Art Education: Visual Art Studies

Generally speaking, the discipline of Art Education concerns itself with the theory and practice of teaching art to others. UNT’s Art Education program is recognized for its development of art and museum educators and leaders in the field who have a broad understanding of contemporary and past visual art forms, teaching and learning in the arts, and research and innovation through a rigorous mix of theoretical and practical preparation.

At the undergraduate level, a degree in art education—the B.F.A. in Visual Art Studies—prepares one for a career as an early childhood, elementary, middle and/or high school art teacher and for careers in community art programs and other educational facilities.

The M.A. in Art Education offers 3 separate program options. M.A. students have the opportunity to obtain state teaching certification, to further their teaching knowledge and skills, or to learn about art museum education. A master's degree in Art Education supports students in deepening their knowledge of art education practice, theory, and research while specializing in specific forms of art education (such as art museum education).

Students pursuing a doctorate in Art Education research and develop new theories of art teaching and learning and prepare themselves to be researchers and professors of Art Education at colleges and universities. The Ph.D. is the terminal degree in Art Education and the University of North Texas is the only university in the state of Texas to offer it.

Student accomplishments

Tim Garth

Art Education PhD student Tim Garth is the recipient of a 2014-2015 National Arts Education Foundation Research Grant in the amount of $10,000 to support his dissertation work on Art Education Policy: Interpretation and the Negotiation of Praxis.

Art Education and Art History
Art Education

Art Education PhD student Tim Garth is the recipient of a 2014-2015 National Arts Education Foundation Research Grant in the amount of $10,000 to support his dissertation work on Art Education Policy: Interpretation and the Negotiation of Praxis.

Alumni accomplishments

Cala Coats

Alumna Cala Coats (Ph.D. Art Education, 2014) is 2018 editor of Trends, The Journal of The Texas Art Education Association. This journal is published annually and is distributed to all TAEA members. The purpose of this peer-reviewed journal is to expand art education discourse by highlighting research, issues, and concerns that can inform our theoretical and pedagogical practices in and out of the classroom. Dr. Coats is currently Assistant Professor of Art Education in the School of Art at Arizona State University.

Art Education and Art History
Art Education

Alumna Cala Coats (Ph.D. Art Education, 2014) is 2018 editor of Trends, The Journal of The Texas Art Education Association. This journal is published annually and is distributed to all TAEA members. The purpose of this peer-reviewed journal is to expand art education discourse by highlighting research, issues, and concerns that can inform our theoretical and pedagogical practices in and out of the classroom. Dr. Coats is currently Assistant Professor of Art Education in the School of Art at Arizona State University.