Art Education (MA)

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Overview

This master's degree program in art education provides education professionals access to a comprehensive interdisciplinary, historical and contemporary orientation to the study and practice of art education.

New cohort to begin August 2021

Applications are currently being accepted; please apply by April 9, 2021 for full consideration.

View/download a flyer with additional information

Program features

Offered entirely online
Learn from UNI faculty in the areas of Art Education, Art History and Studio Art
Curriculum aligns with student activities in classroom experiences
Includes courses addressing models of inquiry and practice that help to establish stronger links between theory and practice in art education
Delivered on a cohort basis and completed in five consecutive semesters beginning with fall (six hours of credit each semester)

Program requirements

Designed for practicing educators, applicants must have a B.A. in Art Education. Applicants with a B.A. in Art History or B.A. or B.F.A. in Studio Art must also have a teaching certificate.

Course delivery

Courses are offered Wednesday evenings using a combination of Zoom, a desktop video conferencing system, and online via eLearning, a Blackboard learning management system, and individual instructor/student conferencing. Courses taught in the first year are designed to explore contemporary themes of art education in eight-week modules. Courses instructed in the second year will be delivered in sixteen-week modules to allow implementation of research and writing.

While most students encounter very few technical difficulties with our online courses, our team of support specialists is available to assist you as needed.

Meet the faculty

Dr. Wendy Miller: A former Nationally Board Certified public school art teacher of 10 years, and now art education professor and advisor for undergraduates in art education. Dr. Miller teaches Arts-based Research and courses on developing, collecting, and analyzing data. She loves working with teachers and students who are passionate about socially engaged arts practices in the community.

Dr. Elizabeth Sutton: An art historian who has also worked in the public schools, Dr. Sutton teaches Curriculum and Pedagogy and the Seminar in Art Teaching and Research. Dr. Sutton is passionate about engaged, inclusive, and integrative pedagogy. She also enjoys helping students develop their writing skills.

Department Head and Professor, Jeffery Byrd, is an active performance artist. Prof. Byrd teaches the Art History Seminar with a focus on critical issues and contemporary art.

Dr. Samatha Goss: Having begun her career as a high school art and English teacher, Dr. Goss teaches Holistic Approaches and research courses in the program. She loves working with practicing teachers to support their reflective and evolving practices.

Program Schedule

Art Education (MA) - Fall 2021 Cohort

Tentative course schedule
Click on a course title to view the course description (if available).

Fall 2021

ARTED

6100

Holistic Approaches for Art Education

3 unit(s)

ARTED

6200

Curriculum and Pedagogy in Art Education

This course will examine, explore, and apply theory and research of curriculum and pedagogy in art education. The curriculum and pedagogy theories addressed in this course are situated in both general education and art education in order to provide a variety of ways to think about curricular change.

3 unit(s)

Spring 2022

ARTED

6300

Research Methods in Art Education

This course will define and explore art education research approaches and techniques. The class will examine the qualitative research methods with a focus on traditional research methods in art education. Exemplars of current research in Art Education will be discussed. Students will develop competencies through readings, discussions and projects. Prerequisite(s): acceptance into the M.A. in Art Education program or permission of the instructor.

3 unit(s)

ARTED

6285

Readings in Art Education

This course will explore various creative practices and approaches in contemporary art. We will examine the critical and philosophical underpinnings for both making and creating current art and discuss how these strategies may be explored and adapted in the classroom.

3 unit(s)

Summer 2022

ARTED

6000

Themes in Art Education

Designed to provide an overview of the field of art education in the United States, this course introduces central topics, themes, and scholars in art education through historical and contemporary readings of texts, media, and art.

3 unit(s)

ARTED

6500

Seminar in Teaching Art

Exploration of various topics in art education. Special emphasis on teaching and learning theories, media and methods. Satisfies special methods elective for the professional core. Required to be repeated for a maximum of 9 hours.

3 unit(s)

Fall 2022

ART

6299

Research

3 unit(s)

ARTED

6500

Seminar in Teaching Art

3 unit(s)

Spring 2023

ARTED

6286

Studies in Applied Project

3 unit(s)

ARTED

6500

Seminar in Teaching Art

3 unit(s)

FAQs

General information

What are the costs?

All students pay the same tuition rate, regardless of location, making it an affordable option for all students.

Tuition for the 2020-21 academic year is $509 per unit of graduate credit or $320 per unit of undergraduate credit. An additional technology fee per course may apply. Tuition and fees are expected to rise each May, typically announced by the Iowa Board of Regents in March.

Do I qualify for financial aid?

Distance education students may qualify for financial aid with the following eligibility requirements:

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Be admitted to UNI and enrolled in a degree-seeking or Advanced Studies Certificate program
Be enrolled for a minimum number of credits per semester or summer session
Be in compliance with satisfactory academic progress standards

Specific questions about financial aid should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships at 319-273-2700 or fin-aid@uni.edu

Why choose the University of Northern Iowa?

Since its establishment in 1876 as the Iowa State Normal School, the University of Northern Iowa has maintained its affirmed commitment to the support of excellence in teacher education. That commitment remains strong as the university continues to prepare students to become teachers, as well as provide opportunities for career advancement in the field of education. In addition to a commitment to teaching, our faculty members are engaged in research, writing and professional development. View UNI's national rankings and honors.

I'm not sure about distance learning. How can I make sure it’s right for me?

Research findings demonstrate that students of all types of learning styles can succeed in a distance environment. View our tips for being a successful distance learner.

What kind of support services can I expect to receive?

The University of Northern Iowa is committed to providing comprehensive support services for distance education students. The Office of Continuing and Distance Education serves as your primary point of contact in accessing distance education support services, including enrollment services, technical support for online course tools and more. You are also given access to the UNI Rod Library’s print and electronic collections for your convenience. View a complete list of services and support resources.

Please contact the Office of Continuing and Distance Education at 319-273-7206, 800-648-3864 or distance@uni.edu with any questions. If we don’t have the answer, we will do our best to find it.

Will academic advising assistance be provided?

You will work with the program coordinator when communicating about the program of study. Once participating in the program, you will be assigned a faculty advisor who will work with you one-on-one regarding your progress in the program.

Program specific information

How do I get started?

See the "Next Steps" tab above for information. If you have any questions, please contact the program coordinator(s) and/or enrollment contact below or contact the Office of Continuing and Distance Education at ContinuingEd@uni.edu.

What happens if I miss a course in the sequence?

While it is often possible to make up courses that are missed, our commitment is to deliver the courses as outlined in the cohort schedule. This is not designed as a program in which students come and go. Rather, the cohort model requires that students take the prescribed sequence in unison. Should you need to miss a course, you should consult with your program advisor for options.

Is the GRE or any other examination required?

There are no entrance exam requirements for this program.

How will I enroll in the courses?

When you have completed the steps to admission and have been accepted into the program, we will send you details and information about how to enroll in the first course. After you participate in the first term of courses in the cohort sequence, the Office of Continuing and Distance Education will notify you with enrollment details for the next term of courses as they become available. You are required to enroll in your courses each semester.

Can I take the courses out of sequence or start at a later date?

The program is planned so that students move through the sequence of courses as a cohort group. The first course forms a foundation for the program and includes an introduction unit describing the program goals, sequence of courses, standards, rubrics and academic expectations. For that reason, it is important that you enroll and complete the courses in the same sequence. Program faculty expect that students have a growing knowledge of concepts built upon a prescribed sequence of courses. In addition, program faculty work to build an online community as students move through the course sequence together.

How are the courses delivered?

For information about course delivery, please see the "Overview" tab above.

Additional FAQs

What are the GPA guidelines?

Undergraduate GPA	Admission consideration
3.0 and above	May be considered for full admission
2.75-2.99	May be considered for provisional admission
Less than 2.75	May be denied admission

Next Steps

Express your interest

Please complete the online interest form to the right to express your interest in joining a future cohort leading to an Art Education MA. The next cohort is scheduled to begin Fall 2021. We will use the information you provide to send you program updates, including important information about application deadlines.

Apply for admission

We are accepting applications for the Fall 2021 cohort. We encourage you to apply for admission to graduate studies through the University of Northern Iowa as soon as possible. Applications received by April 9, 2021, will receive full consideration.

Former UNI students: The online application requires logging in with your CatID credentials. If you have forgotten your username or passphrase, contact the IT Help Desk at servicedesk@uni.edu or 319-273-5555 and have them reset your password.

Need help with your UNI application?

Contact us at 800-648-3864 or Distance@uni.edu for assistance. Additional resources are also available from the UNI Graduate College.

Complete the online Application for Graduate Study and the required application materials requested by the department (see below) can be attached at time of application submission or sent separately. (Note: required application materials can be attached at the time of application submission or after submission.)
Please note that you are applying for admission as a Graduate Student for Fall 2021.
The program for which you are applying is Art Education - MA.
Entrance exams are not required.
Note that if you have received a degree from UNI, you do not have to pay the non-refundable $60 application fee.
International students: Please contact the Office of International Admissions at international.admissions@uni.edu or 319-273-2195 for specific instructions.

Required departmental materials

Admission to the Art Education MA program will be based on review of the following materials. These additional application materials can be attached to the Application for Graduate Study as .pdf files during completion or after the application has been submitted.

Resume with record of professional activity and service
Digital transcript (official or unofficial)
Statement of purpose including research interests and professional goals for pursuing the Art Education MA
Two professional letters of recommendation

Required application materials can be attached (in .pdf format) to the application at the time of or after submission or sent directly to the Office of Admissions.

Additional materials can also be sent to admissionsprocessing@uni.edu.

What to expect

When your application for graduate study is complete, you will receive confirmation from UNI Admissions staff that they have received and forwarded your application and transcripts to the Department of Art for review.

The department will review your application materials and contact you about your admission status. Following admission to the program, you will receive information about how to enroll in the first set of courses.

Delivery of the program is contingent on a sufficient number of students being accepted into the program.

Program Coordinator(s):

Samantha Goss

Art

(319) 273-2077

Samantha.Goss@uni.edu

Enrollment Contact:

Carolina Wilson

Continuing and Distance Education

(319) 273-2121

Carolina.Wilson@uni.edu

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Continuing Education and Special Programs

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New cohort to begin August 2021

Program requirements

Course delivery

Meet the faculty

Art Education (MA) - Fall 2021 Cohort

General information

Program specific information

Additional FAQs

Express your interest

Apply for admission

Need help with your UNI application?

Required departmental materials

What to expect

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