Please note that we are currently not accepting applications to this program. Please contact VPA’s Office of Recruitment and Admissions to explore other programs in the School of Art.
Arts education majors at Syracuse University are prepared to be innovative educators and advocates of the arts in schools and the communities they serve. Students dually enroll in the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ School of Art and SU’s School of Education, fostering academic and cultural learning opportunities from two complementary perspectives.
The bachelor of fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree program emphasizes the arts as an exploration of the ideas, materials, and aesthetics through which we shape meanings, negotiate identity, and organize society. Faculty are nationally recognized scholars and researchers who work closely with students in their journey to promote multiliteracies, inclusivity, critical thinking, and social responsibility in terms of the national and New York State standards for the visual arts.
The program is designed to meet the needs of students seeking initial certification as art teachers in pre-K-12 public and private schools through a preparation program that is grounded in studio art and design practices. In your junior year, you have the opportunity to teach art lessons to children ages 5-15 in weekly workshops that prepare you for student teaching in local schools in your senior year.
Arts education majors and faculty are engaged in community-based fieldwork and innovative teaching and design methods. The program’s legacy is the work of a long list of innovative artists and educators.
Curriculum
Below are the general program requirements for the B.F.A. in arts education.
View official major requirements.
Major requirements: 37 credits
Art history requirements: 7 credits
Academic requirements: 20 credits
Studio electives: 59 credits
First year seminar: 1 credit
Total Credits: 124
Consult with the School of Education, 111 Waverly Avenue, Suite 230, regarding other New York State requirements for graduation and certification.
Teacher Preparation Performance Data
New York State Teacher Certification Examinations
For the most recent annual institution report, visit Syracuse University’s School of Education.
Community
Saturday Art Workshops for Young People
Each semester undergraduate and graduate arts education students create curricula and teach a ten-week series of workshops that are held on Saturday mornings at Comstock Art Facility for local students ages 5-15. The workshops are offered in conjunction with the required courses Methods and Practice in Teaching Art and Methods and Curriculum in Teaching Art.
The young artists in the workshops learn different techniques and practices in art and have the opportunity to create a series of work. At the end of each semester, the students’ work is displayed in a culminating event called The Big Show and celebrated by faculty, staff, family, and friends.
Student Arts Education Association
The Student Art Education Association at Syracuse University (SAEASU), affiliated with the National Art Education Association, is open to both undergraduate and graduate students in arts education. This organization is dedicated to offering pre-service art teachers, as well as any interested art and pre-service education students, opportunities to enrich their pedagogical practice by facilitating social and networking opportunities for professional development, hosting guest speakers, and promoting and practicing outreach and community service through the arts.