 |
| ARTH 1156 or ARTH 1956 | 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 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course GQ | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| 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 | |
| Digital Photography I | ||
| Digital Imaging | ||
| Photo I: Digital | ||
| Basics of Photography (online) | ||
| PSY 2301 | Foundations of Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 16 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| 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 Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Studio Elective 3 | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Art History Writing Intensive | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| ARTT 4289 | Field Work in Art Therapy | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120 | |
- 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.