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Post-Bacc Art/Masters of Arts in Teaching Art PK-12 Certification

Mission Statement

The 91¿´Æ¬ post-baccalaureate/Masters of Arts in Teaching K-12 Art Education certification program prepares students to become professional visual arts educators. 

The Art Education program empowers future educators to cultivate creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in their students through the study inquiry based art education. By blending theory with field experiences, students learn to create learner-centered, student-driven classrooms that foster a deep understanding of diverse learning needs. Our program emphasizes the importance of solid pedagogical approaches rooted in the PDE Visual Arts and Humanities Standards and National Core Art Standards.

Program Outcomes:

  • Develop inquiry based learner-centered art experiences that reflect a deep understanding of diverse student needs and effective pedagogical practices.
  • Cultivate the ability to create inclusive, collaborative, and creative classroom & community environments through art education.
  • Maintain a strong studio art practice to inform teaching methods and support professional growth as future art educators.

Course Requirements

All candidates must complete the required Professional Education Courses listed below to earn certification in K-12 Art Education, these courses meet the Performances and Professionalism Competencies for K12 Art Educators. Candidates’ undergraduate art coursework will be reviewed, and additional undergraduate Art courses may also be required for licensure, based on the Content Competencies as outlined by the PA Department of Education. Students pursuing a master’s degree can add one additional course—EDUC 588: Master of Arts in Teaching Cross-Disciplinary Capstone—to their sequence and begin their teaching journey with a master’s.

Summer I & 2(Starts in early May)
EDUC 502.2Introduction to the Education of English Language Learners
EDUC 507Culture, Community & Diversity: Intro to Critical Pedagogy 
EDUC 503Student Development and Instructional Design  
EDUC 534Including Students with Disabilities 
 Bachelor’s outside of content area - take and pass praxis
  
Fall 
EDUC 545Curriculum & Instruction in Art Grades Pre-k-6 (75-hour stage 3 field experience) 
EDUC 546Creativity, Art, and Social Practice
  
Spring 
EDUC 549Curriculum & Instruction in Art Grades 7-12 (75-hour stage 3 field experience)
EDUC 543Art and Child Development
  
Summer I  
EDUC 588Masters of Arts in Teaching Cross-Disciplinary Capstone Course
  
Fall 
EDUC 575Student Teaching
EDUC 576Student Teaching 
EDUC 577Student Teaching
EDUC 579Seminar in Art Student Teaching
  

Fall Year 1 
EDUC 502.2Introduction to the Education of English Language Learners
EDUC 507Culture, Community & Diversity: Intro to Critical Pedagogy  
EDUC 503Student Development and Instructional Design 
 Bachelor’s outside of content area - take and pass praxis
  
Spring Year 1 
EDUC 534Including Students with Disabilities 
EDUC 543Art and Child Development 
EDUC 549Curriculum & Instruction in Art Grades 7-12 (75-hour stage 3 field experience) 
  
Fall Year 2 
EDUC 546Creativity, Art, and Social Practice
EDUC 545Curriculum & Instruction in Art Grades Pre-k-6 (75-hour stage 3 field experience) 
  
Spring Year 2Student Teaching Semester 
EDUC 575Student Teaching
EDUC 576Student Teaching 
EDUC 577Student Teaching
EDUC 579Seminar in Art Student Teaching
  
Summer I  
EDUC 588Masters of Arts in Teaching Cross-Disciplinary Capstone Course

Professional Education Courses

  • EDUC 502.2 Intro. to the Education of English Language Learners
  • EDUC 507 Culture, Community & Diversity: Intro. to Critical Pedagogy
  • EDUC 530 Student Development & Instructional Design
  • EDUC 534 Including Students with Disabilities
  • EDUC 543 Art and Child Development
  • EDUC 546 Creativity, Art, and Social Practice
  • EDUC 545 Curriculum & Instruction in Art - Grades PreK-6  (75-hour, Stage 3 Field Exp.)
  • EDUC 549 Curriculum & Instruction in Art - Grades 7-12  (75-hour, Stage 3 Field Exp.)
  • EDUC 575-7 Student Teaching
  • EDUC 579 Seminar in Art Student Teaching

Art Education Core

The courses listed below comprise the competencies met through undergraduate art education program. Graduate candidates should demonstrate having equivalent coursework as an undergraduate student, or may need to meet these competencies in consultation with an advisor.

  • I. Knowing the Content
    • I.A. Concentrated Study in Studio Art
    • I.B. Art History
    • I.C. Aesthetics
    • I.D. Criticism

Important Guidelines

  • Students must have an overall GPA of 2.7 in order to take education courses numbered above 510.
  • All education courses must be completed prior to beginning student teaching. No other courses should be taken during the student teaching semester.
  • Students must have prior written approval by the program coordinator if they plan to complete any of these courses at another institution.

Content Area Tests - required prior to certification

  • 5134  Art: Content Knowledge
  • 5511  Fundamental Subjects:  Content Knowledge

Please visit this site for more information: 

Test scores should be reported to 91¿´Æ¬ (RA2418) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 

For candidates without an undergraduate degree in Art, the content knowledge exam will be required prior to taking EDUC courses beyond 543.