<p>I'm planning on majoring in Studio Art for my first four years, then getting my Master's in Social Work and Therapy so I can be an art therapist, which to me is the perfect career because it combines two things I'm very passionate about. (I also like bugs but I can deal with that not being my job... haha... maybe.) If you don't know anything about art therapy you should google it because it's awesome and a growing field of therapeutics.</p>
<p>Anyway, I was wondering if
a) anyone else was interested in this (buddies are important ok)
b) anyone knew if this was the appropriate major/master's etc track for the career... the limited info I've been able to find online has said that this is the most common way to be certified for art therapy, but I don't want to finish my initial 4 years and find out I didn't take enough psych classes to get my Master's and (hopefully, eventually) certification.</p>
<p>Hi Olivia,</p>
<p>It’s great to hear about your interest in art therapy. I hope that you will consider Wheelock College for your undergraduate program – we have a great visual arts faculty who would work closely with you as you build your portfolio, and we also have undergraduate majors in psychology and social work. All first year students at Wheelock take a Human Growth and Development course that includes at least 30 hours of field experience, so you could get out into the community to make a positive impact on others right away!</p>
<p>Best,
Alex Powell
Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Wheelock College, Boston, MA
<a href=“mailto:apowell@wheelock.edu”>apowell@wheelock.edu</a></p>
<p>My daughter was/is interested in art therapy too. She is an illustration major at RIT (freshman) and is either going to double major in psych (which I was pushing for in case she decides to pursue clinical psych in grad school) or minor in psych. Of course, things change and I think she secretly wants to be a graphic novelist (manga… sigh), but I’m hoping she will continue on the art therapy track. What schools are you looking at? My daughter was scared off from art schools because of her older sister’s experience, but I think she kind of regrets that a little bit now.</p>
<p>I’m looking at liberal arts schools that aren’t exclusively arty. Skidmore, Bard, Wellesley, Mt Holyoke, Smith, and Hampshire.</p>
<p>I think your LAC list is good. I don’t know your qualifications beyond artistic talent, so I can’t address selectivity, but here are some others that have strong studio art (and art history) plus good overall academics including psychology.</p>
<p>Williams, Wesleyan, Hamilton, Haverford, Vassar, Conn College, Kenyon, Oberlin</p>