Undergraduate Programs

BFA Art Education

The Art Education concentration offers two tracks: Art Education I, General Art, offers academic breadth; Art Education II, Studio, offers a concentration in a studio discipline. Upon successful completion of the Art Education program, students are recommended for "A" Teacher licensure. The program prepares undergraduates to become competent, dedicated, and effective art educators at the elementary (K-5), middle school (6-8), and secondary (9-12) levels.

The Art Education concentration focuses on developing advanced studio skills, art history content, technology applications, preparation in liberal studies, and art pedagogy.

Students enrolled in the Art Education program take courses in Studio Art, Art History, and Art Education as well as courses in the School of Education. During the first two years, students concentrate on liberal education, art history, and studio requirements. The junior and senior years are spent meeting Art Education and Teacher Education requirements. Students observe teachers in the public schools during practicum courses in the junior year and student teach the last semester of their senior year.

Through this course of study, students are well prepared to become art teachers in the public schools. Upon the completion of all requirements for graduation and licensure, students are recommended for NC State "A" Licensure to teach. Students who already earned an undergraduate degree can enrolll in the "A" Licensure program through the Teachers Academy. The Education licensure component focuses on the integration of knowledge, skills, and dispositions as outlined in the Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) standards and advanced technology skills as outlined in the International Society for Technology in Education - National Education Technology Standards (ISTE-NETS).

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Art Education Faculty

Student Resources

UNCG Teacher Education Program

TaskStream (Electronic Teaching Portfolio)

Praxis I (Readhing, Math & Writing) Registration & Fees

Teachers Academy Application

Suggested Course Schedule

This list outlines the schedule of courses recommended for majors in the Art Education concentration. For more information on courses and requirements, see the Art Department's list of courses or the UNCG course bulletin. For information on advising, see the Art Department's page or contact the Department.

Freshman Year

Semester I - Fall
  • Art History 110
  • Art 120, 140, or 150 (select one core Studio Art requirement: a drawing course)
  • General Education Courses (GEC) (Select 3 courses. If possible, schedule one with a GL, GN, SI or WI marker. If natural science courses include 1 s.h. lab)
  • Recommended 15-16 credit hours
  • Hours 15-16
Semester II - Spring
  • Art History 111
  • ART 120, 140, or 150 (select one core Studio Art requirement: a design course)
  • ART 220 (select this core course in drawing if the prerequisite ART 120 is complete)
  • General Education Courses (GEC) (select 3 courses. If possible, schedule one with a GL, GN, SI or WI marker)
  • Recommended 18 credit hours
  • Hours: 33-34

Sophomore Year

Semester III - Fall
  • Art History 112
  • ART 120, 140, 150 (select a core Studio Art requirement)
  • ART 221 (select this core course in drawing if the prerequisite ART 120 is complete)
  • General Education Courses (GEC) (select 3 courses. If possible, schedule one with a GL, GN, SI or WI marker)
  • Recommended 18 credit hours
  • Hours: 51-52
Semester IV - Spring
  • LIS 120 Technology for Educational Settings (1s.h.) (Teachers Academy requirement)
  • Art History course 200, 201, 202, 203, 204 (select one ARH course, preferably GL/GN)
  • A Painting Studio Course (232 or other course if transfer student)
  • A Design Studio Course (241 or other course if transfer student)
  • Two General Education Courses (GEC) (if possible, schedule one with a GL, GN, SI or WI marker).
  • Recommended 16 credit hours
  • Hours: 67-68

Junior Year

Semester V - Fall
  • ARE 360 Foundations of Art Education I (WI) (Art Education requirement for admission to the Teachers Academy) (Field Practicum 36 hours, Fall Only)
  • Art History (select one from 200 or 300 level, preferably GN)
  • Art Concentration (painting 20s, 30s, except ART 323, sculpture-50s, or design-40s, 70s, 80s) (select one course above 300 level and beyond the studio core courses)
  • Select a Craft Studio course (281, 373 or 381. Check for prerequisites)
  • a General Education Course (GEC) (if possible, schedule one with a GL, GN, SI or WI marker)
  • Recommended 15 credit hours
  • Hours: 82-83

-As part of the ARE 360 course you will need to activate your Taskstream account to begin collecting data for your Electronic Art Education Teacher Portfolio/DPI Electronic Evidences necessary for recommendation for Standard Professional I teaching License K-12.

-As part of the ARE 360 course you will be part of a studio portfolio review in preparation for Admission to Undergraduate Teacher in the following spring semester.

-At this stage in your degree program, you will be expected to become member of the North Carolina Art Education Association (NCAEA) and of the National Art Education Association (NAEA-student). You are also expected to join and actively participate of the NAEA UNCG Student Chapter.

-Take ARE 369 Internship: Leadership in Art Education this semester or any semester or summer session before your student teaching.

Semester VI - Spring
  • Art History (select one course from 300 or 400 level, preferably GN)
  • ARE 361 Foundations of Art Education II (Field Practicum 36 hours. Spring Only)
  • ARE 364 Practicum Service learning (SL: Service Learning, Spring Only)
  • Art Concentration (painting-20s, 30s, except ART 323, sculpture-50s, or design-40s, 70s, 80s) (select one course above 300 level and beyond the studio core courses)
  • Three Online-Seminar Courses (School of Education Requirements: ELC 401, TED 402, and TED 403)
  • Recommended 15 credit hours
  • Hours 100-101

Senior Year

Semester VII - Fall
  • ARE 363 Teaching and Curriculum Methods: Elementary (SI) (Fall Only)
  • ARE 365 Teaching and Curriculum Methods: Secondary (Fall Only)
  • ARE 368 Research in Contemporary Issues in Art Education
  • Art Concentration (painting-20s, 30s, except ART 323, sculpture-50s, or design-40s, 70s, 80s) (select one course above 300 level and beyond the studio core courses)
  • Select a Craft Studio course (275, 281, 373, 375, 381, 382, or 481. Check for prerequisites)
  • Three Online-Seminar Courses (School of Education: ERM 403, TED 401, and SES 401)
  • Recommended: 18 credit hours
  • Hours: 115-116
Semester VIII - Spring
  • ARE 465 Student Teaching: Elementary or Secondary Placement (12 s.h. Spring only)
  • Recommended 12 credit hours
  • Hours: 128

-Complete and pass all aspects of your Electronic Art Education Teacher Portfolio/DPI Electronic Evidences by the last day of classes.

-Apply for Standard Professional I Teaching License K-12 (See Teachers Academy webpage) no earlier than two weeks before graduation and enclose application fee.

-Note that only successful student teaching at field placements (Elementary, Middle School, or High School) leads to recommendation for K-12 Licensure.

-An overall 2.70 GPA and completion of TaskStream are required for graduation.

Procedures for Art Majors with Concentration in Art Education

Follow procedures and guidelines above throughout your academic program.

Note that many students find that they need to take 18 hours several semesters or take summer school sessions to fulfill the 128 hours for the degree on a timely basis.

If you are experiencing GPA of less than 2.70, it is recommended that you take less credit hours (12-15) each semester and make up credit hours during summer sessions.

Practicums:

Pre-student teaching practicums are required during the subsequent courses: 267 hours in total: ARE 360 (36 hours), ARE 361 (36 hours), ARE 364 (60 hours) and ARE 369 (135 hours)

ARE 364 is a Service-Learning oriented course and will include an exhibition of children's work.

ARE 369 is an Internship aiming to promote and help students develop leadership skills. Students find a site relating children and art for the internship. Requires written agreement between the site personnel/supervisor and UNCG student (Contract can be found at the Art Department office/Jan Combs). You can become involved in this internship any time before your student teaching. The site of this internship can be local, state, national or international.

Basic Computer Skills:

Students take LIS 120 on the semester they take ARE 360. Basic computer skills will be assessed via the Electronic Art Education Teaching Portfolio/DPI Electronic Evidences.

Student Teaching:

Student teachers spend a full professional day in the schools and meet at UNCG on scheduled night seminar for ARE 465, therefore no courses may be taken during the student teaching field placement. Teacher Education students are not subject to special fees for student teaching but are individually responsible for transportation and living arrangements and the necessary expenses that may be incurred during student teaching.

Senior Student Exhibition:

Seniors must participate in an experience that will prepare them for the professional world of exhibiting. All BFA majors are required to enter the annual Senior Art Exhibition. Works are selected for a show that is installed for public reviewing at the UNCG Gatewood Gallery.

Other Considerations:

Due to demographic changes in society and increasingly diverse student populations in the school systems, it is recommended that Art Education students explore learning foreign languages as possible. Volunteer or youth-related summer employment such as YMCA or summer camp work or work in community art program (i.e., African American Atelier, ARTSCAPE, Center for Visual Artists, Art Alliance) with children is very useful experience for Art Education majors. Try to participate as your time allows.

UNCG Department of Art