Art Education Major

BFA degree

The BFA is a professional degree that prepares students for licensure in elementary or secondary school teaching or for work in other learning environments and it is founded on studio practice.  Students must complete a concentration in one of the studio areas in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Teaching licensure students become Art Education Teacher Candidates after passing the Communication and Literacy Skills portion of the Massachusetts Test of Educator Licensure (MTEL). Teaching licensure students become Art Education Pre-Service Candidates only after passing the entire MTEL, which includes the Visual Arts portion, before the first semester of their senior year, a prerequisite for entrance to the student teaching practicum. Depending upon the level of licensure sought, in consultation with the Art Education faculty advisor, and prior to class registration each semester, the appropriate Art Education courses must be selected and passed.  Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.75 and obtain a positive recommendation from the chairperson before permission is granted to the student for entrance in his/her student teaching (Practicum). Student teaching requires a commitment of 400 total hours, earning full-time (12 credits) status. During the pre-practicum field experience, UMD pre-service teachers observe and assist in teaching students at their selected grade level (PreK-8 or 5-12) in public schools. Students must acquire a total of seventy-five hours outside of class during their pre-practicum field work, plus 20 hours observations in Sheltered English Immersion (SEI).

Program requirements will be revised to reflect on-going developments in state regulations and educational reform. The baccalaureate program is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and leads to a single level initial license in Massachusetts as an art teacher in grades PreK-8 or 5-12.

Students preparing for careers other than teaching may also pursue this major, are not required to pass the MTEL, and may take an Art Education Non-Licensure Capstone that provides a field experience placement in a community setting, agency, hospital, nursing home or geriatric center, museum, children’s day care facility or the like in lieu of a student teaching placement in a school. Students choosing this alternative option will not earn state licensure.

During their sophomore year all majors must meet with the Art Education faculty to declare their career intentions and plan their studies accordingly. Majors must choose their studio concentration area by the spring advising period of their sophomore year.

Students are required by DESE to complete the Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) course EDU 452/552. This course will count toward AED 470 or an appropriate university studies requirement.

Laptop Computer Requirements

Beginning in the first year, Art Education majors are required to use laptops and Windows Office Suite in their required and elective art education courses. Art Education students choose 15 credits of a studio concentration and should consult the laptop requirement for the department of the chosen studio area.

Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes in Art Education are aligned with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) standards, with the national and state standards in visual arts education and with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s professional standards for licensure. The Bachelor of Art Education program is approved by the Office of Educator Licensure, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements in Art Education, students will:

• Execute teaching strategies and communication skills
• Explain philosophy, history, and fundamentals of elementary or secondary art education
• Apply artistic skill, critical analysis, and judgment
• Practice expertise in student’s own art production
• Apply depth and breadth of artistic knowledge
• Differentiate and present teaching strategies in multiple formats to increase student comprehension 
• Analyze western and non-western traditions in art history, culture, and influences of differing views
• Assess lessons based on artistic media, historical narratives, contemporary issues, human development, and learning needs  
• Formulate and demonstrate an individual and evolving philosophy of teaching art education and professional readiness 
• Design curriculum, lesson plans, preparations, and assessment instruments