Art Education, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)

Special requirements

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 2.8 for departmental admission to teacher preparation (see below for more information).

Accepted students
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.

Art education policy of reasonable progress
A student majoring in art education who does not enroll in courses in the major for three or more consecutive semesters (not including summers) will be dismissed from the program. To continue in the program, students must reapply to the program, submitting a portfolio and undergoing a grade review. Declared double majors not enrolled in ARTE courses for three consecutive semesters (not including summers) are required to state their intention to continue the major in writing to the chair.

Course failures and withdrawals
All students must successfully complete the courses outlined in the curriculum. Students must earn a minimum grade of C in all ARTE courses. A student who earns a grade of D or F or withdraws from any required course may repeat the course once. If a grade of D or F is earned in the repeated course or if the student withdraws, the student will be terminated from the program. Students with special circumstances who wish to remain in the major must appeal to the chair and receive approval in writing to continue in the program.

Cautionary status
If a student’s GPA falls below a 2.8 or if a faculty member raises concerns about a student’s professional disposition at any point, the student will be put on cautionary status. The chair will review students designated with cautionary status each semester to determine continuation in the program. Students will be notified if they are placed on cautionary status.

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. Note: ARTE 310 is a prerequisite of ARTE 311.

Students will be required to register for and take the required Praxis I exams (or show proof of exemption by official SAT or ACT score reports) and take the required Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment exam during ARTE 310. Students must successfully pass their Praxis I and VCLA 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 TEDU 330/ARTE 450 during their first year in the Department of Art Education.

Teacher Preparation Program
All students are required to apply for teacher preparation during ARTE 311. Students who do not have passing test scores at that time will be eligible to reapply in the fall for spring teacher prep admission. Students are granted provisional teacher prep acceptance pending successful second year review.

Applications are due to the administrative director by established deadlines of each semester. If students do not complete 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 2.8 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)
• Passing scores on required VCLA
• No record of a felony conviction
• Completion of the Dispositions Acknowledgement Form (included with departmental Application for Teacher Preparation)
• Successful second-year review

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). Note: ARTE 401 is a prerequisite of ARTE 402. Enrollment is granted to ARTE 401 and ARTE 402 through an override from the Department of Art Education.

Second-year review
A review of student work, GPA and dispositions takes place at the completion of ARTE 311. Reviews are rated satisfactory unsatisfactory or provisional. The student must receive a satisfactory or provisional evaluation from the faculty to continue in the program. Students who receive provisional approval will be reviewed by the chair after each practicum to determine continuation in the program.

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.

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. If students do not complete their applications on time with hard copies of passing score reports, they will not be guaranteed acceptance into clinical internship. Students are granted provisional student teaching acceptance pending successful faculty practicum review.

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 2.8 cumulative GPA
• Minimum of 3.0 GPA in art education courses and no grade lower than a C
• Passing scores on the Praxis I or exemption with SAT or ACT scores
• Passing scores on the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment
• Passing scores on the Praxis II: Art Content Knowledge exam
• Completion of the online Child Abuse Prevention training and certification of successful completion
• Submission of 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
• Successful faculty practicum review