Art Therapy integrates visual arts and creative processes with psychological theory and therapeutic practice to support healing, self-expression, and personal transformation.
Complete in 6–12 Months
Integrate Creative Expression with Psychological Practice
About the Art Therapy Certificate
The Art Therapy Certificate is a program offered through Meridian University's Center for Transformative Learning. Designed for professionals seeking to integrate creative arts into therapeutic practice, the certificate draws on Meridian's graduate curriculum in expressive and movement arts to provide a comprehensive foundation in art-based approaches to healing and transformation.
As a certificate participant, you will take courses from the anchor and other parts of Meridian's graduate curriculum offered during the period of your enrollment. This means you will engage with the same rigorous, faculty-led coursework that graduate students experience, tailored to the certificate's focus on art therapy principles and practices.
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve and enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Drawing on practices such as painting, drawing, sculpture, and collage, art therapy engages the imagination and the senses to facilitate self-discovery, emotional regulation, and psychological healing. Through the act of artistic creation, individuals access aspects of experience that may be difficult to articulate through words alone, opening pathways for insight, integration, and transformative change.
At Meridian, coursework in the expressive and movement arts emphasizes practices aligned with professional settings including healthcare, coaching, and employee wellness programs. Topics engaged in this area include body metaphors, art as therapy, embodiment, psychodrama, and historical trauma. Sample courses such as Play, Imagination, and Healing; Expressive Arts in Groups; and Expressive Arts in Therapy illustrate the depth and range of the curriculum available to certificate participants.
The Growing Field of Art Therapy
The integration of art into therapeutic contexts reflects a growing recognition that creative expression is fundamental to human development and healing. Art therapists work in diverse settings including hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, and private practice, serving individuals across the lifespan. As mental health practitioners increasingly seek holistic and person-centered approaches, art therapy offers a powerful modality that honors the whole person -- body, mind, and spirit -- while engaging the creative capacities that are central to well-being and resilience.
Details
Certificate Details
- 16 credits of graduate-level coursework (4 courses at 4 credits each).
- Complete in 6 to 12 months — take 8 credits per quarter (6 months) or 4 credits per quarter (12 months).
- Courses are drawn from Meridian's graduate curriculum offered during the period of enrollment.
- Content and collaboration via Meridian's social learning platform.
Tuition
$476 per credit
Total certificate cost: $7,616 (16 credits)
Credits earned through the certificate may be applied toward a Meridian University graduate degree program, as applicable.
Accreditation
The Art Therapy Certificate is part of Meridian University's California state approval and WSCUC (WASC) accreditation. WSCUC is a higher education accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education. WSCUC is also the accreditor for Stanford University, UCLA, and the University of California at Berkeley.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the application requirements?
The documents below are required to complete an application for certificate programs:
- Certificate Application (opens in a new tab)
- Application Fee: A non-refundable application fee of $50 USD is required to process your application at the time of submission
- Official Bachelor's Transcript: Must be received in a sealed envelope and may be mailed directly to the University's Los Angeles Campus (2450 Colorado Avenue, Suite 100E, Santa Monica, CA 90404) from the academic institution. Electronic transcripts are accepted if sent directly from the academic institution to admissions@meridianuniversity.edu
- Personal Statement (500 words): Included as part of the application form and should highlight the formative and significant experiences in your life, and how those experiences have influenced you in choosing to pursue a certificate program
- Information Meeting Attendance: In addition to submitting application materials, it is necessary that applicants attend an information meeting with certificate program faculty prior to moving forward in the application process. Prior to scheduling an information meeting, we require prospects to meet with an Admissions Advisor to discuss their certificate program interests further
- If you have not already done so, please schedule this Advising Appointment using this link. Once you meet this requirement, we will follow up with the next steps to schedule an Information Meeting with the faculty
What is the Art Therapy Certificate?
The Art Therapy Certificate is a 16-credit program offered by Meridian University that provides a comprehensive foundation in Art Therapy. The certificate draws on courses from Meridian's graduate curriculum, offering rigorous, faculty-led coursework aligned with the certificate's focus area.
How long does it take to complete the certificate?
The certificate can be completed in as few as 6 months (taking 8 credits per quarter) or up to 12 months (taking 4 credits per quarter). Each course is 4 credits, and the program requires a total of 16 credits.
How much does the certificate cost?
Tuition for the Art Therapy Certificate is $476 per credit. The total cost for the 16-credit certificate is $7,616.
Can I apply these credits toward a Meridian degree?
Yes. Credits earned in the Art Therapy Certificate may be applied toward a Meridian University graduate degree program, as applicable. This allows you to build on your certificate work if you choose to pursue further graduate study at Meridian.
Is the certificate accredited?
Yes. The Art Therapy Certificate is part of Meridian University's California state approval and WSCUC (WASC) accreditation. WSCUC is a higher education accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education, and is also the accreditor for Stanford University, UCLA, and the University of California at Berkeley.
What courses will I take as part of the certificate?
Certificate participants take courses from Meridian's graduate curriculum that are offered during the period of their enrollment. The specific courses available each quarter are drawn from the anchor and other parts of the graduate curriculum, providing a rich and varied learning experience grounded in the certificate's focus area.
What technology do I need to participate?
You will need an email account, a high-speed internet connection, and access to a computer, iOS or Android device. For live video sessions, you will need a webcam and microphone for your device. Course video calls are conducted with participants video-enabled.
How many courses do I need to complete?
The certificate requires four courses. At Meridian, each course is 4 credits, so the 16-credit certificate is completed by taking four courses. You can take up to two courses per quarter (8 credits) to finish in 6 months, or one course per quarter (4 credits) to finish in 12 months.
How can I reach program support?
The program support team will be available to assist from start to finish. Please send your questions, requests, or issues to admissions@meridianuniversity.edu