Art Education: Preparation, MS

Contact:

James H. Rolling Jr., Comstock Art Facility Rm 043, 315-443-2355, jrolling@syr.edu

Graduate programs in Art Education are focused upon three distinct areas of study emphasis:

arts & design practices as a means for personal agency and social responsibility,
developing arts & design curricula for teaching and learning in multiple contexts,
and interdisciplinary research promoting creative leadership and entrepreneurship.

The Art Education Preparation M.S. program is one of two master’s degree programs in the department, and meets the academic requirements for New York State initial teaching certification in Visual Arts (all grades). This program is designed for students who already have an undergraduate degree in studio art or another discipline outside of teaching with sufficient credits in art, but do not have an education background. This 45 credit hour program awards the M.S. degree from the School of Education, in cooperation with the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA). The college’s programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Art Education faculty members hold dual appointments in both the School of Education and the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

The Department of Art Education is housed in the Comstock Art Facility, a building which also features facilities for sculpture, printmaking and ceramics, a foundry, and other various workshop areas. Art Education Preparation students participate as teachers of the Syracuse University Saturday Art Workshops for Young People, and may also contribute to additional community-engaged projects run by the Art Education Department, each serving as a laboratory allowing for valuable firsthand experience prior to the final student teaching internship. Through the School of Education, SU Art Education also works with a number of area teachers and schools who supervise other early field experiences and the two culminating student teaching placements.

The Student Art Education Association at Syracuse University (SAEASU), affiliated with the National Art Education Association, offers opportunities to enrich pedagogical practice by facilitating social and networking opportunities for professional development, hosting guest speakers, and promoting and practicing outreach and community service.

Program requirements

Master’s degree courses (45 credits total):

AED 617 - Philosophy & Foundations of Art Education Practice 3 credit(s)
AED 510 - Special Problems in Art Ed 1-6 credit(s)
EDU 778 - Narrative Inquiry in Research and Creative Practice 3 credit(s) or
AED 798 - Making Methodology: Exploring Arts-based Research 3 credit(s) or
EDU 603 - Introduction to Qualitative Research 3 credit(s)
SED 640 - Participation in the Professional Development School 0-1 credit(s) (This is taken during each fall and spring semester except the student teaching semester.)
EDU 601 - Methods and Practice in Teaching Art 4 credit(s)
AED 621 - Making Meaning: Socially Responsible Arts & Design Practices 3 credit(s)
RED 625 - Literacy Across the Curriculum 3-4 credit(s)
EDU 602 - Methods and Curriculum in Teaching Art 4 credit(s)
EDU 660 - Field Workshop 3-6 credit(s) (topics vary)
SPE 612 - Adapting Instruction for Diverse Student Needs 3 credit(s)
EDU 508 - Student Teaching 2-15 credit(s) (two different grade levels)

Note:

*EDU 605 and EDU 607 may be replaced with EDU 606 Understanding Teaching & Learning (4)

Intensive Examination

The final requirement of master’s degree study also requires the completion of an Intensive Examination. Completing a take-home Master’s Examination can fulfill this requirement. However, with departmental approval, a Master’s thesis or special project is also an option in this program.

Liberal Arts and Art and Design Credits required:

It is expected that students will enter the program with most of these requirements completed. However, if not, all requirements must be completed before a master’s degree can be granted.

Art and design content. This is met by either an undergraduate degree in an appropriate area of art, or a degree in another area with 36 semester hours of art content. The art content should include 9 credits of art history; depth of study in a two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or time based mode of artmaking; and breadth of study through a variety of other studio courses. Typically, a 3.0 average in these courses is required.

Liberal arts distribution. In addition to art history study students are expected to have met with appropriate courses and grades, one course each in mathematics, natural science, social science (not history or psychology), and humanities (not arts related). In addition a writing course or its equivalent is required, and a language other than English requirement must be met by either one college course, successful completion of level 3 or higher in high school, or appropriate testing.