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Art Education
Our art education program, offered as a BFA, BA and minor, is a vibrant and active educational community for students with strong connections to regional, state and national opportunities.
Our focus is on artist-teacher development, which encourages students to integrate their art practice with their art teaching. We also provide you with hands-on classroom training and opportunities for service learning. You will leave equipped to grow as an artist, while also empowered as a successful teacher.
Our program meets the Illinois State Board of Education standards for Professional Development in the Visual Arts and is fully accredited by the National Association for the Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Program Information
Our two art education programs prepare and license you to teach in the public school system as well as a variety of non-traditional settings. Student teaching is a requirement for both curriculums, as we emphasize theory and practice.
Clinical practice is an important part of this program. Working with the Office of Teacher Education, we place our students in public schools throughout the Southern Illinois region, all within a 60 mile-radius of SIU.
Your development as an artist is equally emphasized in our art education program. The work by art education students is highlighted each academic year in the Artists Who Educate Exhibition in the Vergette Gallery.
While both curriculums include a focus on individual art development, our BFA program offers more studio electives in art and design. With the BFA, you will be better prepared to teach studio arts in American schools or go on for advanced study in art or art education.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Art Education)
The undergraduate major can be accomplished by fulfilling the requirements for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree.
- Total degree requirements: 120 credit hours
- University core curriculum: 39 credit hours
- Foundation Requirements: 9 credit hours
- Studio Requirements: 15 credit hours
- Art Education Requirements: 16 credit hours
- Art and Design History Elective: 3 credit hours
- Art Education or Studio Electives: 14 credit hours
- Professional Education Requirements: 24 credit hours
Check out the BFA Curricular Guide, which helps you outline what courses you would want to take each semester for all four years. View all related undergraduate courses.
Bachelor of Arts (Art Education)
The undergraduate major can be accomplished by fulfilling the requirements for the Bachelor Arts (BA) degree.
- Total Degree Requirements: 120 credit hours
- University Core Curriculum: 39 credit hours
- Foundation Requirements: 14 credit hours
- Studio Requirements: 15 credit hours
- Art Education Requirements: 15 credit hours
- Electives: 13 credit hours
- Professional Education Requirements: 24 credit hours
Check out the BA Curricular Guide, which helps you outline what courses you would want to take each semester for all four years. View all related undergraduate courses.
Minor in Art Education
A total of 21 credit hours is required for the minor. The student must complete AD 100A, AD 100B, AD 208, AD 318 and AD 459 for 15 hours and may then select one elective from AD 308, AD 328 or AD 338 in addition to one studio elective of their choice.
Facilities
Our students have 24-hour access to excellent facilities, with individual studio and exhibition space for students. The recently-renovated Vergette Gallery offers over 400 sq. ft. of naturally-lit gallery space, while the historic Allyn building lets you work congruently with distinguished faculty and visiting artists. View our facilities.
Funding
In addition to university-level awards and assistance, many of our undergraduate students receive financial support through art and design-specific scholarships and fellowships. We offer academic scholarship opportunities for incoming students with exceptional ACT scores and/or rank top 10% of their high school class, talent scholarships based on portfolio review, research scholarships to offset material costs, and much more.
Contact Information
Jody Paulson
Program Coordinator
Allyn Building 6B
Mailcode 4301
1100 S. Normal Avenue
Carbondale, IL 62901
Phone: 618-453-4315
jody.paulson@siu.edu
Young Artists' Workshop Internship
We also require all students to participate in our Saturday Young Artists’ Workshop each semester for six Saturday mornings. This internship focuses on teaching art to kindergarten-eighth grade children, providing experience in classroom management, curriculum development and teaching skills.
Independent study credits may be available for this internship. Teaching roles and number of days will be based on credits and your interests. Volunteer hours may be used as service and noted on your transcript.
Projects and Events
Hands-on experience means you'll leave our program ready to succeed as an art teacher. Our visiting artist program lets you connect with art professionals around the world, while our regional conferences give you additional development.
We encourage students to spend hours in community service at many locations throughout the year. This is an excellent way to get practice teaching art in local schools and community venues. We have collaborated with the following organizations:
Teaching Art - Professional Licensure
Our art education specialization works congruently with the Teacher Education Program. Upon completion of all requirements and assessments of this program, students are eligible for K-12 art education licensure in Illinois.
This program leads to an Initial Educator Licensure, for grades K-12. SIU's Office of Teacher Education administers all teacher preparation programs across the university that lead to receiving a Professional Educator License.
Illinois has specific requirements for educator licensure:
- Prior to student teaching, you must take a content area test.
- Prior to educator licensure, you must pass the edTPA for all levels and content areas.
Additional licensure information is available through the SIU Teacher Education Program website.