University of Derby

ART THERAPY MA

• ‌The course is approved and accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council, and recognised by the British Association of Art Therapists.
• 100% of students agreed that this course is intellectually stimulating in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, 2023.
• Graduate with the eligibility to apply for professional registration as an art therapist or art psychotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council, as long as you meet the HCPC’s requirements.
• Become eligible to apply for full membership of the British Association of Art Therapists.
• Gain first-hand, practical experience of clinical art therapy practice.
• Develop your clinical reasoning and professional identity, and integrate your learning from all areas of the course through Independent Scholarship
• See some examples of the imagery our students created as part of their independent scholarship that formed the MA Art Therapy Exhibition 2020; and imagery from our MA in Art Therapy annual environment sculpture project - Big Wood.

The course reinforces the centrality of the image and the role of the imagination in the practice of art therapy. It will give you experience of clinical art therapy practice under supervision, as well as experience of group work, studio practice and a critical understanding of current theoretical ideas.

During the course you’ll have a personal tutor who will monitor your overall progress. As well as the taught components of the course, you’ll also need to engage in personal therapy for a minimum of one hour a week throughout the training; this is a requirement for professional registration (please note that this is at your own cost). This will be individual therapy, where you will be required to work with an Art Psychotherapist.