Art: Visual Arts Education

Major

What you’ll learn in visual arts education

Our Visual Arts Education program is designed to help you become an effective teacher. You will gain the best of both worlds, refining your creative skills under the mentorship of practicing artists in the Department of Art and Design, and developing your understanding of PK-12 teaching from the Department of Teaching and Special Education.

In our arts education major, you'll gain hands-on experience with 200 clinical hours before starting student teaching. This practical training will build the skills you need for success in the classroom. You'll take four courses on art teaching methods.

You'll have the opportunity to work with nationally acclaimed artists through our Stephen L. Barstow Arts-in-Residence program. Visiting artists participate in lecture series, lead workshops, and mentor students — all right on campus.

To help you develop your craft, our nationally accredited department offers several resources, including:

• Two professional lighting studios with an array of hot lights and strobes.
• Four well-lit studios with facilities for a wide range of painting and drawing materials and methods.
• A professional wood and metal shop, foundry and mold-making and casting room.
• A digital print lab with several archival printers, 21-seat computer labs and an alternative process darkroom.
• 20+ Brent potters wheels, various types of kilns, and a full inventory of dry materials for clay and glaze mixing.

You will have the chance to network with professional art education teachers through the National Art Education Association to broaden your professional opportunities upon graduation. An art education degree prepares you for careers as a teacher, artist, art administrator, and more.

Highlights of our visual arts education major

As a visual arts education student here, you'll:

• Take diverse courses: Take courses such as Ceramics, Graphic Design, Photography, Printmaking, Art History, Animation, Painting and Drawing.
• Get hands-on practice: Complete 200 hours of Arts Education experience before student teaching. 
• Learn to handle tough topics: Take a special course on guiding challenging discussions with students.
• Make professional connections: Build friendships through mentored learning groups.
• Create fun lessons: Use new teaching methods like game-based learning.
• Work with experienced teachers: Learn from professors that have taught the arts in elementary, middle and high schools.