MA Art Therapy

About the course

The MA Art Therapy is approved by The Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is situated in the vibrant School of Creative Arts. The programme offers opportunities for students to develop their artistic identities in tandem with receiving a through training in the skills and knowledge required for safe therapeutic practice.

Students attend placements throughout the course and develop their professional skills through clinical supervision, reflective practice groups and by articulating their practice in writing, research and multi-media presentations. Focusing on the public sector, placements range from adult and child mental health, rehabilitation, palliative care, learning disabilities, forensic settings and schools.

The programme guides students toward achieving employment in health care, education and/or voluntary organisations.

The programme can be studied in two modes - full-time for 2 years or part-time for 3 years. A clear indication of the mode chosen should be stated on application forms.

Why choose this course?

The aim of the MA Art Therapy is to train art therapists for employment in the public sector. This includes theoretical and practical knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to a range of client groups and settings. You are offered a broad theoretical foundation in the key principles of psychodynamic and humanistic psychotherapy, neuropsychology and other evidence based practice in relation to current art therapy theory and research. The programme area also offers a range of pre and post qualification opportunities such as the University Certificate Arts Therapies and Wellbeing Foundation, Introductory and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) short courses and research opportunities up to PhD.

The MA Art Therapy at UH places particular emphasis on the relationship art therapy has with broader visual art culture. Experiential learning is key to the training, with time and space given to the continuing development of the students’ creative practices.

The MA Art Therapy course has links with the Faculties of Public Health, Health and Human Sciences and European organisations such as ECArTE. The University is within easy reach of London by rail and road.

The core staff team have an excellent reputation in terms of teaching quality and practice and research in their fields. The programme also employs a range of professionals with clinical and research expertise with a range of client groups.

You have access to a state of the art Learning Resources Centre which contains a wealth of material on related disciplines, maintained by specialist staff who provide support and advice when needed.

Careers

The qualification leads to an award that is recognised for professional registration purposes by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Career opportunities vary from work in the NHS, social services, the voluntary sector and increasingly in main stream education. Art Therapists frequently work on a sessional basis or part time in a range of settings. Students receive lectures and workshops on entrepreneurial skills such as fundraising, setting up new services and how to market themselves post-qualification.