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CURRICULUM

The Art Therapy curriculum at C.W. Post seeks an effective balance between theory, and practice. Survey classes such as ARTH 600 (Theories of Art Therapy) and ARTH 605 (The History and Philosophy of Art Therapy) provide students with a strong theoretical foundation in clinical art therapy. ARTH 607 (Clinical Methods Techniques in Group Art Therapy with Adults), 609 (Special Populations and Topics in Child Art Therapy) and 611 (Therapeutic Systems in Family Art Therapy) focus upon techniques and interventions within the field of clinical art therapy practice. The orientation of these three courses are both eclectic and comprehensive in nature. ARTH 607 integrates group process and projective and art based assessments with adult populations. ARTH 609 focuses on the integration and application of clinical art therapy with children and adolescents utilizing drive theory, learning theory and, object relations theory as foundational constructs. ARTH 611 is a comprehensive overview of family therapy and its application to art psychotherapy. While creative exploration is provided in all of the academic courses, studio workshops such as ARTH 602 (Drawing and Painting for the Art Therapist - Studio) and 604 (Clayworks for the Art Therapist - Studio) focus squarely upon developing and enhancing the art therapy student's art making capacities. Work in painting, drawing, clay work and sculpture is complemented by applications made in the clinical milieu. ARTH 614 and 615 (Internship I & II : Supervision Seminar) are clinical internships. Internships are completed by all graduate students, traditionally entering their second year of study. Over ninety clinical sites are affiliated with our graduate clinical art therapy program, These clinical affiliation are local to the New York Metropolitan tri-state area, as well as national and international internships. Supervision supports the students while in the field. Thesis tutorials, ARTH 706 (Research Methods), 707 (Thesis Research) and 708 (Thesis), prepare the students for their advanced research projects. Course work in psychology emphasizes current A.P.A. standards, with emphasis upon the psychopathologies featured in the DSM-IV, while psychopharmacology initiates the art therapy student into the field of psychotropic medication and its impact upon the therapeutic process. A range of counseling courses, such as play therapy, multi-cultural or gender counseling, round out this dynamic multi-faceted curriculum.