Academic Catalog

2024-2025

Bachelor of Fine Arts Fine Arts with a Major in Art Education for Museums and Cultural Institutions (BFA)

Natalia Pilato
Art Education Program Director

The Art Education program offers instruction in both the practical and theoretical aspects of teaching art from kindergarten through high school in a variety of settings. The program curriculum aims to cultivate teaching artists with a strong foundation in studio arts and art education best practice methods. More than 100 hours of observation, practicum, and hands-on learning experiences in schools, museums, and cultural institutions provide students with the necessary skills to be successful teaching artists, in addition to their teaching internship. Students write lessons from a variety of entry points including big ideas, historical and contemporary artists, social justice issues, and art processes. Students will focus on the dispositions of visual art educators as defined by NAEA (National Art Education Association), the Virginia Department of Education and ODU.  Additional focus will be on the development of culturally relevant curriculum and pedagogy Students also engage in research by exploring past and current issues in Art Education and how social, cultural, and political perspectives influence Art Educational practice and policy.

The Art Education program focuses on studio arts, art history, and professional education course work. All students complete 33 credit hours in studio including 12 upper-level credits in one of the fine arts majors; Painting and Drawing, 3D Media and Material Studies, or Print and Photo. This offers students a diverse and substantive exposure to studio practice along with a focus in the discipline of their choice. Students also complete 12 credit hours in Art History, along with 15 core credit hours in Art Education.

Students wishing to obtain a BFA in art education can choose between two majors:

PreK-12 Art Education

PreK-12 Art Education includes 9 credits in Special Education and Teaching and Learning through the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies as well as a 12-credit internship in elementary and secondary art classrooms in the public schools. Students in this major must complete required tests and clearances for K-12 teaching in the public schools and must be admitted into the teacher education program through the Office of Clinical Experiences. This major is ideal for students seeking careers as art educators in the public schools for grades K-12.

Art Education for Museums and Cultural Institutions

Art Education for Museums and Cultural Institutions includes a minor in Art History (9 additional credits in upper-level coursework), 3 credits in special education, 3 credits in art therapy and a 6-9 credit internship with a museum or cultural Institution. This major prepares students seeking a career as a museum educator or as a community arts program director/education coordinator.

Old Dominion University's Art Education program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Virginia Department of Education.