Art Therapy

Alverno offers art majors within a liberal arts college context: Art Education, Art Education/Art Therapy, and Art Therapy. All have a studio emphasis because your artistic ability is at the core of any arts career. Each major emphasizes the use of art in different ways.

An Art Education major combines the study of Art and Education as you learn the abilities and techniques you will need to help other students develop their artistic talents. As an Art Therapy major, you will work with people of all ages and in a variety of settings to explore visual and verbal messages, as well as to develop their physical, emotional and/or learning skills. Art Education/Art Therapy combines the theory and practice of art, education and therapy.

Alverno’s art program fosters your ability to create, present and clearly communicate your understanding of the art-making process. No matter which direction you choose, Alverno’s art faculty will help you shape your career from your very first semester. And because of the college’s unique ability-based curriculum, your arts education will be well integrated with a broad range of studies to help you build the sophisticated communication, problem-solving and analytic abilities that today’s contemporary art world requires for success!

Alverno offers fully equipped studios/classrooms in ceramics, metals, fibers, sculpture, printmaking, computer graphics, painting and drawing. The college’s innovative assessment process allows you to demonstrate how well you have integrated your artmaking skills with your liberal arts education.

In the Art & Cultures Gallery, you will have opportunities to meet the artists and view contemporary arts in several exhibitions per season. There are multiple opportunities each year to exhibit your work, both on and off-campus, and an opportunity to showcase your work your senior year. There also are opportunities to travel nationally and internationally to see important works of art and experience different cultural perspectives.

Art Education, Art Therapy, and Art Education/Art Therapy majors have four semesters of field study before their internship semester.

A Word about Art Therapy
Therapy through art recognizes art process, forms, content and associations as reflections of an individual’s development, abilities, personality, interests and concerns. The use of art as therapy implies that the creative process can be a means both for reconciling emotional conflicts and fostering self-awareness and personal growth. With a degree in Art Therapy, you can work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, day treatment, mental health, residential care and community agencies.

A Word about Art Education
In cooperation with Alverno’s Education Department, the Art Department offers a program leading to certification as an art instructor for kindergarten through 12th grades. Art specialists focus on providing instruction in the visual arts by exploring art making, art history, art criticism and aesthetics, while cultivating the natural capacity within their students for joyful creative expression. For more information, see the Art Education/Art Therapy section.

Would you like to learn more about the program? Click here to learn more about Alverno's art majors. This site has been designed and is maintained by Art faculty.

Your Next Step
To find out more about Alverno's Art Therapy programs, contact the Alverno Admissions office. An Admissions Counselor can answer your questions about the program, admissions, credit transfers and financial aid.

Call 414-382-6100, toll-free at 1-800-933-3401 or e-mail Admissions.

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