FA 181 A-Z - Special Topics in Fine Arts and DesignSemester Hours: 1-3
Periodically
Subject and content vary from year to year.
Current Special Topics:
FA 101B: Art, Memory, and Healing: An Exploration Through Art Therapy, Studio Art, and Art History
Morgan Gaydos, Counseling and Mental Health Professions and Anna Novakov, Fine Arts, Design, Art History
This 15-week course brings together the disciplines of Creative Art Therapy, Studio Art, and Art History to explore the therapeutic potential of art in the context of memory and healing. Through team-taught sessions, students will examine how art can facilitate emotional expression, personal reflection, and the processing of memories, particularly in the framework of reminiscence therapy. The course will begin with an introduction to the fundamentals of art therapy and the historical context of how art has been used for healing across cultures. Studio-based projects will guide students in creating artworks that engage with personal and collective memory, while weekly lectures in art history will examine how artists from different periods have grappled with themes of memory, trauma, and identity. Special emphasis will be placed on reminiscence therapy, where students will study its principles and practice, followed by hands-on sessions where they will learn how to use creative techniques to support individuals in recalling and reflecting on their past experiences. The course will be structured around reading assignments, case studies, collaborative art-making, and discussions. Students will emerge with a deeper understanding of the intersection between therapeutic practices, creative expression, and historical context, gaining skills that are applicable to both artistic and therapeutic settings. By the end of the course, students will have developed an understanding of how fine arts can be used as a tool for expression, healing, and social impact, while also refining their artistic skills in a meaningful, interdisciplinary context.
Crosslisted as: HPR 179BB
This course is a featured interdisciplinary course for Fall 2025. For more information, visit our Interdisciplinary Courses Webpage.
Prerequisite(s)/Course Notes:
Course may be repeated when topics vary and students may register for multiple courses within this numbering scheme. As individual subjects are selected, each is assigned a letter (A-Z) which is affixed to the course number. Specific titles and course descriptions for special topics courses are available in the online class schedule. WSC 001 , 002 or equivalent.
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