Major in Art Education

Students who complete the Art Education program are eligible to apply for licensure by the Maryland State Department of Education, enabling them to teach art in Maryland in grades PreK-12. Art Education students complete art education, studio and professional education courses, along with their Core curriculum requirements. All Art Education students earn a second major in Art + Design (Fine Arts track). The entire program takes five years to complete. The art education courses, including classroom placements, are taken in the last three terms of the program.  

Requirements for Admission to the Major in Art Education 

Admission Requirements for Teacher Education

 

The Teacher Education Executive Board, representing all initial teacher education programs at Towson University, utilizes the following minimum requirements as conditions for admission into teacher education programs, maintaining candidate status, and entry into the capstone internship. Programs may include additional requirements for admission into the program and/or the capstone internship.

Educator Preparation Programs (EPP) admit students either as freshmen or as undergraduate transfer students from accredited, post-secondary institutions. During the freshman and sophomore years, students are generally engaged in pre-professional courses or courses that fulfill Core Curriculum requirements, as well as all identified prerequisites (e.g., specific and sequential courses in Core Curriculum) for admission to EPP initial licensure programs. 

All EPP undergraduate programs are screened majors. As an integral part of the teaching/learning experience, students work with advisers in a strategic planning process across all years at TU. Accordingly, to support student success, all EPP students are required to confer with their assigned advisers prior to registration each term.

I. PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO ALL TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS

  1. Complete a self-disclosure criminal background form to be submitted to the major department with the application. 
  2. Submit an application for formal admission to the program. Students seeking admission to teacher education programs must contact their department chairperson or program coordinator by 45 units for program-specific procedures and requirements for admission to professional education programs.
  3. Meet the Basic Skills Assessment Requirement as defined by the Maryland State Department of Education to be eligible for admission. A student who is admitted to Towson University and in Good Standing but does not meet the Basic Skills Assessment requirement at the time of application to the program can be granted "Conditional Admission" and given one semester as a conditional candidate to satisfy the Basic Skills Assessment requirement. If the conditional candidate does not meet the requirement by the end of the conditional semester, there are two options: 1) the program may recommend the conditional candidate for exemption and if granted, the conditional candidate would be fully admitted to the program or 2) the conditional candidate will not be fully admitted to the program. 

II. REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTAINING CANDIDATE STATUS

  1. Meet the grade, course, and/or assessment requirement(s) identified by the candidate's specific program.
    1. At the department’s discretion, a candidate who does not meet the program requirement(s) may continue for one additional semester under probationary status but must satisfy the requirement by the end of the probationary period. If the requirement is not met at the end of the probationary period, the candidate will be dismissed from the program. 
  1. Exhibit behavior that is consistent with the University’s Code of Student Conduct, the Educator Preparation Program’s Professional Behavior Policy, and established professional practice in educational and clinical settings. (see EPP Behavior Policy) 

III. PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO CAPSTONE INTERNSHIP FOR ALL PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

  1. Complete a criminal background check as required by the school system in which the internship is located.
  2. Complete all required coursework.

The Standards were revised and approved in February 1996, May 1998, February 2000, May 2007, May 2008, April 2009, December 2011, November 2012, February 2014, October 2014, February 2015, November 2015, May 2019, February 2020, March 2021, and November 2024.

 

IV. ADDITIONAL TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

​Students should apply for formal admission to the Art Education program by submitting an application that includes: 

  1. An interview and portfolio review with the art education faculty.

This is a screened program. See the Admission section for information. 

Curricular requirements may be revised due to changes in state licensure requirements, and therefore, students should work with their adviser to ensure they are following the correct program plan.

Minimum requirements for admission into teacher education programs, maintaining candidate status and formal entry into the capstone internship are outlined on the Standards for Teacher Education page in the Undergraduate Catalog. 

First-Level Foundation
ART 101DIGITAL TOOLS AND CONCEPTS3
ART 1032D PROCESS3
ART 1043D PROCESS3
ART 211DRAWING: OBSERVATION AND INVENTION3
ART 212VISUAL CONCEPTS3
ARTH 221SURVEY OF GLOBAL ART I3
ARTH 222SURVEY OF GLOBAL ART II3
Second-Level Foundation
ART 229PAINTING I3
ART 234PHOTO IMAGING - FILM3
or ART 235 PHOTO IMAGING - CREATIVE WORKFLOW
ART 241SCULPTURE I3
ARTH 3xx/4xxAny 300- or 400-level Art History Course6
Studio Requirements
ART 231CERAMICS I3
ART 2xx/3xxAny 200- or 300-level Printmaking course3
ART 2xx/3xxAny 200- or 300-level Studio Electives6
Art Education Courses
First Term:
ARED 381STUDIO PRACTICES & CURRICULAR PLANNING: ELEMENTARY 13
ARED 383ARTS INTEGRATED LEARNING IN BALTIMORE'S SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES: SECONDARY 13
Second Term:
ARED 467FIELD EXPERIENCE IN ART EDUCATION:ELEMENTARY 12
ARED 468INTERNSHIP: ART TEACHING 12
ARED 475STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING & ASSESSING ART: PREK-12 13
ARED 479STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING AND ASSESSING ART: SECONDARY 12
Third Term:
ARED 481INTERNSHIP IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION-ART6
ARED 483INTERSHIP IN SECONDARY EDUCATION - ART6
ARED 485PRO-SEMINAR IN TEACHING OF ART 13
Professional Courses
ARED 463AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR:INTERGRATION OF VISUAL AND LANGUAGE ARTS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL3
ARED 464AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR:INTEGRATION OF VISUAL AND LANGUAGE ARTS AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL3
ARED or ART 2xx/3xx/4xx Any 200-, 300-, or 400-level Art Education or Art Course3
PSYC 201EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY3
SCED 200FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION3
SCED 341PRINCIPLES OF SECONDARY EDUCATION4
SPED 301INTRODUCTION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION3
Additional Required Courses (taken as Core Curriculum)
HIST 145HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE CIVIL WAR3
or HIST 146 HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE CIVIL WAR
PSYC 101INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY3
Total Units106
1

Minimum grade of B (3.0) required.

Sample Five-Year Plan

The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.

Freshman
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
ART 1013ART 2113
ART 103 (Core 4)3ART 2123
ART 1043ARTH 2223
ARTH 221 (Core 5)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Core 1 (or Core 2)3Core 33
 15 15
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
ART 2293ART 2413
ART 2313ART 2xx/3xx: Any Printmaking Course13
HIST 145 or 146 (Core 11)3ART 2xx/3xx: Any Studio Elective3
PSYC 101 (Core 6)3Core 74
Core 143 
 15 13
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
Screening occurs here (minimum 60 credits)ARTH 3xx/4xx: Any ARTH Course3
ART 234 or 2353ARED or ART 2xx/3xx/4xx: Any 200-,300-, or 400- level art education of art course3
ART 2xx/3xx: Any Studio Elective3SCED 2003
ARTH 3xx/4xx: Any ARTH Course3Core 103
Core 83-4 
 12-13 12
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
ARED 4633ARED 3813
EDUC 301 (Suggested for Core 9)3ARED 3833
PSYC 2013ARED 4643
Core 133SPED 3013
 SCED 3414
 12 16
Fifth Year
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
ARED 4672ARED 4816
ARED 4682ARED 4836
ARED 4753ARED 4853
ARED 4792 
Core 123 
 12 15
Total Units 137-138
1

ART 245 suggested.

  1. (NAEA Standard I) Visual arts educators have a thorough understanding of the visual arts standards
  2. (NAEA Standard II) Visual arts educators understand student characteristics
  3. (NAEA Standard III) Visual arts educators understand diverse social and cultural constructions of identity
  4. (NAEA Standard IV) Visual arts educators make informed selections of art content and curricula
  5. (NAEA Standard V) Visual arts educators use knowledge of students as learners to plan appropriate instruction
  6. (NAEA Standard VI) Visual arts educators use contemporary technology to enhance teaching and learning
  7. (NAEA Standard VII) Visual arts educators conduct meaningful and appropriate assessments of student learning
  8. (NAEA Standard VIII) Visual arts educators systematically reflect on their own teaching practice
  9. (NAEA Standard IX) Visual arts educators assess program effectiveness
  10. (NAEA Standard XXII) Visual arts educators participate in professional development opportunities
  11. (NAEA Standard XXIII) Visual arts educators serve as advocates and researchers to contribute to the growth of their profession