Program Overview
Explore the visual potential of ideas, expressions, and emotions while gaining the preparation necessary for graduate study in Art Therapy.
This major offers the full experience of majoring in Art + design, plus the preparation necessary to apply for graduate Art Therapy programs. Nine specific Psychology courses add to the solid foundation in the field of Art + Design. The unique combination of these courses are the ones most consistently required to pursue an M.A. in Art Therapy, which is a field rapidly growing in popularity.
Our passion is for you to grow as an individual within the larger community of Christ. We strive to prepare you for serving others through the language of visual communication and the healing potential of art and how both of these things can work to serve others well in Art Therapy.
Pre-Art Therapy students at Asbury get to combine two amazing departments in their studies, and receive the support and direction of incredible faculty throughout their experience. From finding their own artistic style to delving deep in psychological theory through rigorous preparation and insight into human nature and dignity, our students rise to the challenge and find it rewarding!
As Elizabeth Bevins ’26 puts it, “I love the pre-art therapy program at Asbury University! My art classes are personable and have immensely helped me improve my personal art style. I have also enjoyed the Christian integration in my psychology classes, which has allowed me to learn psychology as a science while also viewing it from a healthy, Christian perspective.”
Our Ceramics emphasis under the Pre-Art Therapy major takes the skills and experience we offer in ceramics and adds key Psychology courses that adequately prepare the student seeking certification as a Therapist after successfully earning a Master’s degree in Art Therapy at the graduate school of their choice. All this culminates in the experiential Senior Art Thesis, which gives Ceramics emphasis Majors the opportunity exhibit their work in one of our campus galleries.
Our Drawing emphasis under the Pre-Art Therapy major takes the skills and experience we offer in drawing and adds key Psychology courses that adequately prepare the student seeking certification as a Therapist after successfully earning a Master’s degree in Art Therapy at the graduate school of their choice. All this culminates in the experiential Senior Art Thesis, which gives Drawing emphasis Majors the opportunity exhibit their work in one of our campus galleries.
Our Painting Program under the Pre-Art Therapy major takes the skills and experience we offer in Painting and adds key Psychology courses that adequately prepare the student seeking certification as a Therapist (after successfully earning a Master’s degree in Art Therapy at the graduate school of their choice). All this culminates in the experiential Senior Art Thesis, which gives Painting emphasis Majors the opportunity exhibit their work in one of our campus galleries.
Our Photography & Digital Imaging Program under the Pre-Art Therapy major takes the skills and experience we offer in Photography, and adds key Psychology courses that adequately prepare the student seeking certification as a Therapist (after successfully earning a Master’s degree in Art Therapy at the graduate school of their choice). All this culminates in the experiential Senior Art Thesis, which gives Photo emphasis Majors the opportunity exhibit their work in one of our campus galleries.
Our Sculpture emphasis under the Pre-Art Therapy major takes the skills and experience we offer in sculpture courses, adding key Psychology courses that adequately prepare the student seeking certification as a Therapist (after successfully earning a Master’s degree in Art Therapy at the graduate school of their choice). All this culminates in the experiential Senior Art Thesis, which gives Ceramics emphasis Majors the opportunity exhibit their work in one of our campus galleries.
As an art student, you can enjoy exceptional mentoring via contained class sizes, faculty advisors, and Junior Review, and weekly meetings with professors and peers during your junior and senior years as you expand your art practice.
Take advantage of department trips to major art collections throughout the region and the country. You will study art alongside professors and peers that will challenge you to grow and support you as you pursue your calling.
The McCreless Fine Arts Center includes a series of classroom and lab spaces, and in our Art Annex you will find the ceramic studio, the woodshop + maker’s space, as well as 10 individual or shared studio areas.
We also have multiple art galleries and exhibition spaces in public areas throughout campus.
Approachable, friendly, challenging, well-informed, well-read, highly motivated, sought-after, widely exhibited and interesting faculty who hold degrees in the discipline they teach. From idea generation to finished artwork, faculty come alongside students to help them form a vision and then to “realize” it.
Pre-Art therapy students typically pursue a Master of Arts degree to become Art Therapists. Asbury art students have attended graduate school at:
admissions@asbury.edu
(859) 858-5000