Art Therapy Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Fully Accredited
Marywood University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSHE).
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art Therapy is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and American Art Therapy Association.
Also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- Degree Completion Requirements
- Curricular and Co-Curricular Guides
- Academic History
- View Student Outcomes Data
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / Association of Arts Administration Educators / College Art Association / National Art Education Association / Pennsylvania Art Education Association / Society of Illustrators
Encourage the Artistic and Therapeutic Process with an Art Therapy Degree
The Art Therapy curriculum is designed to meet the needs of those who are interested in a vocation that includes both a commitment to art-making and a commitment to serving others. Students are introduced to the human service profession of art therapy on a pre-professional level. While master's level art therapy training is focused on readiness for professional practice, undergraduate art therapy training differs by assisting the student in developing a strong base of necessary studio skills and knowledge of the behavioral and social sciences.
A rewarding career to embark on, the employment outlook for art therapist is expected to grow as fast as or faster than the average. Additionally, art therapy students complete an internship under supervision of an art therapy professional. This experience serves as important exposure to the actual nature of the art therapy process.
- Commitment to art-making and serving others
- Emphasizes the healing and therapeutic qualities of art
- Internships in mental health, medical, educational, and studio settings
The art therapy program here at Marywood has helped me find my passion for helping those in need as well as my own path as an artist. Marywood has helped me grow into the person I am now, and I can’t wait to share my love of art with those who need it! Some of my favorite places on campus include the art therapy studio and the view from the third floor hallway of Insalaco!
Claire Little, '21 Read All Testimonials
Art Portfolio Submissions
Undergraduate Portfolio Guidelines »
Art Therapy applicants are required to submit a portfolio to the Art Department. Your submission should include:
- Your Portfolio
- Submission Checklist
- Short Art Essay
Outcomes & Opportunities
Top Employers
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- Mental Health Office
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- Art Therapist
- Recreational Therapist
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Dig Deeper Into the Program Details
Portfolio Submission Guidelines for Art Undergraduates
Applying and getting accepted into the Marywood University Art Department is a two-step process. Both steps must occur prior to enrollment in your first semester courses.
- APPLY Apply to the University using the Marywood application or the Common application. Incoming first time freshmen interested in priority consideration for the Art Department's Art Talent Award should concurrently submit their portfolio materials directly to the Art Department prior to the November 15 deadline. Portfolios received after November 15 and before the cut off date of March 1 are still eligible for consideration depending on remaining awards.
- PORTFOLIO Submit your portfolio to the Art Department. Your submission should include 1) your portfolio, 2) submission checklist, and 3) short art essay (see below).
Art Therapy students must submit a digital portfolio. (Google Slides, PowerPoint, Google Drive, Dropbox, Website URL, PDF, etc)
Note: All digital image files must be in .jpg, .png, .gif, .svg, or .pdf file format. Portfolio submissions must include your name and contact information along with a typed Word Document listing of each piece and include the artwork's title, date, medium, size, and concept. We recommend you use our Portfolio Submission Checklist.
Your portfolio should include 12 to 15 original works. You may include personal projects and anything you completed in high school art classes or private lessons.
Your portfolio should demonstrate artistic technique, style, conceptualization, and creativity. If possible, include works that represent your chosen medium or area of interest. If you'd like to major in photography, for example, try to include photographs in your portfolio. Please also include a few images from a recent sketchbook and/or artwork that specifically pertains to your chosen major and program of study at Marywood.
Include a variety of media, if possible:
- Drawings in pencil, ink, or charcoal
- Paintings in oil, acrylic, or watercolor
- 3D work in clay, wood, metal, cardboard, fiber, or collage
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Computer graphics
- Digital illustration
The Insalaco Center for Studio Art features drawing and painting studios showcasing naturally-lit rooms with beautiful views of the campus. There are studios and equipment for woodworking, fiber arts, jewelry-making, ceramics, sculpture, photography, printmaking, a Mac lab, and private and semi-private studios for upper level BFA, MA and MFA students.
The Shields Center for Visual Arts building contains The Maslow Collection, Mahady Gallery, Suraci Gallery, classrooms for art history and art administration, studios for art therapy, two graphic design Mac labs, and a 24-hour drop-in Mac lab. The Maslow Collection and Study Gallery for Contemporary Art housed in the Shields Center features more than 500 works by artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, and Chuck Close.
The Mahady Gallery is a spacious and dramatic setting for the display of contemporary artwork. Throughout the year, the gallery offers a variety of group and solo shows by visiting artists, juried regional competitions, faculty exhibits, student shows, and curated national exhibitions. The gallery hosts the annual Scholastic Art Awards and the popular Art Faculty Biennial. Featured exhibitions are accompanied by artists’ slide presentations, gallery talks, studio visits, and demonstrations. The Mahady Gallery is located on the first floor of the Shields Center for Visual Arts.
The Maslow Study Gallery is a learning laboratory, providing fieldwork experiences, internships, and opportunities in curatorial and exhibition studies to Marywood students. Works in The Maslow Collection are available for professional research and study, and many are loaned to regional and national exhibitions. The Maslow Study Gallery for Contemporary Art is located on the first floor of the Shields Center for Visual Arts. For more information visit maslow.marywood.edu
Exhibitions in the Suraci Gallery showcase regional and national artists; support art faculty work and scholarship; provide degree research and documentation opportunities for current and alumni art students; and foster community outreach projects and interests. The Suraci Gallery also houses Marywood’s permanent collection of fine and decorative art. The Asian Collection consists of ceramics, furniture, netsukes, inro, ivories, and prints. Bronze and marble sculpture, paintings, ceramics, glass, and French ivories comprise the 19th Century Collection. Religious icons, furniture, and 20th century works round out the Suraci Collection. The Suraci Gallery is located on the second floor of the Shields Center for Visual Arts.
Located in the lobby of the Insalaco Center for Studio Arts, the Kresge Gallery is a versatile exhibition, critique, and lecture space. An alternative venue to the formal art galleries, the Kresge Gallery provides a working and experimental exhibition site for art students and faculty to showcase a variety of work throughout each semester. Recent exhibitions include the Foundation Year student show, Senior Exhibition, Advanced Painting & Sculpture shows, MA shows, the Marywood Print Guild show, Design & Letterpress shows, art auctions, and Art Club shows.
Shields Center for Visual Arts
201 Jackson CourtMap & Directions
The Shields Center for Visual Arts provides classrooms and labs for the Graphic Design, Art Education, and Art Therapy programs. It also houses the Mahady, Suraci, and Maslow Art Galleries.
Learn More | Take a Virtual Tour
Visual Arts Classrooms
Map & Directions
The Shields Center for Visual Arts contains studios, classrooms, and labs for Art Therapy and Graphic Design majors.
Learn More | Take a Virtual Tour
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Insalaco Center for Studio Arts
2300 Adams AvenueMap & Directions
The Insalaco Center for Studio Arts contains 80,000 square feet of gallery space, naturally-lit drawing and painting studios, dark rooms, printmaking, woodworking, jewelery-making and ceramics studios, computer labs, and classrooms.
Learn More | Take a Virtual Tour
Studio Arts Classrooms
Map & Directions
Art education, ceramics, drawings/foundations, photography, painting, printmaking, and sculpture classes and facilities are located in the Insalaco Center for Studio Arts.
Learn More | Take a Virtual Tour
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Kresge Gallery
Map & Directions
Located in the lobby of the Insalaco Center for Studio Arts, the Kresge Gallery is a versatile exhibition, critique, and lecture space.
Learn More | Take a Virtual Tour
Mahady Art Gallery
Map & Directions
The Robert J. and Elizabeth FitzMartin Mahady Gallery, known more frequently as the Mahady Gallery, is located on the first floor of the Shields Center for Visual Arts, providing a spacious and dramatic setting for the display of contemporary artwork. Throughout the year, the gallery offers a variety of group and solo shows by visiting artists, juried regional competitions, faculty exhibits, student shows, and curated national exhibitions.
Learn More | Take a Virtual Tour
Maslow Study Gallery
Map & Directions
The Maslow Study Gallery, located on the first floor of the Shields Center for Visual Arts, is a learning laboratory, providing fieldwork experiences, internships, and opportunities in curatorial and exhibition studies to Marywood students. The Maslow Collection is one of the most significant and extensive collections of contemporary art in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Learn More | Take a Virtual Tour
Suraci Art Gallery
Map & Directions
The Suraci Gallery, located on the second floor of the Shields Center for Visual Arts, houses Marywood's permanent collection of fine and decorative art. Exhibitions in the Suraci Gallery showcase regional and national artists; support art faculty work and scholarship; provide degree research and documentation opportunities for current and alumni art students; and foster community outreach projects and interests.
Learn More | Take a Virtual Tour
Art Talent Award
Art Talent Awards are only available to incoming freshman students. Students who have already registered for classes are no longer eligible to apply for the award.
ELIGIBILITY: If you are an incoming Freshman student and you would like primary consideration for an Art Talent Award, your portfolio AND art essay must be submitted together to the Art Department by November 15. Portfolios received after November 15 and before the cut off date of March 1 are still eligible for consideration depending on remaining awards. Awards are granted a rolling basis each spring beginning March 1 and portfolios meeting the November 15th deadline will get first consideration for available awards. The Art Talent Award is based on artistic merits. As such, Arts Administration students are ineligible for this award. Recipients of an Art Talent Award must plan to major in art at Marywood. Once awarded, they are renewable for up to eight semesters of full-time undergraduate study. If a Talent Award recipient changes his/her major to that of one outside of art, the Art Talent Award will be rescinded.
Note: Any physical or flash-drive digital portfolios must be left with the Art Department 7-14 days for evaluation. Award recipients will be notified by mail sometime after March 1.
View Tuition RatesFoundations Year
Your first year as an art student at Marywood University is an important step in your development as an artist. To help make your foundation year a success, we offer a number of resources to guide you.
Online Art Supplies
Request Information
Latest Program News & Events
Admissions Calendar
Fully Accredited
Marywood University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSHE).
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Art Therapy is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and American Art Therapy Association.
Also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- Degree Completion Requirements
- Curricular and Co-Curricular Guides
- Academic History
- View Student Outcomes Data
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / Association of Arts Administration Educators / College Art Association / National Art Education Association / Pennsylvania Art Education Association / Society of Illustrators
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