Art Education (MFA)

Children draw at a table with art supplies while a teacher observes. The classroom features art on the walls, suggesting a creative, educational environment.

MFA students develop breadth and depth of art skill in a variety of media to develop a comprehensive art portfolio while exploring the theory, history, and practices of art education. Students learn strategies for implementing technology into their teaching, supporting students with diverse needs, and gain first-hand experience through guided fieldwork and internship. Students will complete their graduate studies by developing and implementing an original art education program that showcases their art and teaching skills, and professional readiness.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Degree
Major Classes

This program is available online

School of Art Education

ARE 600

Educational Psychology Major/3

Effective teaching starts with healthy psychological principles. Explore educational practices, student development and characteristics, learning processes, and teaching strategies to better understand your students and yourself. (This course is cross-listed with GLA 600, ARE 305, and LA 305.)

ARE 601

Overview of Art Education Theories and Practices Major/3

Understanding the full breadth of your graduate program can lay the foundation for future success. Get insights into the history of art education, pedagogy, visual arts standards, advocacy, teaching in diverse art education environments, and professional readiness.

ARE 610

Teaching Audiences in a Diverse Society Major/3

Meet the diverse educational needs of students in a public school classroom. You'll learn strategies to identify student language needs—and how to adapt your lessons to address them—through course content, fieldwork, and observations.

ARE 611

Teaching Audiences with Special Needs Major/3

Effective public school teachers tailor their instruction to meet the specific needs of individual students in their classrooms. You will learn to adapt instruction for students with varying physical, social, and intellectual abilities.

ARE 615

Integrating Technology into Art Education Settings Major/3

Explore the full array of curriculum-based technologies being used in today's art education settings. 21st-century teachers need to be fluent in technology literacy. This course fulfills a California Art Teaching Credential requirement. (This course is cross-listed with ARE 515.)

ARE 625

Curriculum Design and Planning Major/3

This Art Education methodology course will help fill your teaching toolbox by developing a curriculum unit and lesson plans while examining critique strategies, collaborative practices, and how to create art environments for diverse learners.

ARE 626

Innovative Instructional Design and Practices Major/3

Broaden your art education perspective beyond traditional ideas. You will develop innovative art lessons and original art programs that can be implemented in your Capstone Project courses and in your future classrooms.

ARE 640

Internship Placement and Concurrent Class Meetings Major/3

Put theory to practice by being immersed in a teaching environment. You will spend 90 hours (spread across the semester) practicing all you have learned in a real-world art education environment. Share your experiences—the strengths, challenges, and reflections—with classmates.

Degree Requirements

Unit Requirements	Units
Major	24
Directed Study	18
Graduate Liberal Arts	3
Studio	15
Total	60

MFA ART EDUCATION DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Successful completion of Final Capstone Project
Minimum grade of C in all required 60 units
Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and the following Academic Study requirement:

1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic Sensitivity course

1 Cross Cultural Understanding course

Additional Information

Graduate Liberal Arts

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:

Art and Design Skills

Produce artwork representing skills in a broad range of creative media (midpoint only).
Produce a body of professional-level artwork demonstrating personal vision, rigor, and cohesiveness (final only).

Teaching and Communication Skills

Design effective art education curricula targeting specific audiences with consideration for the needs of diverse learners.
Demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge of sound instructional strategies based on content standards in the visual arts, key contemporary art theories and experiences in the field.
Demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge for appropriate uses of technology in art education settings.
Articulate the importance of art in education based on advanced levels of research, observation, and experience.

Visual Literacy

Articulate the formal and expressive properties of works of art and design as well as their content, meaning and purpose at an advanced level.

Knowledge of Human Development

Demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge of human developmental stages and their application to learners’ cognitive, social, emotional, and physical abilities in art education settings.
Demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge of learners' diverse linguistic and cultural needs in art education settings.
Demonstrate an advanced level of knowledge of learners with special needs (physical, cognitive, gifted, etc.) in art education settings.

MFA Capstone Project

Propose an original art education capstone concept worthy of the MFA degree (midpoint only).
Develop a capstone project based on research that demonstrates advanced levels of analysis, insight, design, and methods based on the distinctive needs and characteristics of art education settings and audiences (final only).
Implement and document an original art education capstone project that demonstrates depth of art skill and application of educational theory and best practices (final only).

Professional Readiness

Demonstrate professional-level presentation skills appropriate to art education settings.
Demonstrate an advanced level of breadth and depth of accomplishment as an artist and art educator through a professional portfolio.