Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art Education prepares students to effectively teach visual art by applying a learner-centered pedagogy to embrace the many dimensions of human intelligence and aesthetic education.

Art educators understand child development to successfully engage learners in the complete artistic process of thinking—perceptual, imaginative, formative, expressive and communicative—by combining a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas. They organize and evaluate teaching activities for creating and analyzing works of art and design from contemporary and past cultures. This involves using a variety of media, technology and community resources and making connections between visual art and other disciplines, as well as assessing the learning outcomes of their students.

In addition, art educators are prepared to meet the needs of all students with an understanding of the value of diversity. They create safe and equitable learning environments in which to nurture lifelong skills in problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and constructing meaning.

Graduates of the degree program will be eligible to be certified for pre-K-12 visual art teacher licensure.

Study Abroad/Away Opportunities:

• Travel opportunities to New York City and Paris
• Study abroad through Kent State's Florence program in Florence, Italy (full semester or summer art and design experience)
• Ohio Art Education Association and National Art Education Association Travel Studies

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Construct lesson plans that reflect learner-centered pedagogy that is culturally responsive, inclusive and developmentally appropriate.
2. Incorporate the use of evidence-based instructional strategies, resources and instructional technology as part of the learning activities aligned with goals, objectives and/or standards in the lesson plans. 
3. Apply evidence-based instruction to meet a diversity of students’ needs. 
4. Practice reflective teaching in the classroom to accommodate all students using effective strategies, resources, materials and accommodations to adapt instruction to meet the needs of individuals and groups of students.
5. Implement formative and summative assessments that align conceptually to the lesson objectives and are designed to be appropriate to address individual student differences and minimize bias. 
6. Demonstrate professional teaching dispositions.
7. Apply creative, technical, procedural and interpretive skills through a range of studio art and design experiences.

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Curriculum vitae
• Goal statement (approximately 250 words) indicating the proposed area of specialization within the art history curriculum
• Three letters of recommendation from persons who are in the proposed area of study or a closely related field
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Application deadline: February 1

Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of art from a range of historic and cultural traditions.
2. Observe, describe and interpret art objects, events and concepts within their cultural context.
3. Engage with a variety of methodologies and theories relevant to different fields of art history.
4. Demonstrate an advanced level of written and oral analysis.
5. Demonstrate advanced research skills and knowledge in a particular artist, collection, period or movement through the thesis.
6. Access and utilize relevant primary and secondary source material in diverse formats, including digital technology.
7. Become engaged citizens of a global community and recognize the role of art and cultural production as they foster communities, reflect identities and understand social systems.

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Curriculum vitae that includes exhibitions and relevant experience
• Goal statement (250-500 words) indicating applicant's reasons for applying and the motivations for pursuing the degree in the proposed area of specialization
• Artist statement (250-500 words) that describes the major themes in the applicant's work, how the applicant formalizes those themes and the concepts and artists that influence the applicant
• Portfolio of 20 images with title, medium, dimensions and date
• Three letters of recommendation from persons who are in the proposed area of study or a closely related field
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Application deadline: February 1

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Create and publicly present a self-directed body of work.
2. Develop a studio practice that synthesizes form, media and meaning.
3. Engage with interdisciplinary research within contemporary art and supporting fields.
4. Articulate verbally and in written form critical analyses of contemporary art as it relates to form and meaning in their work and the work of others.
5. Situate their work within the context of the field and the public.
6. Build a strong portfolio to enhance opportunities for further education and/or career and entrepreneurial options.

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)