Careers in art education include elementary, middle and high school art teachers, as well as arts administrators, museum educators and college faculty who prepare future art educators. At Winthrop University, art education students earn a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education degree and receive a K-12 teaching certification through the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences.
Graduates of the art education program at Winthrop have found success teaching art in public and private schools, working in museums, or in arts organizations throughout the state and region. Others continue on to graduate studies to become arts administrators, professional artists, art therapists, or teachers in higher education.
The art education faculty at Winthrop University are professionally involved in teaching, making and exhibiting art, research, presentations, publications, and workshops, as well as community and cultural service. They are also active members of such organizations as the South Carolina Art Education Association, the National Art Education Association, and the Association for Arts Administration Educators.
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The Art Education Program prepares students to become professional pre-K12 art teachers. Our goal, through clinical experiences and studio art, art history and art education courses to is develop artist-teachers and reflective practitioners who are committed to holistic student development and community involvement.
The Foundation Studies Program comprises a series of sequential courses taken by all B.A. in Art degree-seeking students. These courses occur during the first two consecutive semesters of a student's first year within the Fine Arts Department at Winthrop University. Concepts contained in these courses serve to educate the beginning student on broad issues concerning art and art history in order to adequately prepare them for their area of specialization.
Due to the prescriptive and evolving nature of the various degree programs within the Department of Fine Arts, the Department Chair and art education faculty have determined that perhaps the only option that Art Education majors have to study abroad and graduate on time, is during summer study options. As the Art Education is lock-step, it is imperative that studio foundations be completed in advance of a summer option. Required studio, art history or humanities courses during the summer option may be applied to their degree requirements, however, art education classes taken abroad will generally not apply. It is imperative that students work with their studio advisor, or the department chair, prior to selecting a study abroad institution and planned course of study abroad to insure transfer and major credit.
As part of their course work, art education majors prepare themselves professionally by working with art teachers and their students in local schools. This begins with the first education and art education classes and continues through the internship. They also take part in local and regional community service, and work with area cultural organizations. Additional professional preparation occurs as students participate as members or officers in the National Art Education Association Winthrop Student Chapter. This involves future artist/teachers in service and educational activities while developing leadership skills essential to the field of art education. You can also read more information about Student Academic Services (SAS) Internships from the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences.
Art education students take a wide range of courses to help them develop as artist / teachers and reflective practitioners who are concerned with students' comprehensive, creative development, and are prepared to meet the challenges of teaching art in today's schools. As with the majority of Fine Art students, this preparation begins with two semesters of foundation level classes in:
Art education students then broaden their range of skills and knowledge by taking a selection of introductory level studio classes to include:
Building upon these classes, students next take upper level art electives to deepen their expertise in a particular medium. In addition, students take upper division art history classes that address modern/contemporary art, art criticism, and non-western art, providing them with an understanding of the broad range of world art, and enabling them to work with students from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Complementing studio and art history courses, students also take courses in general education in the sciences, modern languages, etc., as well as art education and education courses that address the theory and practice of teaching. This thorough and intense program of study concludes in the senior year when students complete two levels of internship, leading to K-12 certification.
Master of Arts in Teaching
Graduate Certificate in Art Ed
Art Education Program Works (pdf - 4.5 MB)
Michelle Livek
Assistant Professor of Fine Arts, Art Education
Office: 244 McLaurin Hall
Phone: 803/323-3237
E-mail: livekm@winthrop.edu
Are you ready to join the ArtsWinthrop family of creatives? We can't wait to meet you!
