Nov 26, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Art Education Major, B.F.A.


Department of Art  

College of Letters, Arts and Sciences  

  Available Program Format(s): In-Person  

About the Program


The Art Education program fuses a progressive 21st century approach in the discipline of Art Education with the student’s development as an artist. As a future artist-teacher, the student puts into practice informed research while working in the K-12 classroom. Combining artistic practice, educational studies, and field experience as an educator, the degree prepares students to bring about creative change in the world through the lives of students. The B.F.A. in Art Education includes K-12 Art Education licensure in the State of Colorado and is accredited by both NCATE and NASAD.

Student Outcomes


  • Make artworks that show evidence of intellectual inquiry and curiosity 
  • Convey ideas that are consistently reinforced through the execution of cohesive work(s) that are the result of the process of making 
  • Use effective and eloquent oral, written, and visual communication of enduring ideas 
  • Successfully teach in an art classroom applying and testing principles and methods of diverse age-appropriate instructional approaches and curriculum development that illustrate respect for and professionalism in the field of teaching. 
  • Assess aptitudes, experiential backgrounds and interests of individual and diverse groups of students, and devise learning experiences to meet assessed needs. 
  • Develop and present a professional portfolio of work and an art education philosophy statement that demonstrates current best practices in the field.

General Degree Requirements


To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements. 

Program Requirements


  • A total of 121 semester hours are required for graduation. 
  • A grade of C- or better is required for each course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required. 
  • Art Education majors who elect to take a minor may not minor in Studio Art.
  • Art History, Theory and Criticism is a distinct academic discipline from Art, Art Education, or Communication Design, although all reside within the Department of Art and share common foundational requirements. 
  • All students entering the department wishing to pursue the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Art Education will be admitted under the B.A. in Art. Entrance into the B.F.A. program is contingent on passing a formal portfolio review upon completing 21 credits in ART, CDES, or ARTH, inclusive of the 18 hours of foundations courses required for all students in the department. Students must earn a minimum of a 2.75 G.P.A. in this coursework in the major at the time of portfolio review and have completed the Written Communication, Oral Communication, and Quantitative Literacy General Studies requirements. 
  • Students who are not admitted to the B.F.A. degree may reapply up to three times. Should a student not be admitted and continue in the B.A. in Art. 
  • Students pursuing the B.F.A. in Art Education must also achieve satisfactory scores on the state licensure examination. See your advisor for more information. Students seeking teacher licensure should read the teacher licensure sections of this Catalog. 
  • Students must obtain provisional admission to the teacher preparation program before they may register for their first field experience course(s). 
  • All teacher candidates must apply to the School of Education teacher preparation program to obtain provisional admission before they can register for EDS 3130, EDS 3140 and EDS 3150. Please Note: *EDS 3130 and EDS 3140 are corequisites and must be taken concurrently.
  • This program is defined as an extended major .

General Studies Requirements: 33 credits


Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.  

 

*EDS 3130 and EDS 3140 are corequisites and must be taken concurrently.

** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences. 

Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits


Additional Requirements: 7 credits


If EDS 3130 and EDS 3150 are not taken as part of the general studies requirements for Social and Behavioral Sciences as recommended these courses must be taken as additional requirements for the major.

Please Note: *EDS 3130 and EDS 3140 are corequisites and must be taken concurrently.

Studio Emphasis: 15 credits


Complete 9 credits in one of the studio areas listed below. Complete an additional 6 credits in a complementary studio area. Students must take at least two intermediate studio courses: one in their studio emphasis and one in their complementary studio area. Please see the sections below for courses in each emphasis.

Digital and Emerging Art Practices


The following courses are required for the emphasis (9 credits total). ART 3632 is repeatable and will be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. Students will learn new content each time they take ART 3632.

Sculpture Emphasis


The following courses are required for the emphasis (9 credits total). ART 3692 is repeatable and will be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. Students will learn new content each time they take ART 3692.

Jewelry Emphasis


The following courses are required for the emphasis (9 credits total). ART 3652 or ART 3654 are both options for the 6 credit intermediate studio requirement. Both are repeatable and can be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. Students will learn new content each time they take ART 3652 or ART 3654.

Ceramics Emphasis


The following courses are required for the emphasis (9 credits total). ART 3612 or ART 3614 are both options for the 3 credit intermediate studio requirement.

Printmaking Emphasis


ART 3682 is repeatable and will be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. Students will learn new content each time they take ART 3682.

Photography Emphasis


ART 3672 is repeatable and will be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. Students will learn new content each time they take ART 3672.

Technology Requirement


A technology based studio course is required for licensure. This requirement may be applied to either emphasis or, where appropriate, to the integrated media requirement.

Summary of Requirements


General Studies Requirements 33 credits
ESSJ Requirement 0-3 credits
Additional Requirement 7 credits
Art Foundation Requirement 18 credits
Post Foundation Courses 45 credits
Studio Emphasis 15 credits
Integrated Media Requirement 6 credits
Technology Requirement (counted elsewhere)
Senior Experience 3 credits
Unrestricted Electives 0-5 credits
Total for the Art Education Major, B.F.A. Minimum of 120 credits

Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and ESSJ requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.

Up to 12 of the 33 General Studies credits in this program may be fulfilled through requirements for the degree.