Undergraduate: BFA
Description
The Art Education Program is an approved teacher preparation program that complies with the professional standards of the Virginia Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is further accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. All of these agencies assure the highest professional program standards.
Most art education students enter the teaching profession and teach art in either elementary, middle or high school. Others pursue further education to work as art consultants, art therapists, arts administrators, museum personnel and college instructors, and in other art-related business positions. Graduates of the program are eligible for teacher licensure in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Reciprocity agreements with many states greatly expand job opportunities throughout the country.
Click here to view the complete curriculum requirements in the VCU Bulletin.
Program Sequence + Advising
Admissions
Any undergraduate student admitted to the School of the Arts and who has completed the Art Foundation Program (or the equivalent at another institution) is eligible to apply to the program. Transfer students and students currently attending VCU must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 to be considered for admission to the program.
Transfer Students
The Department of Art Education considers applications from transfer students who have completed the equivalent of the Art Foundation Program at another institution. Submission of both the University Undergraduate Application for Admission and the School of the Arts Undergraduate Application is required.
For more information: http://www.ugrad.vcu.edu/index.html
Second Degree Students
Applicants holding a bachelor's degree in art who wish to complete the course work necessary to receive a license to teach art pre K-12 in Virginia may apply directly to Undergrad Admissions for a second bachelor's degree. Completion of the requirements for the degree and satisfactory scores on the state required examinations qualifies the candidate to receive a Collegiate Professional License.
For more information: http://www.ugrad.vcu.edu/index.html
Double Majors
Students in the School of the Arts are encouraged to double major in studio and art education. Following completion of Art Foundation, students are required to complete a change of major form, signed by the Department Chair in order to add a second major. Double Majors should begin coursework for both degree programs as early as possible and meet with advisors from both departments regularly.
Timeline and Deadlines
In order to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education degree, students are required to follow a sequential timeline of coursework, state required testing and to complete applications for teacher preparation, clinical internship, graduation and licensure. Students are also required to complete additional coursework. The timeline is as follows:
Art Foundation + Portfolio Review
All students are required to sucessfully complete all required coursework in the Art Foundation program before acceptance into the Department of Art Education. Art Foundation students apply to the Department of Art Education through a visual portfolio and writing sample during their second semester in Art Foundation.
Orientation + Advising
Accepted students are required to attend an orientation session during the Spring semester while they are still taking Art Foundation courses. Students are assigned their academic adviser during this meeting. Transfer students, second degree seeking students, double majors and change of major students are required to meet with the Administrative Director prior to beginning coursework in the Department of Art Education.
The name and contact information of the student's adviser may be obtained from the Department of Art Education main office. Students are encouraged to meet with their adviser each semester during the week of advising and to check their email regularly for important information regarding advising.
Pre Teacher Preparation
During the first two semesters of coursework in the Department of Art Education, students should complete ARTE 310 during the Fall semester and ARTE 311 during the Spring semester. Students will also register for the required Praxis I exams (www.ets.org) or show proof of exemption by official SAT or ACT score reports. Students must successfully pass their Praxis I exams in order to be admitted into teacher preparation. Students should also complete ARTE 250, EDUS 301 and required art history, studio and general education coursework during their first year in the Department of Art Education.
Application to Teacher Preparation (due October 1 for Spring and February 1 for Fall)
All students in the program, upon completion of 60 credits and/or four full-time semesters and prior to completion of 90 hours of undergraduate course work, must apply through the Department of Art Education and be accepted for departmental admission to the Art Education Teacher Preparation Program. Applications are due by Feb. 1 (for fall enrollment in ARTE 401) or Oct. 1 (for spring enrollment in ARTE 401) of each year to the administrative director. If students do not turn in their applications on time with hard copies of passing score reports, they will not be guaranteed enrollment in ARTE 401 the following semester.
Requirements for departmental admission to teacher preparation:
* Submission of completed Application to Teacher Preparation form by established deadline
* Minimum of 2.5 cumulative GPA
* Successful completion of ARTE 310 and 311 (6 credits)
* Passing scores on required Praxis I exams or exemption with SAT or ACT scores (www.ets.org)
* No record of a felony conviction
* Completion of the Dispositions Acknowledgement Form (included with departmental Application for Teacher Preparation)
* An interview with faculty may be required of students
Departmental admission to the Teacher Preparation Program is required for enrollment in practicum courses (ARTE 401 and 402) and clinical internship (ARTE 404, TEDU 485 and 486).
Note: ARTE 401 is a prerequisite of ARTE 402. Enrollment is granted to ARTE 401 and ARTE 402 through an override form from the Department of Art Education.
Application for Admission to Teacher Preparation (PDF)
Teacher Preparation
Once students are accepted into Teacher Preparation, ARTE 401 and ARTE 402 are completed in sequence and admission is granted to these courses through an override by the Department of Art Education. Students will complete the Praxis II- Art Content Knowledge exam (www.ets.org) before they apply for Clinical Internship (student teaching) during ARTE 402.
During Teacher Preparation, students will continue to complete required art history, studio and general education coursework. This includes a requirement for TEDU 330 or ARTE 450.
Application for Clinical Internship (Student Teaching) (due September 7th for Spring and February 7th for Fall)
Students planning to Student Teach must complete an Application to Clinical Internship the semester before they intend to complete their internship. In order to be eligible for Clinical Internship, students must have successfully completed or be enrolled in all coursework in the Department of Art Education, art history courses and studio requirements. Students must also have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and a GPA of 2.8 in Art Education courses. Applications are reviewed by the Department of Art Education and delivered to the School of Education for placement. Students are required to attend a departmental orientation for all Interns as well as a School of Education orientation prior to beginning their internship.
Application for Clinical Internship in Art Education (PDF)
Clinical Internship
Students are placed by the School of Education in an Elementary (TEDU 485) and a Secondary (TEDU 486) (middle or high school) placement for eight weeks each during their semester of Clinical Internship. All students are assigned a University Supervisor to act as a liason for the Department of Art Education and a cooperating teacher at each school. Students meet weekly through ARTE 404, the student teacher seminar. Students are assessed using the Clinical Evaluation Continuum by both their supervisor and cooperating teacher. Prior to or during their semester of student teaching, students must register for and pass the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) in order to be eligible for licensure. Students also complete an online Chilkd Abuse Prevention training.
Student teaching is a full semester divided into two eight-week blocks of time. Students are placed for one eight-week period at the elementary level (TEDU 485), and the other eight-week period is at the secondary level, either middle or high school (TEDU 486). The accompanying Student Teaching Seminar (ARTE 404) is considered part of the student teaching experience, and is the only course students are permitted to take while student teaching. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to their student teaching assignments. Because student teaching is a full-time endeavor, the department strongly encourages student to avoid holding full-time or part-time employment during the student teaching semester.
Actual placement will depend upon availability of appropriate school openings and the cooperation of individual school systems. Placement is also contingent upon placement policies of cooperating schools.
Child Abuse Prevention Certificate
http://www.vcu.edu/vissta/training/va_teachers/
Application for Graduation (due mid September for Fall grads and mid January for Spring grads)
During their final semester, students will apply for Graduation from the University. In order to graduate, students must successfully complete 123 credits with at least 45 upper level credits and complete all required courses. Applications are turned in to the Department will all necessary attachments and reviewed by the Department then sent to the Dean's office.
Graduation applications are obtained from the online Student e-Services. Link
Commencement
Visit the commencement website for information regarding graduation ceremonies, class rings, diplomas and other graduation information.
Application for Licensure (due upon completion of degree requirements)
Students that have earned a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Art Education degree and have passed required tests (Praxis I, Praxis II, VCLA) are eligible for Virginia Licensure. Applications can be found on the Virginia Department of Education website. Students can turn in application materials to the Department of Art Education for review during their last week of Student Teaching.
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/newvdoe/teached.html
Upon successful completion of all requirements for the BFA degree in Art Education, students must submit an application to the Department of Art Education for teacher licensure. Once approved by the department chair, the applications are sent to the School of Education for approval and then to the Virginia Department of Education. The Virginia Department of Education requires an initial licensure fee of fifty dollars ($50.00). This is payable with a money order or personal check made payable to the Virginia Department of Education and accompanies the licensure application. Students must also include copies of score reports for Praxis II: Art Content Knowledge and the Virginia Communication and Literacy exam and a copy of the Child Abuse Prevention Certificate.
Schedule of Classes + Courses
http://www.pubapps.vcu.edu/scheduleofclasses/
http://www.pubapps.vcu.edu/vcucourses/
Computer Requirements
http://www.vcu.edu/arts/inside_vcu_arts/departmental_requirements/index.html
Testing Requirements
Scholarships + Awards
http://www.vcu.edu/arts/prospective_students/scholarships/
School of Education Website
http://www.soe.vcu.edu/index.html
