The Art Education concentration embraces the artist-teacher concept, allowing students to develop a strong studio practice and take coursework to prepare to teach art at the K-12 level. Students engage in philosophical and theoretical studies, contemporary pedagogical practices, and arts-based research to prepare for the complexities of the K-12 art studio. Student teaching, field work, and service learning is expected and prepares students to enter a career as an art educator.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of art content (studio, art history, and visual literacy) enabling them to teach art at the K-12 level.
  2. Demonstrate appropriate studio skills resulting in a coherent body of work and artist statement.
  3. Demonstrate that they are able to integrate literacy, numeracy and provide appropriate accommodation and differentiation strategies in the art lessons they develop for their students.
  4. Demonstrate that they can effectively document, analyze, and reflect on student learning and make appropriate changes for more effective instruction.
  5. Demonstrate proficiency in all areas of the performance-based standards for Colorado teachers upon completion of the program.

Effective Fall 2023

The Art Education concentration requires a 2.75 cumulative CSU GPA, and that students pass the PLACE exam. Admission to the Center for Educator Preparation (CEP) is also required. Fingerprint and background check.

A minimum grade of C (2.000) or better is required in all Art and Education coursework.

Freshman
AUCCCredits
ART 105Issues and Practices in Art 1
ART 110Global Art History I 3
ART 111Global Art History II 3
ART 120Foundations--Time and Structure 3
ART 135Foundations - Form and Observation 3
ART 160Foundations - Color and Composition 3
ART 170Foundations - Materials and Space 3
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
Arts and Humanities3B3
Quantitative Reasoning1B3
 Total Credits 28
Sophomore
 
ART 212Global Art History III 3
EDUC 275Schooling in the United States (GT-SS3)3C3
Select two studio intro courses from the following:  6
Photo Image Making I  
Pottery I  
Painting I--Fundamentals and Representation  
Sculpture I  
Select two courses from the following:  6
Metalsmithing and Jewelry I  
Fibers I  
Introduction to Printmaking  
Biological and Physical Sciences3A7
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
Historical Perspectives3D3
 Total Credits 31
Junior
 
ART 325Concepts in Art Education 3
EDUC 331Educational Technology and Assessment 2
EDUC 340Literacy and the Learner 3
EDUC 350Instruction I-Individualization/Management 3
EDUC 386Practicum-Instruction I 1
Select two courses from the following not taken elsewhere: 6
Photo Image Making I  
Pottery I  
Metalsmithing and Jewelry I  
Fibers I  
Painting I--Fundamentals and Representation  
Introduction to Printmaking  
Sculpture I  
Select 3 credits of upper division (300-to 400-level) art history from the following: 3
Pre-Columbian Art of the Andes4A,4B 
History of American Art to 19454B 
Art of West and Central Africa4A,4B 
Pre-Columbian Art of Mesoamerica4B 
Art of East and Southern Africa4A,4B 
Women in Art History4B 
United States Art 1945-19804B 
Art of the Pacific4B 
Native North American Art4A,4B 
Global Encounters in Art4A,4B 
Museum Collections--Storage to Exhibition4A,4B 
Greek Art4B 
History of Medieval Art4B 
History of Renaissance Art4B 
History of Baroque and Rococo Art4B 
History of 19th Century European Art4B 
History of European Art, 1900 to 19454B 
Roman Art4B 
Contemporary Artists and Art Critics4A,4B 
Seminar: Art History4A,4B 
Group Study: Art History4A,4B 
Advanced Writing23
Studio teaching emphasis1 8
 Total Credits 32
Senior
 
ART 326Art Education Studio 4
EDUC 450Instruction II-Standards and Assessment 4
EDUC 466Methods and Assessment in K-12 Art Education 4
EDUC 485AStudent Teaching: Elementary4A,4C6
EDUC 485BStudent Teaching: Secondary4A,4C6
EDUC 486EPracticum: Instruction II 1
EDUC 493ASeminar: Professional Relations4C1
Arts and Humanities3B3
 Total Credits 29
 Program Total Credits: 120
1

Select eight credits from one upper-division concentration area other than Graphic Design.

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:​ The Art Education concentration requires a 2.75 cumulative CSU GPA, and that students pass the PLACE exam. Admission to the Center for Educator Preparation (CEP) is also required. Fingerprint and background check.

A minimum grade of C (2.000) or better is required in all Art and Education coursework.

Freshman
Semester 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ART 105Issues and Practices in ArtX  1
ART 110Global Art History IX  3
ART 135Foundations - Form and ObservationX  3
ART 160Foundations - Color and CompositionX  3
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2) X1A3
 Total Credits   13
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ART 111Global Art History IIX  3
ART 120Foundations--Time and StructureX  3
ART 170Foundations - Materials and SpaceX  3
Arts and Humanities X3B3
Quantitative ReasoningX 1B3
CO 150 must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   15
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ART 212Global Art History IIIX  3
Select one course from the following:   3
Photo Image Making I    
Pottery I    
Painting I--Fundamentals and Representation    
Sculpture I    
Select one course from the following:   3
Metalsmithing and Jewelry I    
Fibers I    
Introduction to Printmaking    
Biological and Physical Sciences X3A4
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  1C3
Portfolio review is strongly recommended by the end of Semester 3. X  
 Total Credits   16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
EDUC 275Schooling in the United States (GT-SS3) X3C3
Select one course from the following not previously taken:   3
Photo Image Making I    
Pottery I    
Painting I--Fundamentals and Representation    
Sculpture I    
Select one course from the following not previously taken:   3
Metalsmithing and Jewelry I    
Fibers I    
Introduction to Printmaking    
Biological and Physical Sciences X3A3
Historical Perspectives X3D3
Portfolio review must be completed by the end of Semester 4.X   
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
EDUC 340Literacy and the LearnerX  3
Select one course from the following not previously taken:   3
Photo Image Making I    
Pottery I    
Metalsmithing and Jewelry I    
Fibers I    
Painting I--Fundamentals and Representation    
Introduction to Printmaking    
Sculpture I    
ART History, Upper-Division (AUCC 4B) (See Concentration Requirements Tab)X 4B3
Upper-Division Studio - Teaching EmphasisX  4
Advanced Writing X23
EDUC 275 must be completed by the end of Semester 5.X   
ART 311, ART 312, or ART 316 are strongly recommended to meet AUCC 4B requirement. X  
 Total Credits   16
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ART 325Concepts in Art EducationX  3
EDUC 331Educational Technology and AssessmentX  2
EDUC 350Instruction I-Individualization/ManagementX  3
EDUC 386Practicum-Instruction IX  1-3
Select one course from the following not previously taken:   3
Photo Image Making I    
Pottery I    
Metalsmithing and Jewelry I    
Fibers I    
Painting I--Fundamentals and Representation    
Introduction to Printmaking    
Sculpture I    
Upper-Division Studio - Teaching EmphasisX  4
 Total Credits   16
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ART 326Art Education StudioX  4
EDUC 450Instruction II-Standards and AssessmentX  4
EDUC 466Methods and Assessment in K-12 Art EducationX  4
EDUC 486EPracticum: Instruction IIX  1
Arts and HumanitiesX 3B3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
EDUC 485AStudent Teaching: ElementaryX 4A,4C6
EDUC 485BStudent Teaching: SecondaryX 4A,4C6
EDUC 493ASeminar: Professional RelationsX 4C1
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   13
 Program Total Credits:   120