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Home › Prospective Students › Degrees › B.F.A. – Art & Visual Culture Education

B.F.A. – Art & Visual Culture Education

Within the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Visual Culture Education program, students study the theoretical foundations of the discipline and interact with practitioners via hands-on experiences, field observations, student teaching, and community and museum internships. Our community of art and visual culture education students is professionally engaged, academically motivated, and joyful. Please join us!

AREAS OF EMPHASIS

  • Community & Museums
  • Teaching Certification

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Admission into the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Visual Culture Education is by application only and is competitive. Students must retain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher in major coursework, a GPA of 2.5 in College of Education courses (for the teaching option), and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Students are advised in the School of Art’s Student Advising Center and by faculty advisors.

Coursework in Art & Visual Culture Education

The BFA in Art Education (both options) comprises UA general education courses, studio and art history courses, art education courses, College of Education courses, and the student teaching practicum. Courses integrate studio, history, theory, issues of diversity and social justice, and the practice of art and visual culture education.

Double Majors

Students may also choose to double major and graduate with a BFA in Art Education and in Studio Art. This option requires 11 courses above the BFA in Art Education. Check with the School of Art Advisors to learn about the BFA in Studio Art.

Contact an academic advisor or set up an advising appointment to learn more about School of Art programs and admissions.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education Community & Museums

Students pursuing the Community emphasis of the AVCE program are given theoretical grounding in conjunction with practical experience. They learn about paradigms of practice such as Community-based Arts Education, Design Pedagogy, Civic Engagement and Social Practice.

Students interact with practitioners in the field through field trips and guest lecturers and get hands on experience through observations, internships, and real projects. Learning to design curriculum, facilitate arts programming, fundraising, and program management, our graduates can expect to get jobs at For-profit and Non-profit Arts and Education organizations; as Program Coordinators / Directors, and Outreach Managers/ Coordinators, Teaching Artists; as Community Organizers and advocates in Education, Social Work or Activist organizations; as Gallery Managers; or freelance as Community Based Art Educators. Students choosing to focus on policy might also find employment in local or national arts councils and arts and culture branches of government.

Museum emphasis graduates find employment in museum, gallery, or artist-run center settings. Positions may include museum education assistants/directors, museum education curators, school- museum partnership coordinators, community engagement specialists, arts administrators, visitor experience specialists, heritage interpreters, and gallery managers. Graduates also pursue jobs in local, national, or international museum education associations and governmental departments.

Specific Program Requirements can be viewed through UA Academic Catalogs. In addition, all students must complete General Education requirements.

Program RequirementDescriptionRequired Number of Units
Foundation Courses - Art HistoryARH 201 Survey of Art History I
ARH 202 Survey of Art History II
ART 119 Contemporary Art & Theory
9 Units
Foundation Courses - First Year ExperienceART 100A Mapping
ART 100B Space
ART 100E Surface

Three courses required from the following:
ART 100C Gaze
ART 100D Experience
ART 100F Amalgam
ART 100G Propaganda
ART 100J The Body (Prereq: ART 100A)
12 units
2D StudiesAny 200 level ART course in photography, painting, drawing, printmaking, design, illustration or watercolor to qualify you to enroll into upper division ART courses. To be chosen in consultation with your adviser. 6 units
3DXM StudiesAny 200 level ART course in sculpture, ceramics,new genre, or extended media to enroll you into upper division ART courses. To be chosen in consultation with your adviser. 6 Units
Art HistoryUpper Division. One 400 level required for writing emphasis credit.6 Units
Upper Division StudioART coursework in the same studio concentration – choose in consultation with your faculty mentor.9 Units
Art Education Core CoursesARE 230
ARE 420
ARE 425
ARE 438
12 Units
Upper Division Art Education CoursesARE 431
ARE 434
ARE 440
ARE 460
ARE 469
ARE 476
ARE 496A
6 Units
InternshipStudents are encouraged to seek educational experiences outside of the classroom. 9 Units

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education Teaching Certification

Students in the BFA in Art Education: Teaching Option graduate as art teachers and are qualified to teach art in K-12 grade schools in Arizona and, with minor adjustments, in many other U.S. states.

Our graduates find art teaching jobs in elementary, middle, and high schools (public, charter and private), and are currently teaching art in Tucson, Phoenix, elsewhere in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, New Jersey, Washington State, and in other parts of the country. They have taught abroad in schools in Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Korea, United Arab Emirates, England, Germany, and other countries. Some graduates are school administrators; others oversee art education businesses.

Specific Program Requirements can be viewed through UA Academic Catalogs. In addition, all students must complete General Education requirements.

Program RequirementDescriptionRequired Number of Units
Foundation Courses - Art HistoryARH 201 Survey of Art History I
ARH 202 Survey of Art History II
ART 119 Contemporary Art & Theory
9 Units
Foundation Courses - First Year ExperienceART 100A Mapping
ART 100B Space
ART 100E Surface

Three courses required from the following:
ART 100C Gaze
ART 100D Experience
ART 100F Amalgam
ART 100G Propaganda
ART 100J The Body (Prereq: ART 100A)
12 units
2D StudiesART 205 Figure Drawing I
ART 246, 244 Photography
ART 250, 251, 253, 255, or 256 Beginning Printmaking
ART 265 Design I
ART 266 Illustration I
ART 280 Painting I
ART 285 Watercolor Painting I
6 units
3DXM StudiesART 273 Beginning Ceramics
ART 276 Material Studies
ART 287 Beginning Sculpture
6 Units
Art HistoryUpper Division. One 400 level required for writing emphasis credit6 Units
Upper Division StudioAll coursework must be in the same studio concentration – choose in
consultation with your mentor
9 Units
Art Education Core CoursesARE 230
ARE 431 or ARE 460
ARE 300 - Spring Semester
ARE 438 - Spring Semester
9 units from: ARE 420, 425, 431, 434, 440, 460, 469, 476 , 496A
21 units
Education CourseworkEdP 301 Child Development or EdP 310 Learning Schools
SERP 400 Survey of Exceptional Students
LCEV 408 (UA South Online)
ARE 493 Student Teaching Practicum
21 units
Non-Curricular Required Steps• Participation in and passing the AVCE Portfolio Review two semesters before you student teach.
• Meet the University of Arizona Teacher Preparation Programs Professional Standards.
• US & Arizona Constitution Exams. This requirement can be met by taking: POL 210 at the UA, POS 210 or a combination of POS 201 and 231 at Pima Community College, POS 220 or a combination of POS 221 and 222 at the Northland Pioneer College or a combination of HIS510 and 511 at the University of Phoenix, or by taking a test. Please contact an AVCE faculty member for information about the test.
• Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA) and NES (National Evaluation Series) Assessment of Professional Knowledge tests. Students take the AEPA Assessment Exam in Art and the NES Professional Knowledge: Secondary. Please visit the AEPA test site for details and exam dates.
• Fingerprints are required for student teaching. All students must hold an identity verified fingerprint (IVP) clearance card in order to student teach in Arizona’s schools. This requirement should be met two semesters before student teaching. The best route to receiving a fingerprint card is to attend one of the College of Education’s fingerprinting sessions.
• Pursuant to University of Arizona teaching preparation agreements across campus, persons pursuing certification to teach art are evaluated in their coursework in part according to national InTASC standards. A link to the standards can be found on the College of Education’s Forms link. Certification students will be asked to sign the UA TPP Professional Standards Contract, found as a link on this page.
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ACCELERATED MASTER’S DEGREE Art & Visual Culture Education (UA Undergraduate Students Only)

The School of Art has an Accelerated Master’s Degrees in Art & Visual Culture Education. The Accelerated Master’s Degree allows current University of Arizona undergraduate students to use 12 units of graduate coursework towards both their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, giving students the possibility to receive both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in 5 year. Check out the degree and application information to learn more.

Degrees

  • B.A. – Art History
  • B.A. – Studio Art
  • B.A. – Design Arts & Practices
  • B.F.A. – Art & Visual Culture Education
  • B.F.A. – Studio Art
  • Minors in Art
  • M.A. – Art & Visual Culture Education
  • M.A. – Art History
  • Master of Fine Arts in Art
  • Ph.D. – Art & Visual Culture Education
  • Ph.D. – Art History
  • Museum Studies Certificate Program

CFA Student Services

Melanie J Marsh Program Assistant
melaniejmarsh@arizona.edu Music Bldg, Room 111
520-626-1194
Kimberly Moore Financial Aid Professional II
kmoore657@arizona.edu Slonaker House, Room 201
520-276-5935
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University of Arizona School of Art
2 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

The College of Fine Arts honored 2023 Alumnus of the Year John Meyer (BFA '82, Studio Art) last night in the School of Art atrium. Before the reception, John conducted portfolio reviews with eight students. He's being honored by the university at a luncheon today. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona ... See MoreSee Less

The College of Fine Arts honored 2023 Alumnus of the Year John Meyer (BFA 82, Studio Art) last night in the School of Art atrium. Before the reception, John conducted portfolio reviews with eight students. Hes being honored by the university at a luncheon today. Arizona Arts The University of ArizonaImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
3 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Congrats to Nathan Abel (MFA '09, Printmaking), who will host the opening reception for his exhibition "Nesting" on Friday, Feb. 3, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper, Wyoming.

"In Nesting, the work tells the story of when my wife and I began planning a family. We anticipated problems but had no idea of the long and traumatic path ahead of us. It is through my work I hope to shed light on infertility, child loss, and adoption. I want to show the hardships and joy that can come with creating a family and honor the experience we and so many others have been through." - Nathan Abel

Arizona Arts @uarizona The Nicolaysen Art Museum
... See MoreSee Less

Congrats to Nathan Abel (MFA 09, Printmaking), who will host the opening reception for his exhibition Nesting on Friday, Feb. 3, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper, Wyoming. 

In Nesting, the work tells the story of when my wife and I began planning a family. We anticipated problems but had no idea of the long and traumatic path ahead of us. It is through my work I hope to shed light on infertility, child loss, and adoption. I want to show the hardships and joy that can come with creating a family and honor the experience we and so many others have been through. - Nathan Abel

Arizona Arts @uarizona The Nicolaysen Art Museum
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University of Arizona School of Art
4 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Thanks to Peter Pappas, a School of Art Advisory Board member, who kicked off our five-part Student Development Series with a workshop on "Career Paths for Artists." Future Tuesday workshops are "Marketing for Artists" (Feb. 28), "Working with Galleries" (March 21), "Legal Tools for Protecting Your Work" (April 4) and "Life Lessons from Art Alumni" (April 25). Arizona Arts The University of Arizona University of Arizona Museum of Art ... See MoreSee Less

Thanks to Peter Pappas, a School of Art Advisory Board member, who kicked off our five-part Student Development Series with a workshop on Career Paths for Artists. Future Tuesday workshops are Marketing for Artists (Feb. 28), Working with Galleries (March 21), Legal Tools for Protecting Your Work (April 4) and Life Lessons from Art Alumni (April 25). Arizona Arts The University of Arizona University of Arizona Museum of Art
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University of Arizona School of Art
4 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

John Meyer (BFA '82, Studio Art) will be honored Thursday as the College of Fine Arts' Alumnus of the Year. He calls his Walgreens branding campaign ("At the Corner of Happy & Healthy") as his favorite. Go to tinyurl.com/SOAMeyerprof to read his profile. @absolutmeyer @uarizona ... See MoreSee Less

John Meyer (BFA 82, Studio Art) will be honored Thursday as the College of Fine Arts Alumnus of the Year. He calls his Walgreens branding campaign (At the Corner of Happy & Healthy) as his favorite. Go to https://tinyurl.com/SOAMeyerprof to read his profile. @absolutmeyer @uarizona
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University of Arizona School of Art
5 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

The Rodeo de Tucson Group Show features four paintings by Moira Geoffrion, chair of the School of Art Advisory Board and professor emerita. The opening reception is Friday, Feb. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Medicine Man Gallery, 6872 E. Sunrise Drive. The show will showcase more than 30 artists, including Howard Post (BFA '72, MFA '78). Go to tinyurl.com/y6uases9 for more details. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery ... See MoreSee Less

The Rodeo de Tucson Group Show features four paintings by Moira Geoffrion, chair of the School of Art Advisory Board and professor emerita. The opening reception is Friday, Feb. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Medicine Man Gallery, 6872 E. Sunrise Drive. The show will showcase more than 30 artists, including Howard Post (BFA 72, MFA 78). Go to https://tinyurl.com/y6uases9 for more details. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery
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University of Arizona School of Art
6 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Congrats to Dwayne Manuel (MFA '14), whose art collaboration with the Phoenix Suns was featured on the team's main scoreboard last week. www.dwaynemanuel.com/ ... See MoreSee Less

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