• Community centers
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Schools
• Substance abuse programs
• In-home care

Art therapists use art for healing and growth among their clients, which may include children, victims of abuse, people with disabilities and senior citizens.

As the nation’s aging population increases, there has been a significant rise in the need for mental health professions. Art therapy is a growing career field and can serve as a complement to other types of therapy, by using the creative process to help people improve their mental health.

In this pre-professional program you will take courses in studio art, ranging from drawing to ceramics to printmaking. You will also have required psychology classes, exploring topics such as group dynamics and theories of personality. A course on professional strategies for artists will, among other items, help you put together a well-designed portfolio—a graduate school admissions requirement—that emphasizes your skills in a variety of mediums.

A pre-art therapy degree ensures you will be ready to apply for admission to a professional art therapy program, where you will earn an advanced degree and can pursue the designation of Registered Art Therapist (ATR). 

CUC is surrounded by many excellent schools, major medical centers and social service agencies that give students the benefit of a wide range of experiences in the area of psychology. Being in the midst of the Chicago metro area means students have many opportunities to volunteer, participate in internships and to visit cultural institutions. Examples include the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art, National Museum of Mexican Art and the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio.

As you explore your career options, the Office of Career Services helps you find internships to suit whatever career direction you plan to take after graduation. Career Services partners with the Illinois Small College Placement Association and CareerRookie, which provides extensive databases of internships, jobs and resources to help you shape your future.

• A completed admission application for Concordia University Chicago.
• Official transcripts of all college coursework from each institution you have attended.
• Foreign transcripts evaluated by a Concordia-Chicago-approved international credentialing service. Concordia-Chicago accepts evaluations from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
• A certified document pledging financial support for your first year of study and without any unexpected events, and enough funding from the same or an equally dependable source for the following years.
• Proof of graduation from a secondary school.
• A transfer verification form for students transferring from a school in the United States.
• Proof of English proficiency, via one of the following:
• A score of at least 72 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) — Concordia-Chicago’s DI code is 1140
• A score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Successful completion of Level 112 at an ELS Language School (ELS) or a certificate of completion of program from an English Language Institute (ELI), along with a recommendation of the program director
• Duolingo test with a minimum score of 95