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Deutsch Who is the Bachelor of Art Therapy at MSH Hamburg suitable for?
The Art Therapy (B.A.) degree programme is aimed at individuals who want to combine artistic and visual skills with an interest in therapeutic and psychosocial work. You are in the right place if you later want to professionally support people in educational, curative education, social or clinical contexts. Typical target groups are school leavers with a creative orientation, professionals from social or healthcare professions, as well as people with an artistic background who want to qualify in the connection between art and therapy. Fields of work include, for example, youth welfare institutions, rehabilitation centres, hospitals, schools, hospices or nursing homes.
What requirements must you meet for the degree programme?
For admission to the Bachelor’s degree programme in Art Therapy at the Medical School Hamburg, you need one of the following certificates:
- General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur)
- Subject-specific higher education entrance qualification or advanced technical college entrance qualification in accordance with § 37 Hamburg Higher Education Act (HmbHG)
- Alternatively: university entrance for working professionals in accordance with § 38 HmbHG through a passed entrance examination (for applicants without Abitur or advanced technical college entrance qualification)
You should have a strong creative talent and enjoy visual design. Interest in medical, psychological and social issues is important, as is openness to interdisciplinary work. Communication skills, empathy and a willingness to reflect on your own artistic and personal processes are expected. Prior experience in artistic techniques as well as initial practical contacts with social or therapeutic fields of work are advantageous but not mandatory. Initiative, the ability to work in a team and resilience will support your success in your studies.
What content does the Bachelor of Art Therapy at MSH teach?
In the Art Therapy (B.A.) degree programme at the Medical School Hamburg, you acquire in-depth knowledge in visual-artistic, art therapeutic, medical and social science disciplines. The focus is on the concepts and approaches of art therapy, its historical and current manifestations, as well as anthropological, psychological and sociological foundations. You engage intensively with art, music, dance and theatre history and learn to systematically apply basic artistic skills in therapeutic processes.
The curriculum includes both artistic work and the development of core therapeutic competencies. You learn how creative processes can be used to promote mental, psychosocial and physical health and how to work individually with different target groups. Additionally, you are taught scientific working methods as well as qualitative and quantitative research methods – for a well-founded reflection of your practical activities and preparation for advanced studies. Topics such as the philosophy and ethics of artistic therapies, professional law, project work and supervision complete the profile.
How is the Art Therapy course structured at MSH?
The Bachelor’s degree in Art Therapy is organised as a six-semester full-time on-site course. You study on location at the MSH in Hamburg, a modern campus with spacious studios and seminar areas. The structure of the programme is modular: from fundamental theory modules to practical components to the block internship with mentoring as well as artistic-therapeutic self-experience and supervision. In the third year of study, you complete a several-week internship in cooperating social and healthcare facilities. The Bachelor thesis with an oral colloquium forms the conclusion. Throughout the entire course, you are closely supported by lecturers and external experts.
Career prospects: Where do art therapists work after graduation?
With the Bachelor’s degree in Art Therapy, a wide range of professional fields opens up to you. Graduates find employment in child and youth welfare institutions, special education and integrative kindergartens, schools, as well as residential youth or integration support facilities. Other workplaces include senior and nursing homes, hospices, rehabilitation centres, refugee aid projects, and clinics and hospitals. Art therapy is also an integral part of psychotherapeutic and medical treatment concepts, for example in psychiatry, psychosomatics, geriatrics and prevention. A comprehensive practical component and broad theoretical training also provide you with the foundation for advanced master’s programmes – such as Social Work, Intermedial Art Therapy or Sexual Science.
Where do you study Art Therapy at MSH?
The Art Therapy degree programme takes place at the Medical School Hamburg’s »Arts and Social Change« campus. The location is Harburger Binnenhafen in Hamburg, precisely Schellerdamm 22-24, 21079 Hamburg. The campus offers modern studios, a psychotherapeutic university outpatient clinic and diverse cooperative ties to regional and national institutions from the health, social and cultural sectors. The industrial charm of a former soap factory is combined here with innovative learning and working environments. The location is well accessible by public transport.
What costs must you expect for this Bachelor’s degree – and how can you finance it?
The monthly tuition fees for the Bachelor’s degree in Art Therapy at MSH amount to 550 euros, with total costs over six semesters thus amounting to 19,900 euros. In addition, there is a one-time registration fee of 100 euros. The fees include all compulsory courses, use of the studios, and individual support during the studies. To finance your studies, you can apply for BAföG or use a KfW student loan. For particularly committed students, there is the possibility to apply for internal or external scholarships. Some employers in the social and healthcare sectors also promote the continuing professional development of their staff alongside work.
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