Art Therapy
Art therapy is a relatively new branch of the expressive therapies branch. The American Art Therapy Association sets standards and grants certification. Usually a graduate degree in art therapy (a two-year program) and about one year’s working experience is required after graduation from Northwestern. On the undergraduate level a student should major in art. A double major of art and psychology is highly recommended.
Employment possibilities include positions in mental health hospitals, geriatric institutions, special education programs, prisons, detention facilities and veterans' hospitals. An art therapist can aid psychiatrists and psychologists in diagnostic work, treatments, therapeutics, and social interactionary procedures which are extremely beneficial to the patient’s mental health.
| Recommended courses:
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| Completion of art major (36 credits)
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| PSY 111 - General Psychology
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| PSY 260 - Psychology of Personality
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| PSY 360 - Psychopathology
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| PSY 402 - Introduction to Clinical Psychology
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| Choose 4 credits: |
| PSY 221 - Developmental Psychology: Childhood
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| PSY 224 - Developmental Psychology: Adolescence
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| PSY 225 - Developmental Psychology: Adulthood
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| Total credits recommended beyond major: 20
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This course is an overview of the field of psychology and includes topics such as biological bases of behavior, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, human development, personality, intelligence, abnormal behavior and therapy. The course emphasizes methodologies including observation, correlational and experimental as they are used in the study of psychology. A major purpose is to have the student struggle with the question, "What is psychology?" Finally, this course provides students with the necessary background in psychology to move on to other more advanced topics in the field.(4 credits)
The study of the physical and mental development of the child from the prenatal period into adolescence. The course includes the study of physical, cognitive, moral, social and personality development of childhood and adolescence.(4 credits)
Adolescents experience many changes in a few short years as they transition from childhood to adulthood. This course explores the major psychological issues and theories in adolescent development with emphasis on cognitive development, self-concept, peer relationships and sexuality, among others.(4 credits)
This course explores psychological issues and theories in normal adult development, with emphasis on cognitive, social and personality functioning from young adulthood to old age.(4 credits)
Includes theories about the dynamics and structure of personality and current research on personality. The course emphasizes psychoanalytic, trait, humanistic and behavioral views of personality.Prerequisites: PSY111, 221, or both PSY224 and 225.(4 credits)
A study of the disordered personality including theories of causation, diagnosis and characteristics of disorders. The system found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV of the American Psychiatric Association will be followed. Prerequisite: 4 credits of psychology courses. (4 credits)
This course provides a first exposure to the theory and practice of clinical psychology. A major emphasis will be a review of the various theories of psychotherapy. The way in which these theories are applied within professional psychology constitutes a secondary, but strong, emphasis.Prerequisites: PSY111 and eight additional credits in psychology.(4 credits, alternate years, consult department)
