Teaching Art
To provide opportunities for all students to develop aesthetic awareness and appreciation for the elements and principles of the visual arts in modern life, whether in the fine arts, the applied arts or in the environment.
- To encourage and nurture creative interest and ability in the visual arts and to acquaint students with the tools and techniques of artistic study and research.
- To prepare art teachers for the nursery through secondary levels and the serve those who will teach in the areas of early childhood education, elementary education, middle school and special education.
- To prepare students who are interested in continuing their art education at the graduate level.
- To prepare graphic designers and studio artists.
- To provide opportunities for faculty development.
- To provide the University community as well as the community at large with quality art exhibits and art experiences.
Graphic Design
- The Graphic Design option serves those students who desire professional careers related to communication graphics. These careers include advertising design, corporate image creation, layout design in publication, and product package design.
- Art Program graduates may decide to pursue elsewhere an MFA in graphic design and practice professionally or teach on a university level.
Studio Art
- The Studio Art option serves those students pursuing a professional career within the fine arts.
- This is the foundation track for students who are preparing for graduate school elsewhere in pursuit of an MFA degree in studio art. This is the prerequisite degree for the professional artist, university studio art teacher, or careers related to art museum or art gallery management.
- This degree is also an excellent option for students who want to pursue non-traditional visual arts career options.
Graduate Studies
Mission
The primary mission of the Art Program is to provide the graduate student in Art education an extension of the undergraduate course of study. Students are provided with higher level, professional education offerings, more concentrated art education, art history, and art studio offerings.
Objectives
- The general program objectives relate directly to prospective students and allude to those competencies these students will acquire.
- To develop an individual state of expression and to produce original and imaginative works of art.
- To develop an ability to articulate and communicate the goals of an art program to pupils, colleagues, administrators, and parents in an effective and professionally responsible manner.
- To develop an awareness of contending aesthetic and critical philosophies, both past and contemporary.
- To develop an understanding of the relevance of art to life and vocational possibilities.
- To develop knowledge of the historic and philosophic development of art education.
- To develop a knowledge of various teaching-learning theories and their application to the art process at all levels.
- To develop an ability to gather, correlate, interpret and implement research data in art education.
Admission Requirements
Prospective students must hold a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree (or the equivalent qualification) in Art Education. There is an Alternative Fifth-Year Program for persons who completed baccalaureate degrees in non-teaching education programs. All students must meet the general requirements for admission to the School of Graduate Studies.
Persons interested in the art education program must apply for admission to the Graduate School. They must submit official transcripts to the Graduate School and a second copy to the Department. Two letters of recommendation, one from a school administrator or board of education administrator, are required along with slides or examples of artworks produced previously and/or examples of scholarly writing or research. Further, persons seeking the Alabama Class A Professional Certificate must hold the Alabama Class B Certificate (or the equivalent qualification). All others are referred to the Alternative Fifth-Year Program.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Art Education degree program requires 39 semester hours. Alternative Fifth-Year programs are individually developed and may require undergraduate course work.
All candidates must pass a comprehensive examination on the content of the curriculum. The prescribed program consists of areas in humanistic and behavioral studies, curriculum and teaching, evaluation of teaching and learning and specialization in the teaching field of visual art.
Combinations of courses in the teaching field area will vary from student to student; however, students will be required to take a minimum of 3 semester hours in art history and a minimum of 3 semester hours in studio art. To register for any advanced studio course, the student must have completed at least one undergraduate studio course n the chosen area or have the approval of the professor.
