Visual Arts - Master of Arts in Teaching

Program Total Credits: 42

Barbara Suplee
bsuplee@uarts.edu
Chairperson, Director
215-717-6053

The Master of Arts in Teaching in Visual Arts is a professional degree program incorporating preparation for the Pennsylvania Instructional I Certificate to teach Art K-12, including a student teaching practicum. Additional coursework includes the history, theory, and practice of art education. Depending on the completeness of the student’s background, the MAT Program provides a flexible mix of professional education, advanced studio, and liberal arts study in a 42-credit program that may be completed in three full semesters or two semesters and two summers.

MAT candidates must successfully complete the Instructional I PRAXIS tests by the end of their first semester. Although the program normally leads to certification upon receiving the degree, all candidates must, in addition, successfully complete all the required PRAXIS tests with satisfactory scores to qualify for State certification. This unique degree program allows a student to obtain his/her certification requirements for teaching while also earning a master’s degree recognized by potential employing school districts and educational institutions. In many cases this enables the MAT recipient to qualify for a higher salary and often preferred placement.

Applicants to the MAT Program should possess a BFA or BA degree in studio art with a minimum of 45 credits in studio and 12 credits in art history with a “B” or better cumulative average. They must have completed six credits of college-level math, three credits of college-level English composition and three credits of British or American literature prior to formal admission to the professional education program.

Applicants must also have satisfactorily completed the coursework and/or acquired competencies in fields relating to teacher certification described below. If any deficiencies exist, up to 16 corequisite credits may be completed concurrently with the degree and applied to elective requirements.

Corequisites:

Coursework in painting, drawing, ceramics, and printmaking
Three upper-division credits in a 3-D studio area, if a 2-D studio major for bachelor’s degree
Three upper-division credits in a 2-D studio area, if a 3-D studio major for bachelor’s degree
Introduction to computers, including graphic applications (required competency); minimum requirement of one course
Basic Photography (required competency), minimum requirement of one course
Art History, 12 credits, including at least one course in 20th century art, one course in non-Western art
Introduction to Psychology or Child and Adolescent Psychology
Sociology or Cultural Anthropology (may be satisfied by GRAD 651)
Aesthetics (may be satisfied by AEDU 543)
Art Criticism (may be satisfied by AEDU 543)
Speech or Acting (may be satisfied by AEDU 200 Presentation Skills)
Six credits college-level math (prior to entry into the MAT program)
Three credits college-level English composition (prior to entry into the MAT program)
Three credits college-level British or American literature (prior to entry into the MAT program)
AEDU 201 Introduction to Visual Arts Education

Visual Arts - Master of Arts in Teaching Credits: 42

Fall Credits: 15

AEDU 509 is required of all students who do not pass the Art Education Department Writing Proficiency Exam with a score of 80% or higher. It must be taken and passed in the first semester of full-time enrollment, and it does not fulfill any credit requirements for the MAT program. (See course description for additional information.) Those who score below 70 percent on the Professional Writing Proficiency Exam after completing the Professional Writing course may not continue in the MAT program. Students enrolled in AEDU 509 must either pay a per-credit charge for all credits exceeding the 18-credit allottment, or must delay two credits of electives to a future semester. Students who have successfully taken the Instructional I Praxis Tests, Reading and Writing, prior to entry into the MAT program are exempt from the department’s Writing Proficiency Exam and AEDU 509 Professional Writing Intensive.

Electives Credits: 3 cr

AEDU 501 - Creative and Cognitive Development Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
May be taken during either the summer or fall semester
AEDU 509 - Professional Writing Intensive Credits: 2 cr, 2 hrs
AEDU 533 - Art and Inclusionary Education Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
This course have a required field placement, and may be taken in either
AEDU 541 - Program Design & Methods: Elementary Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs fld wrk
This course have a required field placement, and may be taken in either
AEDU 606 - Research in Education: Methods and Trends Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs

Spring Credits: 15

Electives Credits: 3 cr

AEDU 542 - Program Design & Methods: Secondary Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs fld wrk
These courses have a required field placement, and may be taken in either the fall or spring semester
AEDU 560 - Saturday Practicum Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs fld wrk
These courses have a required field placement, and may be taken in either the fall or spring semester
AEDU 602 - History of Ideas in Art and Museum Education Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
May be taken during either the summer or spring semester

PRAXIS

The Instructional I PRAXIS tests must be successfully completed by the end of the first full-time semester.

Fall Credits: 12

AEDU 503 - The Art of Teaching Credits: 3 cr, 3 hrs
AEDU 561 - Student Teaching: Elementary Credits: 4 cr, hrs vary
The two field placements may be taken over two semesters. If this option is elected, the full 15-week seminar that accompanies the field placement must be taken in both semesters.
AEDU 562 - Student Teaching: Secondary Credits: 4 cr, hrs vary
The two field placements may be taken over two semesters. If this option is elected, the full 15-week seminar that accompanies the field placement must be taken in both semesters.
AEDU 565 - Student Teaching Seminar: Elementary/Secondary Credits: 1 cr, 2 hrs

Notes:

Note: Courses to satisfy requirements for the MAT are offered at varying times, allowing graduate students’ programs to be customized to their needs.