ART EDUCATION

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

This course of study is recommended for students seeking a career educating students in the visual arts. This program prepares you to teach at the elementary and secondary level. It is based on the four components of a modern discipline-based art curriculum: art production, art history, art criticism and aesthetics. The department believes that visual awareness increases human awareness, which in turn contributes to the development of a reasoning and imaginative human being.Teaching art is a dynamic process that changes the lives of students by allowing them a safe place to dream, to test ideas, to fail without harm and perform without competition.

WHY SHOULD I MAJOR IN ART EDUCATION?

While most art education programs prepare you to teach children in schools, you might choose to work with others — in hospitals, prisons, or homes for the elderly. It helps if you’re the kind of person who loves creating and discussing art, and who enjoys people. You’ll be happiest if you treat lesson planning as an art: a creative process in which you mix your knowledge of art history, methods, and materials with your students’ energy, interests, and age level.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Student Run Clubs: Art Club, National and Missouri Art Education Association, American Institute of Graphic Arts Student Group
Honor Societies: Kappa Pi
Professional Experiences: Observations, Field Experience, Student Teaching
Travel-Study Courses: The Arts Abroad course to Europe is offered every two years.
Service Learning: Kappa Pi (each student does 20 hours of volunteer work)
Creative Expression: Students are encouraged to enter work in student and professional art shows, accept commissions and complete a major body of work in the Art & Design Senior Capstone course.

AFTER C-SC

K–12 Art Education
Community Art Centers
Studio Art
Freelance
Entrepreneurship
Graduate School

For the past seven years, every C-SC student who graduated with an art education degree was hired in their field. Numerous students have continued their education and acquired masters and doctorates in art education at the college level.