B.A. in Secondary Education | Art Education (PK-12)

121 credit hours are required for Bachelor of Arts degree. The Secondary Education track in the Art major prepares students to teach art in elementary, middle and high school. The major consists of a variety of art and design courses including drawing, design, graphics, photography, and art history. Detailed course information can be found in the academic catalog. Students should use Academic Planning to schedule courses and track degree progress.

Suggested four year academic plan for the major (courses required in the major are in bold)

Please consult with your academic advisor prior to course selection.

*One of the natural science courses must have a lab component.

Career Outlook

Art Education is a specialization under the Art and Design major. As an interdisciplinary track, Art Education combines learning in art and design practices, art history and visual culture and the pedagogy of performance as a visual art teacher. In this track you will be trained to be an artist/designer-teacher -- a professional in creative expression and education.

To find out more about your major including potential areas and employers, required skills, job outlook, and median pay, please access the Occupational Outlook Handbook or the O*Net websites.

Explore the subsections below to learn more about the potential skills you can develop at SXU with a major in Art and Design with a specialization in Art Education, as well as the potential positions and employers that hire graduates with this degree. Please note that these are not exhaustive lists and should only be used as a starting point.

Skills

As an Art and Design major with a specialization in Art Education, students may develop or advance skills including creativity, visual literacy, design, instruction, problem solving, critical thinking and analysis, time management, and communication.

Positions

Graduates with a degree in Art and Design with a specialization in Art Education can work as an instructor, researcher, art therapist, painter, sculptor, illustrator, art director, curator, museum technician, conservator, fashion designer, photographer, craft artist, multimedia artist, set and exhibit designer, and animator.

Areas

Graduates with a degree in Art and Design with a specialization in Art Education can work within the following areas: education, art therapy, museums and galleries, fine arts and crafts, graphic design, media, photography, art sales, and fashion, textile, and interior design.

Employers

Graduates with a degree in Art and Design with a specialization in Art Education can work for K-12 schools, universities, art schools, community programs, libraries, museums, galleries, historical societies, community centers, auction houses, studios, advertising agencies, design firms, department stores, television, greeting card companies, hospitals, mental health facilities, nonprofit organizations, newspapers, book publishers, and print design studios.

Use the employment opportunity resources listed below to kickstart your preprofessional or professional experience search. You may also identify a professional or student organization to join in order to network with individuals within your major and field.

Employment Opportunities

• American Association for Employment in Education
• Artsearch
• Careers in Art
• Beverly Arts Center
• Chicago Cultural Center
• Chicago Children's Museum
• Hyde Park Art Center
• K12 Job Spot
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
• National Art Education Association Job Board
• The Art Institute

Professional and Student Organizations

• American Alliance of Museums
• American Association of Art Museums
• National Art Education Association