Art Education, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
The Art Education Program is an approved teacher preparation program that complies with the professional standards of the Virginia Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is further accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. All of these agencies assure the highest professional program standards. Graduates of the program are eligible for Virginia teacher license to teach art in pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
Admission
Accepted students
Degree requirements for B.F.A. in Art Education
Pre-teacher preparation
Teacher Preparation Program
Clinical internship
Application for graduation
Teacher licensure
Admission
Undergraduate students admitted to the School of the Arts who have successfully completed the Art Foundation Program (or the equivalent at another institution) are eligible to apply through the Department of Art Education to enter the program.
Transfer students and students currently attending VCU must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be considered for departmental admission; however, there is a higher cumulative GPA requirement of 2.5 for departmental admission to teacher preparation (see below for more information).
Accepted students are required to attend an orientation session with an academic adviser from the Department of Art Education. Transfer students, second-degree-seeking students, double majors and change of major students are required to meet with the administrative director prior to beginning course work in the department.
The name and contact information of academic advisers may be obtained from the Department of Art Education.
Upon entry to the program, students must earn at least a C in all required courses for the major.
Students complete two semesters of pre-teacher preparation course work before requesting entry to the Teacher Preparation Program. Admission to teacher preparation means that a student meets the Virginia Department of Education requirements for pre service teaching in schools. See below for information about specific requirements.
Degree requirements for B.F.A. in Art Education
| General studies (30 credits) | Credits |
|
| University core | ||
| ENGL 200 Writing and Rhetoric Workshop ll or equivalent | 3 |
|
| UNIV 111 Focused Inquiry l | 3 |
|
| UNIV 112 Focused Inquiry ll | 3 |
|
| Approved humanities/fine arts | 3 |
|
| Approved natural/physical science | 3 |
|
| Approved quantitative literacy | 3 |
|
| Approved social/behavioral science | 3 |
|
| Additional requirements | ||
| EDUS 301 Human Development and Learning | 3 |
|
| History (non-western) | 3 |
|
| Literature | 3 |
|
| Professional education (24 credits) | ||
| ARTE 401 Art Education Elementary Materials and Practicum | 4 |
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| ARTE 402 Art Education Secondary Materials and Practicum | 4 |
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| ARTE 404 Clinical Internship Seminar | 1 |
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| TEDU 330 Survey of Special Education or ARTE 450 Art for the Exceptional Student |
3 |
|
| TEDU 485 Directed Student Teaching I (art education) | 6 |
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| TEDU 486 Directed Student Teaching II (art education) | 6 |
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| Studies in art and design (66 credits) | ||
| Art Foundation studios | 14 |
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| Studio courses | 30 |
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| ARTE 250 Computer Technology in Art Education (3) | ||
| ARTE 310 Foundations of Art Education (3) | ||
| ARTE 311 Art Education Curriculum and Instructional Procedures (3) | ||
| ARTE 408 Two-dimensional Art Experiences or studio elective (PAPR, PHTO) (3-4) |
||
| ARTE 409 Three-dimensional Art Experiences or studio elective (SCPT, CRAF) (3-4) |
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| CRAF 240 Introduction to Ceramics (4) | ||
| PAPR 205 Painting, Basic (4) | ||
| PHTO 491 Topics in Photography and Film or ARTE 407 Photography in Art Education (3) |
||
| SCPT 211 Basic Sculpture I (4) | ||
| Art history | 15 |
|
| ARTH 103 Survey of Western Art (3) | ||
| ARTH 104 Survey of Western Art (3) | ||
| ARTH elective: 300- or 400-level (3) | ||
| ARTH elective: contemporary (3) | ||
| ARTH elective: non-Western (3) | ||
| Directed electives | 7 |
|
| Any courses in the following areas: ARTE, ARTH, COAR, CRAF, PAPR, PHTO, SCPT | ||
| Total | 120 |
|
Pre-teacher preparation
During the first two semesters in the Department of Art Education, students should complete ARTE 310 during the fall semester and ARTE 311 during the spring semester.
Students will be required to register for and take the required Praxis I exams (www.ets.org) or show proof of exemption by official SAT or ACT score reports during ARTE 310. Students must successfully pass their Praxis I exams in order to be eligible for departmental admission into teacher preparation (see below for further explanation).
Any student that has not successfully passed the Praxis I exams by the time they complete ARTE 311 must set up a meeting with the department chair.
It is advised that students complete ARTE 250, EDUS 301 and other required art history, studio and general studies course work during their first year in the Department of Art Education.
Note: ARTE 310 is a prerequisite of ARTE 311.
Teacher Preparation Program
All students in the program, upon completion of 60 credits and/or four full-time semesters and prior to completion of 90 hours of undergraduate course work, must apply through the Department of Art Education and be accepted for departmental admission to the Art Education Teacher Preparation Program. Applications are due by Feb. 1 (for fall enrollment in ARTE 401) or Oct. 1 (for spring enrollment in ARTE 401) of each year to the administrative director. If students do not turn in their applications on time with hard copies of passing score reports, they will not be guaranteed enrollment in ARTE 401 the following semester.
Requirements for departmental admission to teacher preparation:
- Submission of completed Application to Teacher Preparation form by established deadline
- Minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA
- Successful completion of ARTE 310 and 311 (6 credits)
- Passing scores on required Praxis I exams or exemption with SAT or ACT scores (www.ets.org)
- No record of a felony conviction
- Completion of the Dispositions Acknowledgement Form (included with departmental Application for Teacher Preparation)
- An interview with faculty may be required of students
Departmental admission to the Teacher Preparation Program is required for enrollment in practicum courses (ARTE 401 and 402) and clinical internship (ARTE 404, TEDU 485 and 486).
Students must register for and take the required Praxis II: Art Content Knowledge exam (www.ets.org) before they apply for clinical internship (student teaching).
During teacher preparation, students will continue to complete required art history, studio and general studies course work. This includes a requirement for either TEDU 330 or ARTE 450.
Note: ARTE 401 is a prerequisite of ARTE 402. Enrollment is granted to ARTE 401 and ARTE 402 through an override form from the Department of Art Education.
Clinical internship
All students are required to complete a full semester of clinical internship (student teaching). Students must complete and submit an application to clinical internship by the established deadline in order to be eligible. Applications are due Feb. 6 for fall placement and Sept. 7 for spring placement.
Requirements for clinical internship:
- Departmental admission into the Teacher Preparation Program
- Submission of completed departmental application for clinical internship by established deadline
- Successful completion of all other required course work
- Minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA
- Minimum of 2.8 GPA in art education courses and no grade lower than a C
- Passing scores on the Praxis II: Art Content Knowledge exam
- All interns must attend the departmental orientation as well as a School of Education orientation prior to beginning their internship
- A tuberculosis screening must accompany the application for clinical internship and must be dated no more than a year from the expected date of completion of clinical internship
Students are placed by the School of Education in an elementary (TEDU 485) and a secondary (TEDU 486) placement for eight weeks each, during their semester of clinical internship.
ARTE 404 Clinical Internship Seminar is taken in conjunction with TEDU 485 and 486. This is the only course students are permitted to take while student teaching.
All students are assigned a university supervisor to act as a liaison for the Department of Art Education and a cooperating teacher at each school.
Prior to or during their semester of clinical internship, students must register for and pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment in order to be eligible for licensure in Virginia.
Students must also complete an online Child Abuse Prevention training: www.vcu.edu/vissta/training/va_teachers
Application for graduation
During their final semester, students will apply for graduation from the university. In order to graduate, students must successfully complete all required courses (120 credits with at least 45 upper-level credits).
Upon completion of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in art education and with the recommendation of the Department of Art Education and School of Education, students are eligible to apply for initial teacher licensure from the Virginia Department of Education.