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The Art Education program at Metropolitan State University of Denver offers two pathways to K-12 certification:
- The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education, including coursework leading to licensure
- A post-baccalaureate program for those who have already successfully completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Degree, including coursework leading to licensure.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art in Art Education requires the completion of 123-124 credit hours of study in the areas of studio art, art history, teacher education, and art education. The post-baccalaureate offers students with a B.F.A. from an accredited institution of higher education the opportunity to complete additional studies in the area of art education leading to K-12 licensure. Both programs prepare discerning and reflective professional educators for the professional field of teaching. Both pathways are NCATE and NASAD accredited.
Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Art Education program fuses a progressive 21st century approach in the discipline of Art Education with your development as an artist. Within the discipline of Art Education, students focus on generative, authentic, contextualized exploration where inquiry is driven by socially engaged research and contemporary art practices. You will learn how to apply issues and themes poetically, building curriculum to discover the possibilities of what it means to instruct through an idea versus about an idea. As a future artist-teacher, you will put into practice informed research while working in the K-12 classroom. Combining artistic practice, educational studies, and field experience as an educator, you will be prepared to bring about creative change in the world through the lives of your students.
Coursework for Post-Bachelor of Fine Arts K-12 Teacher Licensure for Art is available through the Department of Art for those with an existing Art degree. This option is for post-baccalaureate students with an existing BFA in Art. Students must meet with an art education advisor to determine whether additional coursework may be needed. There are additional requirements for teacher certification.
The BFA in Art Education shares the same goals as the BFA in Art for students to become critical, creative thinkers and makers. Art Educators are practicing artists and the degree in Art Education prepares discerning and reflective professional educators for the professional field of teaching K-12.
In the BFA in Art Education, as in the BFA in Art, instruction should prepare students to:
- Make artworks that show evidence of intellectual inquiry and curiosity;
- Convey ideas that are consistently reinforced through the execution of cohesive work(s) that are the result of the process of making;
- Use effective and eloquent oral, written, and visual communication of enduring ideas.
Additionally, instruction in the Art Education degree should prepare students to:
- Successfully teach in an art classroom applying and testing principles and methods of diverse age appropriate instructional approaches and curriculum development that illustrates respect and professionalism for the field of teaching.
- Assess aptitudes, experiential backgrounds and interests of individuals and diverse groups of students, and devise learning experiences to meet assessed needs.
- Develop and present a professional portfolio of work including lesson plans, examples of student work and an art education philosophy statement that demonstrates current best practices in the field.
Portfolio Requirements and Admission
All students entering the Department of Art as majors are admitted under either the B.A. in Art or the B.A. in Art History, Theory, and Criticism. After completing the foundation courses and one other course in ART, CDES, or ARTH, those wishing to pursue the B.F.A. in Art, B.F.A. in Art Education, or the B.F.A. in Communication Design will be required to pass a formal portfolio review for admittance.
For More Information
The Department of Art office is located on first floor of the Arts Building, Suite 187 on the Auraria Campus, Denver, Colorado, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Faculty and staff members are available by appointment or during scheduled walk-in hours, please call first.
