The Finlandia University Art Therapy program is for students who want to help others through art.
The art therapy major is designed to provide you with an integrated understanding of the role art plays in relation to human psychology. FinnU’s program prepares you with the fundamental elements needed for a career that explores the healing benefits of art making as related to human psychology. From the Senior Capstone to internship opportunities, our art therapy program provides solid training in both fine art, art history and psychology.
One of the unique aspects of FinnU’s art therapy program is the amount of time students spend in our amazing International School of Art & Design studios. You’ll learn how to create and critique various different kinds of art including fiber and fashion, ceramics, illustration and painting, and graphic design. In addition, art history and art appreciation classes allow you to reflect on what art means to give you the skills needed when exploring patient work.
Art therapy is a burgeoning career field as the demand for therapists rapidly increases. Art therapists can expect to make between $30,000-80,000 after their degree.
For students looking to obtain their Master’s degree, Finlandia’s program prepares students to enter the next phase of education. In fact, 100 percent of our art therapy graduates have been accepted to every graduate school program they have applied to.
"Most of the time you either major in art or psychology. Then you go to graduate school and decide you want to be an art therapist, so you have to go back and take either art or psychology classes. So, it's pretty uncommon to have this as an undergraduate program. It'll be nice because then I won't have to back track when I do go to grad school, I will have already had all of these credits and can jump right in to the Masters Degree."
February 26, 2021
Mornings, 2021, Adobe Illustrator by Tom Adolphs
The International School of Art & Design 2021 Faculty Exhibit is on display now at the Finlandia University Gallery. Gallery Director Carrie Flaspohler joined Olivia Myers on Finlandia Fridays to talk about the exhibit and upcoming artist reception.
Retired professor Phyllis Fredendall showcasing her pieces that are in the exhibit
Recent works by full-time, adjunct and emeritus faculty representing a diverse range of media and concepts will be on display. […] Read More
November 13, 2020
Enrollment officer Gini Gesler joined Olivia Myers on Finlandia Fridays this week to talk about Finlandia’s new scholarship competition designed to help people take a break from the challenges of today. The competition, named Embrace Your Sisu, embraces the idea of art therapy to channel one of the three key tenets of sisu: calm.
A sample submission of the Embrace Your Sisu poster.
The competition consists of a poster participants can color using any medium of […] Read More
October 21, 2020
Finlandia’s International School of Art & Design (ISAD) will be undergoing program changes beginning in the Fall 2021.
Beginning fall 2021, FinnU will no longer accept new students into the Fiber & Fashion, Intermedia, and Ceramic Design bachelor degree programs. These programs are not completely closed, but enrollment interest over the years has waned and ISAD Dean Denise Vandeville says the programs will be suspended until enrollment interest grows and the school can sustain its re-emergence. The programs will […] Read More
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Visiting Assistant Professor, International School of Art & Design
lindsey.heiden@finlandia.eduDean (Suomi College of Arts & Sciences/International School of Art & Design)
Cassandra.Hill@finlandia.edu