The Kutenai Art Therapy Institute is hoping to offer students a master’s degree next year.
Terence Buie, who spoke on behalf of the school in front of city council on Monday, said the school is in the process of applying to the ministry of education for the program’s approval.
The Nelson school, which has operated since 1995, currently has a two-year post-graduate diploma that is essentially a master’s degree in all but name.
“A lot of people who graduate from here find that they can get employment but if they had a master’s degree there would be more recognition for what they are doing,” said Buie.
“It’s a bit of a non-situation, because essentially they have a master’s degree but it’s not called a master’s degree. Having [it] here would give more credibility to the school and to the graduates in particular.”
Buie and school founder Monica Carpendale requested a letter of support from the city for both its application to the ministry as well as for a $17,500 Columbia Basin Trust grant to pay for the costs of the process.
If approved, the school’s first master’s class would begin in September 2019. No previous or current Nelson college or university has ever offered a master’s degree.
“It would be a huge boost I think for Nelson to have the first independent art therapy school giving a Masters degree in Canada,” said Buie.
The institute currently has a 28-student cohort. They carry out 600 hours of course work, 700 hours of clinical placement and also write a thesis or major project.
Mayor Deb Kozak was a vocal supporter of the school at Monday’s committee of the whole meeting, where presentations are heard but no decisions are made by council.
Kozak said she has previously worked with Carpendale and knows how much of an impact the school has on its students and the community.
“I’ve seen people blossom [at the school],” said Kozak. “I’ve seen them really grow as individuals. If they’ve had a past trauma it really helps them in their healing process. I think it’s really important work that they do.”
