BFA in Art Education with Teacher Certification
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) with Teacher Certification degree program has been recognized as exemplary in the UW system. The program focuses on the importance of art education in urban environments, culturally sensitive and developmentally appropriate teaching practices, community outreach and service learning.

The BFA with Teacher Certification degree program prepares students for recommendation for certification to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to teach art in grades K-12. The program is designed to address the UWM Guiding Principles, Wisconsin Teaching Standards, and PI-34, the law governing teacher certification in Wisconsin.

Students in 300 level courses in the Art Education program will be required to have a laptop computer for their course work by the first day of class. Click here for more information.

In the Art Education program students examine theory and practice in elementary and secondary schools and community-based settings in a number of ways:

• Hands-on exploration of materials and techniques and instructional strategies.
  
• Integration of art with other subject areas is an ongoing theme in the program. Particular attention is given to teaching and learning that integrates studio activities with culturally diverse histories (both in art and the wider world) and contemporary forms of visual communication.
  
• Exploration of best practices associated with special populations. Students will learn how to advocate for and support children and youth of all abilities.
  
• Critical analysis of theoretical stances that underpin various approaches to teaching in the field today. Comparisons are made among learner-centered, discipline-based, and socio-cultural orientations to art teaching and learning. We believe that it is possible to craft an approach to the teaching of art that incorporates the best of these orientations.
  
• Extensive early field experiences in school and community settings, followed by two nine-week student teaching placements in elementary and secondary classrooms, give students many opportunities to implement their art teaching skills with students of various backgrounds, ages, and abilities in supervised settings. Students receive ongoing feedback from experienced art educators.

The Art Education program at UWM prepares students for exciting and dynamic educational careers in a broad range of settings.

For further information:
Kimberly J. Cosier
414-229-4435
kcosier@uwm.edu
Art Building 163