Visual Arts & Design

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 Arts 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 4 separate program options. M.A. students have the opportunity to further their teaching knowledge and skills, move into art museum education, and focus on art education in contemporary urban settings. 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 and urban art education). It is also possible to obtain state teaching certification while pursuing the M.A.

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.