Inspire the next generation of artists!
Art evokes feeling, shines a light in the darkness, demonstrates skill, offers hope, and sparks joy. Help bring more beauty into the world by teaching art to the next generation!
If you love children and have a passion for art, Cumberlands’ art education program could be perfect for you. An art education degree offers a solid foundation for your future and career goals. From the traditional to the innovative, you’ll challenge yourself with media and technique as you work with faculty members who are accomplished artists in their own right. The art education degree program at Cumberlands will give you a solid art education built on a quality liberal arts foundation, and you’ll graduate with the certification you need to pursue art education opportunities and impact the next generation of young artists!
Programs & Requirements
Bachelor of Science with a Teaching Major in Art
Want to study art and pass on this knowledge and appreciation to the next generation? This program will equip you with everything you need to do just that! You’ll study the history of art and learn about great artists of the past and present. You’ll also get hands on experience with the craft, working with different mediums such as drawing, painting, design, and more, to develop your own artistic talent! You’ll combine courses like these with education courses that will give you the tools you need to effectively teach young people and influence their view of art and the world forever.
Course Requirements
ART 132 Ancient to Gothic Art
ART 133 Renaissance to Modern Art
ART 134 Drawing I
ART 135 Fundamental Design
ART 230 Computer Imaging I
ART 231 Drawing II
ART 434 Contemporary Art History
ART 439 Senior Seminar
ART 335 Painting I and Art 336 Painting II
ART 436 Sculpture I and Art 437 Sculpture II
ART 333 Computer Imaging II and Art 334 Photography
9 hours of Art electives at the 300 or 400 level.
Plus:
ART 331 School Art
ART 430 Art in the Secondary School
Students seeking secondary certification must also take 42 hours of professional education courses.
A Bachelor of Arts requires all the same courses as a Bachelor of Science with the addition of four classes (12 hours) in a foreign language.
Choose one foreign language sequence:
FREN 131 Elementary French I
FREN 132 Elementary French II
FREN 231 Intermediate French I
FREN 232 Intermediate French II
SPAN 131 Elementary Spanish I
SPAN 132 Elementary Spanish II
SPAN 231 Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 232 Intermediate Spanish II
* The credit hours listed on this page only reference the specific program requirements and is not reflective of the total hours necessary to receive your degree. Cumberlands requires all students obtain a minimum of 60 hours for an associate’s degree and a total of 120 hours for a bachelor’s degree. Transfer and prior learning credits may be counted toward those totals.
To learn more about our General Education Requirements, please visit the page referenced below or explore our Academic Catalog.
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Mission & Goals
The purpose of the art education degree program at UC is to prepare you to pursue a fine arts career and obtain a teaching certification. We’re here to help you develop your unique artistic style and teach you to be a competent and caring educator.
Art Education Careers & Outcomes
All stats from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
High School Art Teacher: $61,620
High School Art Teacher: $61,620
As a secondary art teacher, you will mostly work in high schools, teaching art to older students, creating safe and productive classroom environments, organizing learning activities for students, upholding school rules, giving and grading assignments, and supervising students, all while instilling in them an appreciation for art.
Elementary Art Teacher: $61,350
Elementary Art Teacher: $61,350
Description: As an elementary art teacher, you will mostly work in elementary schools, preparing lessons for elementary-aged students, teaching drawing, painting, photography and other studio arts, helping uphold school rules, moderating behavior of students in the classroom, and instilling aesthetic appreciation in children early on.
Curriculum Designer: $63,740
Curriculum Designer: $63,740
As a curriculum designer, you will work behind the scenes, creating the lessons, materials, and learning plans that teachers and students will use in the course of their art education. You’ll use your skills to create curriculums and ensure their success.
Recreational Art Therapist: $47,940
Recreational Art Therapist: $47,940
As an art therapist, you will use your knowledge of the art world from your degree in art education and combine it with a master’s degree so you can apply these skills to helping individuals by using art as a therapeutic and healing process.
Museum Educator: $50,120
Museum Educator: $50,120
As a museum educator, you’ll have the opportunity to work in art museums and galleries, hosting lectures and workshops, teaching museumgoers about exhibits, artifacts, and art history, while working alongside curators, owners, and prominent artists in your community.
Art Director: $100,890
Art Director: $100,890
If you’re interested in art education but want a career outside the classroom, this could be a good option for you. As an art director, you will have opportunities to work with magazines, newspapers, movie and tv productions, product packaging, and more, helping these companies to create aesthetically pleasing images and curating visual style.
Common Questions
The most common career options for someone with an art education degree are teaching positions in a primary or secondary school setting. However, if your interests lie outside the classroom, there are still plenty of things you can do with your degree! Some art education graduates use their degree to launch a career in fine art, honing their craft and exhibiting and selling their work. Other possibilities with an art education degree include pursuing art therapy, graphic design, illustration, product design, and more!
The requirements to teach in a public P-12 school system vary by state, but there are some universal requirements. You must earn a bachelor’s degree from a program that explores how to teach younger age groups and focuses on artistic expression. You will likely need to do some student teaching and pass a state test to apply for a teaching certification. Then you can begin exploring job opportunities!
Some skills that are helpful in the art education world are technical art skills, good interpersonal communication skills, organization skills, leadership skills, behavior analysis skills, and instructional skills.
Yes! There are plenty of things you can do with an art education degree besides teaching. Curriculum designer, museum educator, and art curator are just a few of these options.
Art is an integral part of being human, and art in education is just as important. Not only is art worth learning and teaching in its own right, but it can have a beneficial impact on other areas of study as well. It’s been linked to academic achievement, motivated students, teamwork, and building confidence, and it’s been shown to improve performance in math, reading, critical thinking, reasoning, verbal skills and more. Integrating art into our education systems is an investment in the development and progress of our youth.
Absolutely. University of the Cumberlands is accredited through SACSCOC, and our School of Education is accredited through the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Educational Professional Standards Board (EPSB). Furthermore, the School of Education is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), a national accrediting body.
Rachel Wade"As an art student at UC, I’ve learned not only how to express my passion as an artist, but to see every artistic and beautiful aspect of the world around us."
Title / Department
Faculty Experts
Learn more about our art and education professors!
Melanie Belcher
Dr. Brad Miller
Lisa C. Wallin
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