ART THERAPY

This educational programme was established at the Department of Psychology of the Faculty of Psychology of the Masaryk University in Brno and in 2015 it was transferred in its entirety to the College of Polytechnics Jihlava.
The Art Therapy programme lasts 4 semesters and is implemented under the auspices of the Department of Social Work of the VŠPJ within the framework of lifelong learning.

• Who is the training for?

The training is intended for graduates of secondary schools with a high school diploma, workers in leisure centres and correctional facilities, special educators, educators, social workers and other helping professions, artists and other interested persons.

• Objective of training

The graduates will use art therapy methods and techniques to work in educational, counselling, educational, charitable, cultural and leisure settings.

• Period of training

Education is organised in the mode of the academic year of the VŠPJ. The academic year normally starts in September and ends in June of that year. The ART THERAPY programme takes 2 academic years, and is usually delivered on the 2nd weekend of each month (first year) and the 3rd weekend of each month (second year).

• Forms of training

The education includes 324 hours of lectures, methodological seminars, practical exercises, excursions, and other additional events. The training programme includes 16 hours of practical training (8 hours in each year). All training activities are led by university academics or external practitioners. Classes are usually held once a month on Saturdays and Sundays at the premises of the VŠPJ, Tolstého 16 in Jihlava. Participants will receive a timetable before the start of the training. Participants are obliged to complete 80% of attendance and 100% of practical training (unless otherwise specified by the programme guarantor).

• Scope of training

The first year of the educational program is focused on the acquisition of the theoretical foundations of the general disciplines forming the basis of art therapy (introduction to the psychology of personality and mental development, the basics of artistic thinking in art therapy, an overview of the philosophy of culture, art history, etc.) and on mastering practical skills for the independent application of art therapy procedures (art, graphic and ceramic art, music therapy, movement education, dance therapy, etc.).

The second year of the educational program is oriented towards special knowledge for the work of an art therapist (psychology of imaginative education, basics of psychiatry and psychotherapy, methodology of work of an art therapist, etc.) and expansion of practical skills in other areas of art therapy (projective techniques, drama education, group work, independent work with patients, etc.).

• Completion of training

Education is completed by a final examination and the defence of the final thesis after all study obligations within the individual courses have been fulfilled. The final thesis is approximately 20 pages long, of which 50% is theoretical and 50% practical. Successful graduates will receive a certificate.

• Costs of training

The cost of education for applicants in the academic year 2025/2026 is 32,000 CZK for the entire course of study. Payment is made in four instalments - i.e. 8,000 CZK/semester, always before the start of each semester, based on the instructions of the programme organisers.

• Applying for training

Registration for the training is normally commenced on April 1 of a given year through an electronic application form.

A decision on admission/non-admission to the training will be given to the applicant within 30 days of the close of the application process.

The maximum capacity of one year is 24 participants. The admission is determined by the date of application and the fulfilment of the conditions (completion of secondary school studies by the secondary school-leaving examination). If this condition is not met, an application for an exemption can be submitted using the form here. The decision on the exemption is made by the supervisor of the programme.

Participation in the ART THERAPY programme does not require passing an entrance exam.

Before submitting an application, we recommend reading the Study and Commerical Terms and Conditions.

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