Undergraduate Program
The art education major within the Art Department in the School of Fine & Performing Arts offers a Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts Education. The program prepares students for teacher certification in Visual Arts Education in the State of New York. Students who major in art education must first be admitted to the Art Department. Art education students take studio courses in the areas of drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, sculpture, ceramics and metal as well as courses in teaching and art history.
The Art Education Program at SUNY New Paltz develops artists/designers with a strong understanding of: the relationship between artmaking and teaching; contemporary and historical art; and diverse cultural contexts of young people, schools, and society. Art education graduates become teachers who make relevant and engaging connections between the world of art/design and the world of children and adolescents.
Graduate Program
The Master of Science in Education in Visual Arts Education (MSEd) challenges art teachers possessing PreK -12 Visual Arts certification to reflectively and critically examine studio and classroom practices, and provides opportunities to gain deep insight into learning and teaching in the arts. Through course work focused on studio art, theories of contemporary art, art history, and art education, students refine their studio practices, explore contemporary art and cultural theory, and develop insights into effective art pedagogy.
All individuals possessing certification in PreK -12 Visual Arts are invited to apply to the program. We especially encourage individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups to apply. The MSEd in Visual Arts Education satisfies New York State public school art teachers' education requirements for Professional certification as well as advancement requirements in many other states, and prepares students interested in doctoral study for further graduate work.
The program is a low-residency summer program, offering an alternative for students who seek a rigorous and focused graduate program in visual arts education but who cannot pursue full-time graduate studies during the academic year. Students are on campus for two consecutive summers working full time with art studio and art history faculty. During two academic years, students enroll part time in online art education classes to carry out independent and faculty-mentored qualitative research projects related to issues in visual arts education.
