College of the Arts
School of Art
www.kent.edu/art

About This Program

Earn your B.F.A. in Art Education and become a dynamic pre-K-12 visual arts educator! Our program blends hands-on studio practice with learner-centered teaching, equipping you with the skills to inspire creativity in diverse classrooms. You'll master traditional and digital media; explore art history and aesthetics; and develop inclusive, engaging instructional strategies. With a strong focus on cultural awareness, student development and creative expression, you'll graduate ready to create meaningful and transformative learning experiences through art. Read more...

Contact Information

• Linda Hoeptner-Poling | lhoeptne@kent.edu | 330-672-7895
• Speak with an Advisor
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers

• High school teachers in traditional, special needs and technical schools, plus museums, community and enrichment programs
• Middle school teachers in traditional, special needs and technical schools, plus museums, community and enrichment programs
• Preschool and elementary teachers in traditional, special needs and technical schools, plus museums, community and enrichment programs

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Progression Requirements

• Students must meet all professional requirements for admission to advanced study. Students will meet with an academic advisor to discuss the application for advanced study.
• Students must have a minimum 2.500 overall GPA and 2.500 major GPA for admission to advanced study, student teaching and graduation.

Graduation Requirements

• Students must receive a rating of “satisfactory” on selected works exhibited during their portfolio review.
• Students must complete over 120 field hours through a variety of teaching experiences (i.e., when they are out in schools or other educational settings) within their teacher education program.
• Student must satisfy all professional disposition assessments at least three times throughout their teacher education program, which includes student teaching. Professional dispositions are the professional attitudes, values and beliefs demonstrated through both verbal and non-verbal behaviors as educators interact with students, families, colleagues, faculty and communities.
• Students must pass ARTE 41009, a course that examines the student's knowledge, proficiency and ability to apply concepts in art and visual arts education.
• Students must pass the Kent Summative Teacher Education Project (K-STEP) designed to develop and evaluate their ability to plan for instruction, use instructional strategies and assess student learning during their final student teaching experience.
• Students must successfully complete student teaching, the culminating experience in the preparation of the student teacher candidate.
• ARTH 12001 is designed for non-art majors, and will not fulfill major requirements for art majors.

Licensure Information

Candidates seeking Ohio licensure are required to pass specific assessments in order to apply for licensure. The following Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) examinations are required for licensure: OAE 004, the visual art content assessment; and OAE 006, the pre-K-12 multi-age visual arts pedagogy assessment. See Ohio Department of Education-Educator Preparation website for more information on assessments specific to licensure type. Taking and passing the licensure tests prior to graduation is encouraged, but not required.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

University Requirements

All students in a bachelor's degree program at Kent State University must complete the following university requirements for graduation.

NOTE: University requirements may be fulfilled in this program by specific course requirements. Please see Program Requirements for details.

Kent Core Requirements

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Construct lesson plans that reflect learner-centered pedagogy that is culturally responsive, inclusive and developmentally appropriate.
2. Incorporate the use of evidence-based instructional strategies, resources and instructional technology as part of the learning activities aligned with goals, objectives and/or standards in the lesson plans. 
3. Apply evidence-based instruction to meet a diversity of students’ needs. 
4. Practice reflective teaching in the classroom to accommodate all students using effective strategies, resources, materials and accommodations to adapt instruction to meet the needs of individuals and groups of students.
5. Implement formative and summative assessments that align conceptually to the lesson objectives and are designed to be appropriate to address individual student differences and minimize bias. 
6. Demonstrate professional teaching dispositions.
7. Apply creative, technical, procedural and interpretive skills through a range of studio art and design experiences.

Policies

Dual Degree/Double Major

Exhibitions

Students enrolled in a B.F.A. or B.A. program in studio art, and in the B.A. in art education, must receive a rating of “satisfactory” on selected works exhibited during their portfolio review.

No-Credit Courses

Some courses do not generate credit within particular programs. ARTH 12001 does not generate credit for majors within the School of Art, but can be used to fulfill Kent Core requirements. Check course descriptions carefully for more information.

Physical Activity and ROTC Courses

No more than 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses or the first 16 credit hours of ROTC courses—Aerospace Studies (ASTU) and Military Studies (MSCI)—may apply to the 120 credit hours required for graduation.

Veterans who have completed a minimum of one year of active duty may receive PWS credit for military basic training according to branch of service, as follows:

• Army and Marine Corps, 3 credit hours;
• Navy and Coast Guard, 2 credit hours;
• Air Force, 1 credit hour.

Requirement Audit

Upon completion of 60 credit hours, each student is required to contact the College of the Arts Advising office to obtain a current evaluation of progress toward completion of the student’s chosen degree program. Requirement evaluations are not a substitute for meeting with a faculty advisor. Students may access GPS (Graduation Planning System) audit through their FlashLine account which provides them with information about their academic progress. Questions about GPS audits are answered in the College of the Arts Advising office.

Requirements for Admission to Advanced Study for Art Education and Music Education

Admission to advanced study is required of all art education and music education majors and minors prior to enrolling in upper-division education courses. Upon completion of coursework, as determined by program area, students should have satisfied the prerequisites for admission to advanced study. Students must submit an application for advanced study by the second Friday of the term during which all prerequisites for advanced study will be completed, and at least one semester prior to beginning any coursework for which "Admission to Advanced Study" is a prerequisite. Students at the Kent Campus apply for Advanced Study through the College of Education, Health and Human Services Student Portal, which can be accessed through the Vacca Office of Student Services web page. Students completing a licensure program at a regional campus should check with that campus for instructions on how to apply for "Advanced Study." Please note: Admission to advanced study is required for students pursuing an undergraduate major that leads to teacher licensure. Please be aware that reapplication may be necessary if postponing advanced study coursework or if withdrawn for one year or more.

Requirements for Admission to Advanced Study for Art Education and Music Education

• College Writing: Students are required to attain a minimum C grade in each writing courses (ENG 11011 and ENG 21011 or equivalent).
• Pre-Advanced Study Coursework: To be eligible for advanced study, students must earn a minimum C grade in CULT 29535 and a minimum C grade in one of the following courses (please note that a minimum C grade must be earned in all of the four courses for teacher licensure programs):
  • EPSY 29525
  • SPED 23000 
• Grade Point Average:
  • Art Education majors must have earned a minimum 2.500 cumulative GPA in order to be admitted to Advanced Study.
  • Music Education majors must have earned a minimum 2.500 cumulative GPA and a minimum 2.750 major GPA at the time of application in order to be admitted to Advanced Study.
• Disposition Assessment/Professional Disposition Plans (PDPs): Students are required to have completed all professional dispositions plan (PDPs) at the time of application to be eligible for advanced study.
• Advising Appointment: Art Education and Music Education students should make an advising appointment with a professional advisor in the Vacca Office of Student Services (or Regional Campus advising office if completing the program at that campus) for information about applying for Advanced Study and educator licensure. Advising appointments at the Kent Campus are made through the Vacca Office of Student Services' website at www.kent.edu/ehhs/services/voss.
• Teacher Candidate Acknowledgments and Legal Questions for Licensure: Candidates are required to electronically sign four statements acknowledging that they have read and understand the following areas: background check requirements; professional dispositions; licensure application information; legal questions asked on the licensure application. Statements can be found on the student portal.

Transfer Students to the School of Art

Transfer students with more than two studio art courses should submit a portfolio of work for proper placement. The director of the School of Art may impose additional requirements considered reasonable and necessary. Transfer credits are evaluated consistent with the state Transfer Articulation Guidelines (TAG), although each student will be evaluated individually in terms of their ability to perform within the program. Transfer students should make every effort to complete admission requirements before the deadlines and see an advisor in the School of Art for an evaluation of the portfolio and schedule planning before registration.

Full Description

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art Education prepares students to effectively teach visual art by applying a learner-centered pedagogy to embrace the many dimensions of human intelligence and aesthetic education.

Art educators understand child development to successfully engage learners in the complete artistic process of thinking—perceptual, imaginative, formative, expressive and communicative—by combining a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas. They organize and evaluate teaching activities for creating and analyzing works of art and design from contemporary and past cultures. This involves using a variety of media, technology and community resources and making connections between visual art and other disciplines, as well as assessing the learning outcomes of their students.

In addition, art educators are prepared to meet the needs of all students with an understanding of the value of diversity. They create safe and equitable learning environments in which to nurture lifelong skills in problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and constructing meaning.

Graduates of the degree program will be eligible to be certified for pre-K-12 visual art teacher licensure.

Study Abroad/Away Opportunities:

• Travel opportunities to New York City and Paris
• Study abroad through Kent State's Florence program in Florence, Italy (full semester or summer art and design experience)
• Ohio Art Education Association and National Art Education Association Travel Studies

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.