BA (Hons) Creative Expressive Therapies (Dance, Drama, Music, Art)
When can you start this course? | UCAS code | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements
Why choose this course?
- You can choose to specialise in art, dance, drama or music allowing you to personalise this course to your own interests and career aspirations.
- You'll gain a thorough grounding to go on to study for a masters degree such as our MA Art Therapy, MA Dramatherapy or MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy.
- This course will open up fantastic opportunities to develop your personal and professional skills, so you can be sure you'll be ready for your first job when you graduate.
- You can study this course full time or part time to give you the flexibility to study at a time and place to suit you.
About the course
If you love dance, drama, music or art and think it's played an important part in your own development, and you want to develop your skills so that you can work creatively with others, then this course is for you.
During this course you'll be able to specialise in art, drama, dance or music, so that you can develop your artistic ability. These sessions involve studio, performance and exhibition work. You'll also learn about the potential of creativity and the arts to promote well being and their therapeutic application in various settings such as the community, voluntary, health, education and the corporate sector.
The course involves lots of group work where you can have the chance to reflect on your own personal development, awareness and communication skills. As part of this course, we'll give you a deep insight into leadership, coaching and group processes which will help you in your future career. You'll also study different therapeutic principles and the meaning of health and illness in the context of historical and cultural values.
We've designed fantastic specialist facilities to give you the best experience. There are dedicated art, dance and music studios and we have a new learning theatre based in the city centre if you choose the drama pathway. We've also got strong links with déda - the Derby dance centre.
You'll be assessed in many ways to help develop and vary your skills. These range from essays, reflective journals/diaries, performances, exhibitions, videos and production projects. You'll also get real opportunities to put your skills into practice during your work placements or through community projects.
Throughout the course you'll develop skills which are transferable. Our flexible and creative approach enables you to adapt to varied and changing circumstances. You'll also be studying therapeutic principles and the meaning of health and illness in the context of historical and cultural values.
Every year we hold a degree show to celebrate the work created by our final year students. View the gallery of work created for the Degree Show in 2011.
Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...Your career
This course is a great stepping stone to go on to further training as a music, drama, dance or art therapist. You could choose to study our MA Art Therapy, MA Dramatherapy or MA Dance Movement Psychotherapy, which will lead to registration as an arts therapist - an exciting and fulfilling career.
You'll gain transferable skills from this course such as effective communication, personal development and leadership skills, which you'll be able to apply to a range of different settings. You could therefore take further training to be a teacher or a social worker, a human resource manager, or you may decide to work in community arts, set up your own business or work creatively with people in different settings.
Recent graduate Sarah Paine has set up her own project with fellow graduate Tracey Cullen and they run an innovative project called 'Fun Friday' every week through the community arts organisation, Inspirative Arts, which they both founded. Inspirative Arts developed after Sarah worked with adults with severe learning disabilities during her final year, while on a placement with independent charity Derbyshire Advocacy Service. Read their full story here.
Graduate Sarah Dunford was recently selected to exhibit her work at the popular Wirksworth Festival. Read the full story here.
Recent graduate Reuben Francis now works for Cambridgeshire County Council as the Lead Playworker at the new 'Play Pathfinder' funded adventure playground in Wisbech. Read more about Reuben's success.
What our students say
Emily Jane Robinson, a current student on this course:
"I've just finished a ten week placement at a local school and it was incredible to see the impact creativity has on the lives of young children who'd been bullied."
Grace Goodbean, one of our current students
"The course has shifted my aspirations. Before I might have been looking at jobs as a support worker but now I'm thinking more about how I can influence policy. I can't believe I'm saying that but with the experience I've gained and now the knowledge to back it up, it puts me in a position where I could and should be applying for those higher level opportunities." Read Grace's full story.
"I found the skills I developed on the degree invaluable in training as a Music Therapist" Alison
"...that's my recent assertiveness learned from being on the course! I have so much praise and respect for the course as it has taught me so much" Amy
"The degree is demanding both personally and academically and therefore results in graduates having high standards of professional working practice" Ian
"I've really enjoyed the last three years of my life thoroughly. I know I will go on to do something creative in a career I can skip into everyday knowing I feel happy to be there. Thanks to you and the CET lecture team. I am extremely thankful for this chance of learning in Derby, and I'll go on to praise this course forever." Nadine O'Loughlin
Sarah Dunford, a recent graduate of this course:
"I'm now working as a full time support worker at a therapeutic children's home in Kent for children and young people with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties; generally resulting from early life trauma/abuse. I plan on working here for at least three years before I go on to study my MA. I don't think there is any course or experience that could have set me up better to face the various challenges this job holds than CET. I'm so grateful for all the amazing experiences, skills and knowledge I gained through the degree, and also all the support I received on the course when times were tough and I wasn't sure I'd make it to the end!"
Take a look at some of the inspirational work from our students from the Degree Show 2011.
How you'll learn
Due to the nature of the programme, a lot of the learning is by taking part and 'doing' (experiential learning) and requires an average of 14 hours attendance every week at Stage 1 falling to an average of 10 hours per week at Stage 3.
We use a variety of creative teaching and learning methods and there is a good balance of theory and practice. Some modules are delivered in smaller groups which are complemented by larger lectures.
In each module we allocate a number of hours to your own private study, but you can ask for guidance with this whenever you need it. Modules are supported by module handbooks and online course resources and we always try to meet any particular needs that our students have, by developing a Support Plan with them.
How you're assessed
Assignments range from reflective essays, video projects, exhibition and performance through to journal article reviews. Everyone completes an Independent Study at Stage 3, which is 6,000 - 8,000 words.
Fieldtrips
All students participate in an Environmental Sculpture project and there are trips to various exhibitions, galleries, festivals and performances, some of which are abroad. As part of this course you'll also visit a 'big wood' on the outskirts of Derby and investigate sculptures made from materials out of the wood.
Work placements
There is also a placement at Stage 3 which builds upon the modules Working Creatively with People and Disadvantage at Stages 1 and 2.
Start dates
If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:
- September 2012
If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:
- September 2012
UCAS code
W191 Creative Expressive Therapies (Art)
W590 Creative Expressive Therapies (Dance)
W490 Creative Expressive Therapies (Drama)
W391 Creative Expressive Therapies (Music)
Fees
This is a resource intensive course.
UK/EU students
- Full time: £7,495 (each year)
- Part time: £935 per module (you usually take 18 of these modules in total).
International students
- Full time: £9,975 (each year)
*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.
More information about our fees for September 2012 and the support available
Course length
Full time: 3 years
Part time: 5 years
Entry requirements
Our entry requirements are usually 280 UCAS points from A levels, or equivalent qualifications ...
