Visual Arts & Design

The programs in Art Museum Education take advantages of the unique strengths of the department faculty and the vast array of resources in the DFW area to offer students access to careers in the museum world. UNT is ideally situated for the study of art museum education. The North Texas area offers rich museum resources, bolstered by UNT's experienced faculty, established and new partnerships, cutting edge technology, and unique educator-training opportunities.

The program offers both a Master's degree and a Graduate Academic Certificate in Art Museum Education. Doctoral students in Art Education may also choose a concentration in Art Museum Education. The Master's degree is a concentration within the Art Education M.A. and can be completed in 12 months. This degree is designed to provide a broad introduction to teaching and learning in art museum settings. It furthermore teaches how research informs museum education practice. Students completing this degree combine art education research and methods courses with courses specific to education within art museums (see below). They also complete an intensive internship at a partnering institution. For more information about the M.A. degree in Art Education with an emphasis in Art Museum Education, follow this link.

The Graduate Certificate in Art Museum Education consists of 15 credit hours, including seminars in art museum education and a 6 credit hour museum internship. It is open to current University of North Texas graduate students and interested individuals, and is designed to provide professional training for those who desire careers in art museum education and expertise in the use of art museums as education resources for school educators. Designed to be pursued in conjunction with a graduate degree in art history, art education or studio, the certificate has a stellar record of job placement, and our graduates now work in museums throughout the United States.

Eligibility for the graduate academic certificate program is extended to those who meet at least 1 of the following academic requirements:

• be a current student enrolled in a UNT graduate degree program in art education, art history or studio,
• hold a B.A. with at least 12 credit hours of post-baccalaureate graduate studies, or
• hold a master's or doctorate in art education, art history, studio, or related field.

Art Museum Education Courses

• AEAH 5940 Seminar in Art Museums - Study of the functions of an art museum, including acquisition, authentication, conservation, exhibition, research, and collection management; history of art museums, and major art museum collections. Visits to North Texas area art museums and discussion/demonstrations with art museum staff. (3 credit hours)
• AEAH 5942 Seminar in Art Museum Education I - Applied study of the practice of art museum education. Emphasis on teaching, writing, and program development for multiple audiences in the art museum. (3 credit hours)
• AEAH 5945 Seminar in Art Museum Education II - Study of contemporary and historical issues regarding the educational function of art museums. Concentration on object-based learning, pedagogical theory, and audience identification. (3 credit hours)
• ART 5450 Internship in Art Museum Education - The internship provides practical experience leading toward specific goals as a junior staff member of an area art museum education department. Three hundred (300) clock hours are to be completed over the course of a summer semester or one long semester – 30 hours of which are devoted to documentation. Proposal, implementation, and evaluation will be jointly supervised by UNT faculty and a senior museum educator. (6 credit hours)

Students pursuing the M.A. in Art Education with emphasis in Art Museum Education complete the above courses plus:

• AEAH 5772 Critical Art Education - Examination of theoretical frameworks and current research in critical art education, with a particular emphasis on the relationship among art education, social inequality and change. (3 credit hours)
• AEAH 5773 Curriculum and Assessment
• AEAH5763 Politics of Aesthetics
• AEAH5787 Introduction to Research in Art Education
• 9 Additional Hours - Specific classes depend upon whether a thesis or non-thesis option is chosen.

Current UNT graduate students apply to the certificate here. Non-UNT applicants for the certificate must first apply for "graduate non-degree" admission to the UNT Toulouse School of Graduate Study using this link. Once admitted to non-degree status, apply as a UNT student here.

For more information about Art Museum Education at the University of North Texas, contact Assistant Professor of Art Education, Dr. Laura Evans or the Department of Art Education and Art History at aeah@unt.edu

For information regarding gainful employment data, visit the Toulouse Graduate School.