The Master of Arts degree in Art Education provides opportunities for those with a background in art education (perference given to B.A., B.F.A., and B.S. in Art Education) to develop a focused competence in the visual arts, as well as an intellectual understanding of the history and current issues of the field of art education. Students study quantitative and qualitative approaches to research then select to do a research study with a thesis or a master’s project option. The thesis culminates in a document that is based on scholarly research of an art education related topic. The master’s project involves research, which focuses on participant/researcher studies in curriculum, classroom settings, grant implementation and/or community-based projects.

Graduates of the program will be able to: Understand the breadth of theoretical, philosophical, historical and practical issues in art education. Articulate how a plethora of issues is inherent in the field and constructed within wider frameworks of culture and society. Understand the purposes, functions and value of teaching art in PreK-12 art and other educational contexts. Understand and refine application of art education and education research methodology, methods and procedures. Demonstrate advanced comprehension of self-identified particular topics through detailed research investigation.