Generally speaking, the discipline of art education concerns itself with the theory and practice of teaching art to others. At the undergraduate level, a degree in art education prepares one for a career as an elementary, middle and/or high school art teacher and for careers in community art programs and other educational facilities. A master's degree in art education allows students to further their knowledge of art education practice and research and to focus on a specific type of art education (such as art museum education). Students pursuing a doctorate in art education research and develop new theories of art teaching and learning and prepare themselves to be researchers and professors at colleges and universities.
Our Visual Arts Studies degree program leads to a BFA with all-level teacher certification in art, accredited by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification. The program focuses on a comprehensive approach, which includes the study of the theory and practice of art criticism, art history, aesthetics and art making at the K-12 levels.
The program consists of 138 semester credit hours. Admission to teacher certification, or Professional Development Sequence, requires junior status, a 2.75 grade point average (both UNT and cumulative) and successful completion of the THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment).
The Department of Art Education and Art History offers both the Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in art education. These programs are highly individualized. Consequently, courses beyond the core requirements are not specified and are chosen in consultation with the graduate students' major professors to best meet the students desired goals. Graduate students also have the option of seeking certification in art museum education.
The MA in art education offers three separate program options, and required background for admission depends upon the option the applicant intends to pursue. Option I is for K-12 certified art teachers wanting to enhance their knowledge and skills, Option II is for those who desire careers as educators in an art museum, and Option III is for those who wish to obtain EC-12 teacher certification in art while acquiring a graduate degree in art education. All options require applicants to have completed a bachelor's degree in the visual arts or related field. Those applying for Option III (teacher certification option) must have taken at least 24 semester credit hours of studio work and at least 12 hours of art history of which 6 must be at the advanced level. Applicants without the recommended background for the option that they intend to pursue could be denied admission or accepted on a conditional basis, provided undergraduate coursework in art and/or art education, as assigned at time of acceptance, be completed prior to beginning any graduate-level work.
The School of Visual Arts at the University of North Texas is authorized by the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System, to offer the Ph.D. degree in the area of Art Education.
The Doctor of Philosophy program consists of a graduate core of art education seminars, courses in research methodology, a minor or specialization (may be courses within or without the School of Visual Arts), electives and dissertation for a minimum of 60 semester credit hours beyond the master's degree. The doctoral core provides the student with the framework necessary for advanced work in art education, while courses in research methodology teach the competencies necessary for independent research. Faculty expertise allows the student to focus on any of the following: art and democracy, art history, arts administration, cross-cultural studies, curriculum development and evaluation, early childhood, empirical aesthetics, museum education, pre-service art teacher education, social theory, studio, and technology. Once the coursework is completed, the knowledge and skills acquired are combined to formulate the basis of the student's dissertation research.
Certification in art museum education is designed to provide professional training for those who desire careers in areas of art museum education and expertise in the use of art museums as education resources for school educators. The University of North Texas is ideally situated to serve as the site for a professional training program in art museum education. The North Texas area offers rich museum resources for study and practice in the field; bolstered by UNT's experienced faculty, course offerings, and educator-training opportunities.
The program consists of eighteen credit hours, including seminars in the history and theory of art museum education, current practices in museum education, roles and functions of art museums, political action and advocacy in the visual arts, and a six credit hour internship in a Texas art museum. Art museum education certification is designed to be pursued in conjunction with a graduate degree in art history, art education or studio. It can also be pursued alone with permission from the Department of Art Education and Art History.
The Priddy Charitable Trust Fellowship in Arts Leadership, offered jointly through the North Texas Institute for Educators on the Visual Arts and the UNT College of Music, is intended to grant students the knowledge and skills necessary to become influential leaders in the arts community. Each year, 10 students (5 each from art education and music) will be selected on a competative basis to receive the fellowship which includes a $18,000 stipend for a 12-month period of prescribed full-time graduate study, tuition and most fees, paid state health benefits, as well as a travel allowance to assist in travel to professional meetings and conferences. More information can be found at the NTIEVA web site.
Christina Bain, Ph.D. | Associate Professor | 940-369-5377 | bain@unt.edu
D. Jack Davis, Ph.D. | Professor of Art and NTIEVA Director | 940-565-3954 | davis@unt.edu
Rina Kundu | Lecturer | 940-369-7206 | kundu@unt.edu
Connie Newton, Ph.D. | Associate Professor | 940-369-7244 | newton@unt.edu
A.J. Olson, Ph.D. | Visiting Assistant Professor | 940-369-7678 | ajolson@unt.edu
Nadine Kalin, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor | 940-565-4656 | kalin@unt.edu
Administrative Assistant II | Heather Close | 940-565-4777 | close@unt.edu