Naropa University Introduces New Bachelor's Degree in Art Therapy

BOULDER, Colo., April 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Naropa University today announced it has expanded its distinguished Art Therapy program to include an accredited Bachelor's degree in Art Therapy. This innovative major will combine a comprehensive liberal arts education with a strong introduction to art therapy theory, traditional and progressive approaches to undergraduate psychology courses, and a comprehensive studio arts education.

Students in Naropa's innovative new program will benefit from a robust, discipline-based foundation in several subject areas, including in-depth understanding of the therapeutic qualities of art, and an experiential appreciation for contemplative studies related to art, psychology, and social engagement. Graduates of this pre-professional program will be well-positioned to pursue graduate training in Art Therapy, Counseling Psychology, Social Work, or other related fields of study.

"Naropa is very excited to offer this transdisciplinary major in Art Therapy. Prospective students seeking to combine the visual arts with psychology and contemplative education will find a real home within our program," said Professor Michael A. Franklin, PhD, ATR-BC. "Although other undergraduate degrees exist in art therapy, no other school has envisioned a curriculum with the contemplative foundations that we have innovatively woven throughout the undergraduate experience."

Professionally practiced, art therapy is a form of counseling psychotherapy involving the encouragement of self-expression using a full range of art media including painting, modeling, or video, and provides a unique approach for helping clients improve psychological health, cognitive abilities, and sensory-motor functions. Today art therapy is widely practiced in a variety of settings, including hospitals, psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities, wellness centers, forensic institutions, schools, crisis centers, senior communities, private practice, and other clinical and community settings. National Geographic recently featured the role of art therapy in helping combat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Additional information on Naropa's Art Therapy degree can be found at www.naropa.edu.

About Naropa University (www.naropa.edu): Located in Boulder, Colorado, Naropa University is a private, liberal arts institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Naropa University is a leader in contemplative education, an approach to learning and teaching that integrates Eastern wisdom traditions and traditional Western scholarship. Naropa University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. 

Naropa University Media Contact:
Bill Rigler
Director of University Relations
303-546-3533
[email protected]

SOURCE Naropa University

Related Links

http://www.naropa.edu