Art - Art Education
Overview
The Master's program in Art Education emphasizes both theory and practice in school-based visual arts teaching, museum education, and community arts education. Theoretical ideas are explored through both historical and contemporary models, including culturally responsive, anti-racist, and social-emotional approaches, with an emphasis on practical application. Attending a university known as a regional leader in teacher education, you will have the chance to work in traditional and digital media while interacting and collaborating with youth and adults in a range of settings. Students with a bachelor's or master's degree have the option to pursue their master's degree in Art Education while working toward licensure by completing the 66-credit hour art teacher education track plus the 32 credit hours of graduate coursework required to earn an Art Education master's. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in art and design or teaching may be eligible to transfer previous course credit into the licensure program. Most courses for the non-licensure master's degree are offered online, and in many cases, master's students have completed a fully online program.
Point of Pride
This program can be tailored to fit the needs of teachers working full-time, and can also provide a path to teaching for students with degrees in areas such as studio art, graphic design, or teacher education.
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Bert Stabler
(309) 438-7938
Center for the Visual Arts 203B
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Discover what life as an Illinois State graduate student is like.
How to Apply
University Admission Requirements
A student applying to a master's program must:
- have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year
- have a minimum 2.8 GPA (on a scale in which an A is a 4.0) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate work
- present unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned. The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term. If accepted, official transcripts can be emailed from the university to GraduateAdmissions@IllinoisState.edu or mailed in a sealed envelope to: Illinois State University, Graduate School, 209 Hovey Hall, Campus Box 4040, Normal, IL 61790-4040.
International students can learn more about specific application requirements by visiting the Office of Admissions.
Additional Program Admission Requirements
To be considered for this program, you must submit the following materials:
- 10 to 15 examples of your artwork and/or examples of work by your students
- Statement of intent in applying
- At least three writing examples (papers, teaching philosophy, brochures, lesson plans, artist statement, proposals, etc.)
- CV or current resume
- Names and email addresses of two references for letters of recommendation within the online application
The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
Application Deadlines
- Fall Term — February 1
- Spring Term — October 15
- Summer Term — No summer admission
Graduate Assistantships
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.
Full tuition waivers and graduate assistantships for candidates in the M.S. in Art Education program are available on a competitive basis.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an assistantship a student must, generally,
- be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program
- be in good-standing
- be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).
Benefits
Graduate assistants receive
- monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage
- a waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment
- a waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment
Costs & Funding
See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.
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