Arts in Health Online Graduate Certificate
“Arts in Health is a field dedicated to using the power of the arts to enhance health and well-being in diverse institutional and community contexts.”
—the National Organization of Arts in Health (NOAH)
Learn more about the about the arts in health initiative.
Certificate Overview
The Arts in Health graduate certificate allows any graduate student (degree or non-degree) at Ohio University to learn a breadth of foundational concepts related to Arts in Health theory, practice, and research. Students will have opportunities to discover how visual art, dance, theater, music, film philosophy of art relate to health, as well as have unique opportunities to experience community Arts in Health practices and processes related along with learning about social prescribing and arts prescription.
This 12-credit online certificate requires four 3-credit graduate courses: two Arts in Health required courses and two electives chosen from pre-approved graduate courses in Arts Administration (for Athens Online students only), Public Health, or Integrated Health Sciences disciplines. The certificate allows degree seeking and non-degree seeking graduate students opportunities to gain foundational knowledge in Arts in Health while exploring topics related to their own interests in the arts and health sciences disciplines.
All classes are offered online through eCampus/Athens Online.
Goals and Outcomes:
Upon completion of the certificate, students will be able to:
– Support and advocate for use of the fine arts to impact health and well-being for people in healthcare, public health, and community settings.
– Engage in successful community-based Arts in Health volunteer experiences.
– Apply concepts and experiences from the Arts in Health certificate to other graduate studies or current work.
Opportunities Upon Completion
This unique Arts in Health certificate sets students apart in their search for internships and career opportunities, in the fields of public health, the medical field, and in community art programs, all of which are in need of professionals with knowledge of how fine arts can meet the health needs of the people they serve. Students interested in the Arts in Health Certificate and who are performing, visual or literary artists are encouraged to consider the Master of Applied Arts in Health which would allow them to have more applied experiences and obtain a deeper understanding of how to utilize their art in healthcare, public health, and community health programs.
Other options are to contact the directors of related graduate programs of study to explore overlaps between the certificate and those programs.
Admission Requirements & Eligibility
Terms of Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer
Whether you are a current graduate student, or a new degree-seeking or non-degree seeking graduate student, apply to this certificate through the Graduate College. The admissions requirements are as follows:
- Current students seeking to add Certificate
- Must submit the Update of Graduation Program form found here to the Graduate College.
- Certificate-seeking and Non-Degree seeking Application Requirements
- A certificate application must include:
- Appropriate application fee
- Registrar-issued transcripts from the institution where a bachelor’s degree is being or has been conferred.
- A personal statement indicating motivation to complete certificate program
- CV or Resume
- English Proficiency Requirement: Please review information about Ohio University's minimum English Language Proficiency requirements for graduate study.
For full consideration, please apply by the priority application deadline of:
December 7, 2026 for Spring 2027
April 12, 2027 for Summer 2027
August 2, 2027 for Fall 2027
Required Coursework
View Full Coursework Details in the Academic Catalog
Required Courses
- IART 5801 - Introduction to Arts in Health (Fall)
- IART 5802 - Arts in Health Community Project (Spring)
Elective Courses
Complete a minimum of two courses from the following lists of electives. Courses may be a mix of online and Athens campus instruction.
- THAR 5900 - Special Topics in Theater Arts
- HLTH 6710 - Public Health Concepts
- HLTH 6720 - Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health
- IHS 5300 - Fundamental Health Policy: Concepts, Components and Systems
- IHS 5514 - Professional and Clinical Ethics for the Health Professions
For Athens Online students, also available:
- FAR 5100 - Introduction to Arts Administration
- FAR 5200 - Concepts, Communications, and Considerations in Arts Management
Program Contact:
For more information and answers to questions, please contact:
Sharon R. Boyle, D.H.Sc., M.M., MT-BC, LPMT
Associate Professor of Music Therapy
Director of Arts in Health
boyles2@ohio.edu