Art Therapy
Art Therapy majors at Mercyhurst investigate the healing potential of the arts through self-reflective art directives, research and service learning in the community. In art therapy classes, students experience the healing nature of art making during discussions that focus on the history and development of the field, the therapeutic use of art media, and ways to help others through art. Students’ development of a non-judgmental approach toward art made by themselves and others enables an ability to support the use of art as a way to promote creativity and wellness. Graduates of the program often work in the human service field or pursue graduate school for art therapy.
Fast Facts
- In 2016, Mercyhurst’s program was ranked as one of the top undergraduate art therapy programs in the nation, according to Best Counseling Degrees, making Mercyhurst’s the only program in Erie County to be recognized.
- Students have the opportunity to travel abroad and volunteer in art therapy related service learning experiences.
- The Mercyhurst Art Therapy Club allows majors to get to know each other outside of classes and get involved in campus activities.
- Students are required to take courses in art, art therapy, psychology, and sociology, building the abilities needed to support the use of art as a way to help others.
- Focus solely on Art Therapy or add an additional major or minor in related art programs such as Art Education, Photography, Graphic Design or Studio Art.
- Students have the opportunity and have presented at regional and national art therapy conferences supporting professional development.
- ACCT 101: Principles of Accounting (3 credits)
- MGMT 120: Principles of Management (3 credits)
- MKTG 162: Principles of Marketing (3 credits)
- DANC 200: Intro. to Arts Administration (3 credits)
- DANC 475: Arts Management Internship (3 credits)
- ART 128: Graphic Design Basics (3 credits)
- COM 240: Digital Video Production (3 credits)
- COM 260: Intro. to Social Media (3 credits)
- ART 321: Intro. to Website Design (3 credits)
- COM 312: Communication & Social Responsibility (3 credits)
- COM 314: Global Communications (3 credits)
- COM 330: Web & Social Media Analytics & Strategies (3 credits) Requires COM 260 to be taken previously or concurrently.
- ART 100 Drawing I (3 credits)
- ART 122 or 123 Art History (3 credits)
- ART 125 2-Dimensional Design (3 credits)
- ART 126 3-Dimensional Design (3 credits)
- Basic Level 2-D Studio (3 credits)
- Basic Level 3-D Studio (3 credits)
- Art Electives (2) (3 credits)
- ART 122 Ancient to Medieval Art History (3 credits)
- ART 123 Renaissance to 20th Century Art History (3 credits)
- ART 128 Basic Computer Design (3 credits)
- ART 223 History of Modern Art (3 credits)
- ART 224 History of Photography (3 credits)
- ART 230 Graphic Design History (3 credits)
- ID 220 History of Interior Design (3 credits)
- ID 221 History of Architecture (3 credits)
- ARTH 125 Art Therapy I (3 credits)
- ARTH 225 Art Therapy II (3 credits)
- ARTH 325 Art Therapy III (3 credits)
- PSYC 101 Intro to Psychology (3 credits)
- ART 100 Drawing I
- ART 102 Ceramics I
- ART 128 Basic Computer Design
- COM 101: Communication in Society (3 credits)
- COM 102: Interpersonal Communication (3 credits)
- COM 260: Introduction to Social Media (3 credits)
- Students must take three additional courses within the Communication Department, two of which must be 300-level or higher.
- ARTH 125: Intro to Expressive Therapies (3 credits)
- PSYC 101: Intro to Psychology (3 credits)
- One developmental psychology course (3 credits):
- PSYC 241: Developmental Psychology: Childhood,
- PSYC 242: Developmental Psychology: Adolescence, or
- PSYC 142: Lifespan Development
- Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
- COM 210: Mindful Communication (3 credits), ARTH 275 (3 credits): Group Practices, or SOC 204: Diversity in Society (3 credits)
- And a least two courses in creative fields or modalities with prefixes ART, ARTH, THEA, DANC, MUS (6 credits) (At least one should be a 200-level or higher)
- ART 100 Drawing I (3 credits)
- ART 125 2-Dimensional Design (3 credits)
- ART 128 Basic Computer Design (3 credits)
- ART 220 Introduction to Graphic Design (3 credits)
- ART 221 Digital Imagery (3 credits)
- 3 Approved Graphic Design Electives (3 credits)
- ART 106 Photography I
- ART 128 Basic Computer Design
- ART 206 Intermediate Photography
- ART 223 History of Modern Art
- ART 224 History of Photography
- ART 305 Digital Photography
- ART 306 Color Photography
- ART 400 Individualized Studio I
- ART 128: Graphic Design Basics (3 credits)
- ART 221: Digital Imagery (3 credits)
- ART 321: Introduction to Website Design (3 credits)
- COM 260: Intro to Social Media (3 credits)
- ART 225: Computer Illustration Technology (3 credits)
- ART 325: Intermediate Website Design (3 credits)
- ART 326: Advanced Website Design (3 credits)
OR - COM 202: Contemporary Media Literacy (3 credits)
- COM 240: Digital Video Production I (3 credits)
- COM 330: Digital analysis & Strategies (3 credits)
- THEA 110: Acting I (3 credits)
- THEA 245: Script Analysis: From Page to Stage (3 credits)
- THEA 290: Topics in Theatre History (3 credits)
- THEA 401: Practicum (3 credits)
Consists of 21 credits as follows:
2 electives of the following, at least one 300-level course.
Required Courses
Course Choices (9 credits)
Students who are majors may pursue the Minor Electives Cluster in Website Design in the Art Department. In contrast, Graphic Design majors may pursue the Minor Electives Cluster in Communication.
Required Courses
Minor Electives Clusters (Choose one: if courses in the minor cluster are required for your major, please take the opposite cluster.)
The advanced certificate in Art Education (K-12) is intended for students who have already completed a bachelor's degree in an art-related field. This certification is also for college graduates seeking an art (K-12) teacher certification in the State of Pennsylvania. Each certification requires a course sequence of study and clinical practicum experiences.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the historical, geographic, cultural, and contemporary contexts of artworks and design
- Present, critique, and write about artworks and design using appropriate terminology
- Generate works that demonstrate a productive creative process and exhibit a high level of craftsmanship and technical facility
- Develop artworks that use elements and principles of art and design
- Create works of design that solve the visual problem as presented
- Effective communication and presentation of self and work to clients both internal and external to the university
In the Classroom
The Mercyhurst University Department of Art, Design, and Communication teamed up with the Erie Zoo for an “ExZOOberant Paint Party” in our art studio. The Jungle Crayon Fence surrounds the children’s play area as a memorable and fun piece of personality in the nearby Erie Zoo. Students and faculty from the Department of Art, Design, and Communication led the initiative to host a painting party to give new life to this iconic fence in the zoo area. The entire Mercyhurst community was invited to join in the fun, with students, faculty, and staff helping paint more than 85 crayons with unique designs and names that all adhered to an animal theme. Mercyhurst’s Department of Art, Design, and Communication students love opportunities to be creative in the Erie community, especially the chance to work on unique displays like the Jungle Crayon Fence!
Heather Denning, M.A., LPAT, ATR-BC, ATCS, LSW
Chair, Department of Art, Design, and Communication
Director of Art Therapy
Office: Zurn 121A
Meet the Faculty
Art, Design, and Communication
