Art Education, B.A., B.S.
Art education integrates the practices of art making, art criticism, historical analysis, and an understanding of visual culture as foundations for teaching art in schools and the community.
Program Overview
The program leads to teacher certification for visual art in the Michigan public schools at the primary and secondary levels. Fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Why Study Art Education at Grand Valley?
The program emphasizes the training of committed artists who desire to work in the field of teaching after their graduation. Art education students:
- Introduce the importance of the visual as a tool for participatory learning across the disciplines and in community settings.
- Receive intensive studio training that enriches students' individual roles as artists and prepares them for diverse teaching environments.
- Experience a comprehensive curriculum that includes educational theory, community-based arts education, and the role of technology in the classroom.
- Benefit from a program that provides opportunities for service learning and for professional development.
- Complete the program with K-12 certification to teach visual arts in the State of Michigan.
Career Insights
This tool shows an overview of potential career opportunities for this major. Actual salaries, employment opportunities, and job titles may change over time.
Location & Format
Undergraduate students in this major study at the Grand Valley Allendale
Campus.
- Face To Face
Coursework
Majors complete rigorous training in studio art complemented by courses in the theory and methods of art education. During the last year of the program, art education majors complete their degree with assisting and directed teaching opportunities at regional schools. For information about admission to the program, please visit the department website.
Combined Degree Programs
This undergraduate degree can be combined with a master's degree to save you time and money, and get you into the workforce sooner. On average, students save $8,500 in our combined degree programs and take up to four fewer classes than if earning the degrees separately.
You can even build your own combined degree from programs in different disciplines to further personalize your education and meet specific career goals.
Admission Requirements
Students admitted to Grand Valley who are pursuing the art education degree will receive a materials packet explaining the portfolio entrance. The student is then responsible for following the instructions in the packet. In addition, film and video production, graphic design, and illustration require a secondary admission. Students can find details on the website or consult with their academic advisor. More information regarding application for studio art and art education admission is available online at www.gvsu.edu/vma/.
Helpful Links
For More Information
Department of Visual and Media Arts
gvsu.edu/vma
1105 Alexander
Calder Art Center
(616) 331-3486
“Discussions of what was currently going on in our country as well as the world happened in my general education classes and my art and design classes. Both of these class environments have prepared me to enter a world of diverse people and opinions.”
ART EDUCATION AND PAINTING ALUMNA