Art Education
BFA
Art Education occupies the overlap between visual expression and social responsibility. Art Education is recognized as an integrated, compound discipline, requiring intensive training in studio art and art history while reaching beyond art and education for its resources. The social and cognitive sciences provide frameworks through which contemporary issues in visual culture and the transmission of cultural knowledge are explored.
Philosophy
All coursework has an accompanying practicum, designed to provide pre-service teachers with the means to examine and apply their knowledge in a field setting. As a result of this learning-through-practice approach, all stakeholders benefit, including the pre-service teacher, the profession, the school district and future generations of young students.
Our program is distinguished by our concentration on practical applications — hands-on experience working with children and youth — throughout the course of study. Our Saturday Morning Art classes, taught by Art Education pre-service teachers, have brought opportunities for creative expression to children in the community for over 20 years. Additional outreach opportunities are provided through collaboration with various non-profit organizations in mid-Michigan.
All pathways in design-based degree disciplines begin with Foundations course work covering essential forms and concepts in visual art practice.
Teacher Certification
In preparation for the Teacher Certification Internship-Year Art Education students spend a semester teaching in the Saturday Morning Art (SmART) outreach program.
