Expressive Arts Minor
Expressive Arts Minor Requirements
Minor in Expressive Arts Degree Plan
Expressive Arts is a multimodal approach to therapeutic experiences that utilizes arts, drama, dance, writing, music and other creative processes. Expressive arts interventions have been demonstrated in research to provide positive effects for individuals with a wide array of conditions, including trauma disorders, substance use disorders, cancers, and neurodegenerative disorders. A person is not required to have artistic ability to use or benefit from expressive arts therapy.
With this minor degree option, students of all majors will be exposed to a multimodal approach to therapeutic experiences that utilizes arts, drama, dance, writing, music, and other creative processes to assist individuals, including those with disabilities and mental health or substance use issues. While becoming an expressive arts therapist require a master’s degree, those with an undergraduate minor will augment their studies by learning how individuals can benefit from the therapeutic use of various artforms. Common majors of students in the minor program are (but not exclusively): Rehabilitation Services, Psychology, Social Work, Education, Creative Writing, Theatre, Visual Arts, Dance.
Expressive arts can strengthen and enhance traditional “talk therapy” by acknowledging that each person’s process of gaining insight is unique. While one individual may like and benefit from talk therapy, another person may prefer to use journaling, movement, art, music, or a combination of different modalities to heighten the therapeutic process.
Each expressive arts modality is unique and can be applied in combinations by a qualified expressive arts facilitator. For example, journaling might be an appropriate expressive outlet for someone new to therapy; or another person might benefit most from the use of movement or drama. Different modalities may be used at any point in the therapeutic process.
Declare your minor to Expressive Arts!
Officially declare your Expressive Arts Minor! To do so, go to the website: https://enrollment.utrgv.edu/Major-Change/Auth/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fmajor-change) . You will be asked to login with your UTRGV credentials to access the Change of Major Form. While the page states Change of Major, this form allows you to declare both majors and minors. Once logged in, follow the instructions shown.
How to Register!
Select Expressive Arts-EXAR from the subjects available during registration.
To learn more about the Expressive Arts, contact Dr. Kim L. Nguyen-Finn at kim.finn01@utrgv.edu or (956) 665-5244.
Information on the Graduate Certificate in Expressive Arts can be found on the Expressive Arts Therapy Certificate page.
