Expressive Arts - 391

Ontario College Graduate Certificate
One year or less
Prepare for a fulfilling career creating programming to support clients with diverse needs. Develop, manage, and facilitate programs utilizing the arts and creative processes.
Overhead view of art and collage supplies on a table and a hand painting
How to Apply
Overview

Program Highlights

  • You will gain hands on experience with various expressive arts modalities, including: drumming, story-telling, drama, dance, journaling, painting, sculpting and more.
  • Study various populations and communities focusing on their strengths and specialized needs.
  • Learn to develop, implement and facilitate programming within various communities.
  • You will join the growing field of expressive arts practitioners and can choose to set up your own practice or incorporate this specialization into your current career path.
  • As a graduate of the program, you can join the Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association (OEATA) as an Expressive Arts Practitioner.

Skills Gained

  • Graduate certificate builds on previous degree or diploma providing a specialization for creating and managing social programming in the arts.
  • Examine case studies to develop, and enhance knowledge of the expressive arts field.
  • Create mock initiatives that involve program overviews, mission statements, funding and grant applications, budgets, program guides, equipment and staffing to support client needs.
  • Learn how to prioritize expressive arts modalities relative to client group needs, limitations and interests.

What you’ll learn

  • Design, organize, facilitate and manage expressive arts programs.
  • Explore, participate in and facilitate various expressive arts modalities including: drumming, storytelling, theatre, movement and dance, journaling, painting, poetry and sculpture.
  • Propose programs, create budgets and funding applications, consider long-term program growth strategies and staffing needs.
  • Analyze differences within the population and methods for best catering programming to address the needs of client groups.
  • Field placement offers real-programming experience and hands-on experience with client groups.

Program Length

3 semesters (40 weeks) 

Semesters 1 and 2

  • Evenings: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
  • Time: 5:30 - 9:30 pm (To accommodate full-time commitments)

Semester 3

  • Placement offered

Explore our many videos, online resources and program options within the Open House Plus website.

We’re here for you to support applications and admissions by providing online and virtual service.

 

Applied and have questions?
The admissions team is available to help, you can contact them via Admissions or by phone at 1-844-767-6871.

 

Haven’t applied and need help?
Contact us or phone 905-575-2460.

Program delivery

Learn more about virtual and remote learning and how programs will be delivered.

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Admission

Admission Requirements

  • Two-year college diploma or university degree. Preference will be given to applicants with a diploma, degree or work experience in Community Services, Health Sciences or the Arts.
  • Other equivalent postsecondary experience or qualifications will be considered.

Questions?

Language Requirements for International Students:

  • See below for accepted equivalents for Grade 12 English:

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English. Options are available for mature applicants.​

Tuition and Fees

Domestic Tuition and Fees

Contact Student Services to confirm fees for other start dates or semesters.

International Tuition and Fees

If you pay by wire transfer, please note your bank might charge you a fee to transfer money. Make sure your transfer includes the Mohawk payment and the wire transfer fee. This applies to each wire transfer payment you make.

Additional Information

Experiential Learning

How you'll gain skills

  • Test and apply course concepts in our labs
  • Application of theory and skills through field placement experiences to prepare for real-world challenges.

To learn more, please visit the Centre for Experiential Learning. 

 

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes, often referred to as ‘Program Standards', set out the essential learning that a student must achieve before being deemed ready to graduate.

In many cases these program learning outcomes were developed by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) in consultation with employers and educators who are experts in the program field. To ensure the outcomes remain current and in line with industry needs, we invite our employers, graduates working in the field and current students to re-examine and update them during regular, ongoing program review focus groups.

Career Opportunities

Your future career options

  • Conduct research, program evaluation and policy involving expressive arts.
  • Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a variety of private, non-profit and government settings.
  • Support clients with specialized needs in a variety of settings.
  • Propose and create programming, manage supplies, facilities and staffing needs for each program.

Where you could work includes:

  • Hospitals
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Community outreach programs
  • Recreation centres
  • Schools
  • Non-profits
  • Start-up and community initiatives

Educational Pathways

 

Pathways to Mohawk 

If you've successfully taken a course at another post-secondary institution, you may be able to earn course exemptions toward your credential here at Mohawk.
 

Pathways within Mohawk

If you have successfully completed one of the following programs at Mohawk, you may be eligible to receive transfer credit in this program. *

This Pathways map shows how the identified program can lead to future program choices within Mohawk.

View internal pathways map larger

Expressive Arts pathways map


Pathways beyond Mohawk

See ontransfer.ca for additional opportunities at other colleges or universities in Ontario.

Search the Mohawk Transfer Database for opportunities outside of Ontario.

Program Coordinator

Faculty

Contact us

Domestic Canadian Students

Contact Student Recruitment
Haven’t applied yet and have questions?
Contact our Student Recruitment team for information on programs, how to apply, and more.

Contact Admissions
Contact our Admissions advisors for help with your application.
Contact Admissions
Phone: 1-844-767-6871

International Students

Contact International Student Recruitment
Contact our International Student Recruitment team for information on programs, how to apply, and student life.
Contact International
Email: intl.representatives@mohawkcollege.ca
Phone: 1-905-575-2254
Toll free phone numbers:
For general questions: 1-888-Mohawk9 (1-888-664-2959)
North China: 10-800-714-2521
South China: 10-800-140-2541
Brazil: 0800-022-7408
Philippines: 180011102544

Contact International Admissions
Contact our Admissions advisors for help with your application.
Contact International Admissions
Phone: 1-905-575-2254

*Not all programs are international eligible. Please see our programs available for international students.

Accessible Learning Services

Are you a student with a confirmed or suspected disability? Visit our Accessible Learning Services website to discover how we can help you.

Program Coordinator

Student Success Advisors

  • Student Success Advisors assist current students to transition to college life, co-creating an academic success plan, advice on course selection, changing programs, or referrals to specialized support services. If you need help applying to Mohawk, contact Admissions (for International Students, please contact International Admissions).

    Tracey Richardson

    Tracey Richardson

 

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Headshot of Kayla Miller

The Expressive Arts Graduate Certificate at Mohawk College has been an excellent extension of my education. The courses are well-rounded and address how the content can be applied to a wide range of populations. We explored an abundance of artistic modalities in both theory and practice. This makes me feel well prepared to create my own programming. The faculty have become great resources and all bring a unique skill set to the program. Individuality and unique approaches are encouraged and I was able to tailor all of the assignments to my personal interest. I even began freelance work during my studies with an intuitive movement workshop here in Hamilton!

- Kayla Miller, 2020

Photo of Kori Pop

The experience I had as a student in the Expressive Arts program at Mohawk College was transformative, inspiring and even healing at times. The wealth of knowledge, insight and wisdom I gained from the course content, the instructors and my classmates far exceeded my expectations. After 20+ years of performance and education in music, I wanted to shift my focus to helping others learn to use the creative arts as a tool for self-expression and a way to develop self-efficacy. My hope upon enrolling was that I would learn how to develop healthy professional boundaries and a trauma informed approach to my work with others.  While this was indeed accomplished, what became a most surprising (and life altering) outcome was having an opportunity to do this work for myself personally. This came about through the opportunity to actively and reflectively engage in the course content on a regular basis. I highly recommend this program to professionals who find themselves in roles that are inherently supportive. This program will help you cultivate greater self-awareness and leave you with a unique approach to wellness that will undoubtedly help you as much as it will those you serve.

- Kori Pop, 2020