Graduate Level — M.A. in Art Education

The Master of Arts degree in Art Education offers three separate program options. M.A. students have the opportunity to obtain state teaching certification, to further their teaching knowledge and skills, or to learn about art museum education. A master's degree in Art Education supports students in deepening their knowledge of art education practice, theory, and research while specializing in specific forms of art education, such as art museum education.

The M.A. program in Art Education aims at creating a citizenry well-informed on educational issues, high-quality graduates in Art Education and a workforce well-prepared for teaching in a global economy.

Three Tracks

The M.A. in Art Education offers three separate program options. Required background for admission depends upon the option the applicant intends to pursue.

  • Track 1: Art Education
    This general degree option is for EC-12 certified art teachers who want to enhance their knowledge of contemporary and past art forms and advance their skills in areas of teaching and learning in Art Education.
  • Track 2: Art Museum Education
    This concentration is designed to provide graduate students a broad introduction to teaching and learning about contemporary and past art forms in present day art museum education settings and knowledge of how research informs practice within the museum setting.
  • Track 3: Teacher Certification
    This option prepares students to go on to pursue teaching careers in EC -12 teaching environments. Students are prepared for all-level art teacher certification while acquiring a graduate degree in Art Education
    • Those applying for Track 3: Teacher Certification must have taken at least 24 semester credit hours of studio work and at least 12 hours of art history, of which six must be at the advanced level.

All options require applicants to have completed a bachelor's degree in the visual arts or related field.

Applicants without the recommended background for the option that they intend to pursue could be denied admission or accepted on a conditional basis, provided undergraduate coursework in art and/or art education, as assigned at time of acceptance, be completed prior to beginning any graduate-level work.

The specific course of study for each of these tracks is available in the M.A. tracks chart.