Teach the next generation of artists.

Share your love of art and creativity with the next generation of young artists. You’ll study different artistic methods, such as painting, drawing and sculpture, and also receive the formal training necessary to becoming a great teacher. Make a difference in a child’s life by giving them the tools to embrace their creativity.

 

Program type:

Major, BFA

Format:

On-Campus

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Postsecondary Art Teacher showing students how to paint.
Overview

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art -

Art Education Emphasis

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art with an Emphasis in Art Education prepares students for a career in Art Education. Students who successfully complete all portions of the program will be fully certified to teach Art to grades K-12 in the state of Missouri. Art Education students complete a foundation art program plus additional courses that provide experience with a broad range of studio processes. To be certified, students must pass the Art K-12 Missouri Content Assessment and demonstrate competence in nine Missouri Teaching Standards as documented in a final electronic portfolio called the Missouri Pre-Service Teacher Assessment. Note that K-12 Art certification is grouped with Secondary Education by both DESE and the College of Education.

Outcomes and Career Outlook

Upon completion of the BFA in Art with an Emphasis in Art Education, graduates will be able to develop visual and verbal responses to visual phenomena and organize perceptions and conceptualizations both rationally and intuitively; explain the major achievements in the history of art and design, including the works and intentions of leading artists and designers in the past and present; develop the capacity to identify and/or solve visual problems within a variety of physical, technological, social and cultural contexts; explain and evaluate contemporary thinking about art or design; develop competence in a number of art or design techniques; and make valid assessments of quality and effectiveness in design projects and works of art, especially their own.

Employment of postsecondary education art teachers is projected to grow 6% to 2029, with a median annual salary of $75,940, according to wage and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.



$75,940

Median annual salary

6

Employment growth by 2029

Career Opportunities

  • Art Teacher
  • Art Museum Program Director
  • Professional Teaching Artist
  • K-12 School Arts Administration
  • Higher Education Art Educator

 

Plan of study

All majors must meet the general education requirements of the university in addition to completing degree-specific curriculum requirements.

Review Full Degree Requirements Review Sample Four-Year Plan Download 4-Year Academic Map

Non-Missouri Residents: Prospective students are responsible for reviewing the  NC-SARA state authorizations page to see if this program is offered in their state throughout their program and to review the licensure or certification requirements for the state in which they reside.

Student organizations

Make new friends and learn new skills by joining one of our Recognized Student Organizations. Here are several opportunities you may be interested in as an art education major. 

Honors College

The UMSL Honors College is a certificate program that can be paired with any major without adding extra classes or extending time to graduate. Classes in the Honors College are seminar-style, meaning that they are based in reading, writing, discussion, and critical thinking. This unique class format fosters an intellectual climate centered around democracy, diversity, civility and academic excellence.

Undergraduate research

We encourage and support students as they engage in exciting activities in and outside of the classroom that enrich their academic and professional understanding of their chosen area of study. All majors are encouraged to participate in Undergraduate Research and Scholarship to produce discipline-specific intellectual or creative innovations to their field.