Combine your passion for art with your dedication to teaching.
Centered on studio practice, UMass Dartmouth's BFA in Art Education is a professional degree that will prepare you for elementary or secondary school teaching and for careers in other learning environments.
The BFA is a professional degree with concentrated areas of specialization, so you will take more art courses than you would in a BA program. At UMass Dartmouth, you also have the advantages of a university education where you can diversify your studies and expand your career opportunities.
As a teacher of art, you will be able to:
- encourage reflection, compassion, and creativity
- shape the visual and aesthetic experiences of your students
- integrate the arts into the community: schools, healthcare facilities, neighborhoods, cities
The Art Education program leads to the Massachusetts initial license to teach in grades PreK-8 or 5-12.
14 concentrations available
- 2-Dimension Elementary
- 3-Dimension Elementary
- Ceramics Secondary
- Digital Media Secondary
- Drawing Secondary
- Graphic Design Secondary
- Illustration Secondary
- Jewelry/Metals Secondary
- Painting Secondary
- Photography Secondary
- Printmaking Secondary
- Sculpture Secondary
- Textile Design/Fiber Arts Secondary
- Non-Licensure
Your curriculum will balance course work in the arts with classes in human development and learning. You will select a studio arts concentration and follow a series of theoretical, practical, and studio-based experiences leading to proficiency in the teaching of art. Your supervised field experiences will culminate in a semester of student teaching.
For the BFA in Art Education, you'll complete 105 credits in courses related to your major, and 129 credits overall.
Course descriptions, schedules and requirements
Finding inspiration and encouragement as she grows as an artist and educator.
Student teaching
Practicum and pre-practicum sites include:
- Area public schools
- Nativity Preparatory School
- New Bedford Art Museum
Career Placements
- Area public schools
UMassD advantages
- Fieldwork: gain experience working in public and private schools, healthcare settings, community centers, and public agencies
- Facilities: state-of-the-art classroom and studio spaces provide a professional environment for your work
- Community: participate in the student chapter of the National Art Education Association
- Honors College: take advanced courses, pursue research, and be part of a community of scholars
- Study Abroad: earn academic credits and gain a global perspective on your field
- Undergraduate Research: faculty work with students on cutting-edge research projects
- University Studies: gain the benefit of a broad university education to enhance your knowledge and skills
Post-Baccalaureate Art Teacher Licensure: The post-baccalaureate program for art teacher licensure is designed for students with a bachelor's degree in studio art; it leads to initial licensure as an art teacher in grades PreK-8 or 5-12.
Master of Art Education: With an emphasis on how the arts are integrated into daily life, the MAE program leads to a single-level professional certification in Massachusetts as an art teacher in grades Pre K-8 or 5-12.