BFA in Art Education and Art Licensure: K-12

Art Education and Art Licensure: K-12

If you are inspired to teach, the Art Education program at Metropolitan State University of Denver offers two pathways to K-12 certification:

•  The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art, with concentration in Art Education degree, plus licensure, or

•  A post-baccalaureate program for those who have already successfully completed a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree, plus licensure.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with concentration in Art Education requires the completion of 124-130 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 concentration 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.

Portfolio Review and Admission

All students entering the department 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 (Communication Design), or ARTH (Art History), those wishing to pursue the B.F.A. in Art (either the professional studio art degree or the art education concentration) or the B.F.A. in Communication Design will be required to pass a formal portfolio review for admittance into those programs.

Portfolio Review Guidelines ( 64 KB)

Download Degree Requirements:

Advising sheets are based on students catalog year:

2006 - 2011 K-12 Art Ed Program ( 177 KB)

2008 - 2011 K-12 Art Ed Post-Baccalaureate ( 192 KB)

2012 BFA Art Ed ( 266 KB)

2012 Post- BFA Art Ed Licensure ( 221 KB)

For More Information:

The Department of Art office is located in the Arts Building, room 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.