Art Education

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 a 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.

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.

Download Degree and Licensure Requirements:

 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)

Anne Thulson
Art Education
Assistant Professor

athulson@msudenver.edu
303-352-7073  AR 182