In the MA Art Therapy program at Tyler, students can explore their identity as artists and therapists through self-reflective art making, experiences in the field, and arts-based research.
An MA in Art Therapy degree provides students with a multidisciplinary curriculum that is academically sound, clinically grounded, and ethically focused. This program integrates the disciplines of art therapy and counseling psychology.
We’re hosting a live, virtual session on November 12 and December 10 with our Art Therapy faculty to share more information about the program.
Tyler’s MA in Art Therapy is structured on four main principles that ensures graduates have the requisite knowledge, skills, and competencies to provide high-quality therapeutic services and to effectively practice as professional art therapists after graduation.
Apply theory to practice, employ critical thinking, and navigate complex relationships and social contexts.
Effectively utilize the creative process and studio art making within the therapeutic alliance.
Respond to issues of social justice and to the needs of people in diverse settings through research while following professional ethical standards and scope of practice.
Contribute to community well-being and social equity through accessible and affordable arts-based mental health services.
The Tyler School of Art and Architecture features its own admissions team, who can provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your educational and career goals.
The Master of Arts (MA) in Art Therapy is a new graduate degree program for the Tyler School of Art and Architecture. The overarching focus is to prepare competent entry-level art therapists in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains and to develop compassionate, skilled, and culturally competent art therapists.
The field of art therapy has witnessed a significant rise in popularity, recognition and application across various settings, including hospitals, schools, community centers, and rehabilitation facilities.
While art therapy practice shares commonality with other mental health professions, the combination of psychological knowledge and therapeutic skills with an understanding of art media, the neurobiology of artmaking, and the creative process distinguishes art therapy from these professions.
As a master's student in Tyler's Art Therapy program, you will study in a dynamic creative environment surrounded by art studios. You'll also have access to the university's professional gallery, Temple Contemporary.
"Joining Tyler's Art Therapy program has been one of the most transformative decisions I have made in my life. From the beginning, I was embraced by a community of care, intention, and creativity that encouraged me to both grow as an artist and as a person. Through inspiring coursework and hands-on fieldwork, I found my voice, my confidence, and a deeper sense of purpose in the healing power of the arts. I see just how beautifully this program laid the foundation for the budding Eco-Art Therapist I have grown into today."
"The value of the experiences and education I received from Tyler's undergraduate art therapy program are immeasurable. Going into graduate school, I feel as if I have a running start— I have concrete foundational knowledge of the field, the creative process, and cultural competence which was cultivated through meaningful curriculum and fieldwork, which none of my current peers have ever had the opportunity to do."
