Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
Nature of the Program
This professional-track, BFA program in Art Education allows students to earn teacher certification for PreK-21 while mastering a studio area of emphasis within the fine arts curriculum. Degree requirements are designed by the West Virginia Department of Education and WVU. Students need to plan to take a full course load every semester and closely follow the plan of study to complete studio coursework, education requirements, and student teaching hours within four years. Studio and art education courses must be taken sequentially and students are advised to take no more than three studio credits per semester. Art Education majors must maintain a 2.5 GPA, pass the PRAXIS ART CONTENT exam no later than the semester before taking ART 491D for their teaching placement, and assemble a Writing Portfolio to be eligible for graduation.
Admissions for 2025-2026
BFA Entrance Portfolio
Students must meet all WVU Undergraduate Admissions entrance requirements. The School of Art and Design requires a portfolio review for all applicants to the Bachelor of Fine Arts programs including the Art Education major. This evaluation is conducted by the art faculty and is designed to ensure that all students entering the studio program have certain basic competencies and skills. Students are encouraged to apply and complete the portfolio review at the earliest possible date. Applicants should visit the School website: http://artanddesign.wvu.edu/academics or phone the School office at (304) 293-2552 to receive detailed instructions and portfolio review application material. Applicants are to contact the CCA Office of Recruitment at (304) 293-4339 to schedule an audition.
Transfer
Transfer applicants in studio art must undergo a portfolio review to gain admittance in the program. Evaluation for advanced standing or transfer credit in studio subjects is not made solely upon the presentation of a transcript but may also depend on the evaluation of a portfolio of artwork. Transfer applicants to the Art Education major must have a GPA of 2.5.
Major Code: 3710
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
B.F.A. with Teacher Certification Curriculum
Students wishing certification to teach PreK–adult in West Virginia must complete competency requirements established by the state in addition to School of Art and Design B.F.A. Art Education degree requirements. Admission to the teacher certification program requires a 2.5 GPA overall.
The School of Art and Design values and supports written communication abilities and critical thinking skills developed through iterative writing experiences across the curriculum and within the discipline. To meet this goal students must pass with a B- or better a Writing Portfolio requirement that includes examples of academic, professional, and reflective writing they have produced in their regular courses. Please contact your advisor for more information.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 27 | |
| School of Art and Design Program Requirements | 30 | |
| Art Education Major Requirements | 73 | |
| Total Hours | 130 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8 | 25 | |
| ART 191 | First-Year Seminar | 2 |
| Total Hours | 27 | |
School of Art and Design Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A grade of C- or higher required in all ART and ARHS courses in the program requirements. | ||
| ARHS 120 | Survey of Art History 1 (May fulfill GEF 6) | 3 |
| ARHS 160 | Survey of Art History 2 (May fulfill GEF 8) | 3 |
| Studio Foundation Core | ||
| ART 111S | Drawing 1 | 3 |
| ART 121S | Visual Foundations 1 | 3 |
| ART 122S | Visual Foundations 2 | 3 |
| Studio Foundation Exploration | ||
| Select five of the following: * | 15 | |
| Painting 1 | ||
| Introduction to Graphic Design | ||
| Introduction to Sculpture | ||
| Printmaking - Intaglio and Relief | ||
| Photography 1 | ||
| Introduction to Silkscreen | ||
| Ceramics | ||
| Introduction to Electronic Media 1 | ||
| Beginning 3D Animation | ||
| Writing Portfolio Requirement ** | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- *
For students enrolled in the Area of Emphasis in Graphic Design, three-hours must include ART 232S.
- **
Please see your advisor for details on this requirement.
Art Education Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A grade of C- or higher required in all ART and ARHS courses in the major requirements. | ||
| ARHS at the 200/300/400 Level * | 3 | |
| ART 200 Level (Dependent on Area of Emphasis) | 3 | |
Select one of the following: | ||
| Painting 2 | ||
| Graphic Design 2 | ||
| Sculpture | ||
| Printmaking - Lithography | ||
| Photography 2 | ||
| Ceramics | ||
| Introduction to Electronic Media 2 | ||
| Art Education | ||
| ART 264 | Introduction to Art Education | 3 |
| ART 365 | Art Education Elementary | 3 |
| ART 366 | Art Education: Secondary | 3 |
| ART 367 | Technology Methods in Art Education | 3 |
| Education | ||
| EDP 301 | Learning in PreK-Adult Educational Settings | 3 |
| SPED 404 | Special Education in Contemporary Society (GEF 4) | 3 |
| SPED 460 | Differentiation of Instruction | 3 |
| ARHS 389 | Contemporary | 3 |
| Professional Practice (Student Teaching) | ||
| ART 489 | Residency 1 | 4 |
| ART 491D | Professional Field Experience *** | 15 |
| ART Senior Capstone | 6 | |
| Senior Projects in Painting | ||
| Graphic Design: Senior Project | ||
| Senior Projects in Sculpture | ||
| Senior Projects in Printmaking | ||
| Senior Projects in Photography | ||
| Senior Projects in Ceramics | ||
| Senior Projects in Intermedia | ||
| Studio Area of Emphasis | 18 | |
2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media | ||
Graphic Design ** | ||
3D Studio and Public Art | ||
Digital Art and Animation | ||
| PRAXIS CONTENT - Must be completed before enrolling in ART 491D. *** | ||
| Total Hours | 73 | |
- *
Excludes ARHS 411, ARHS 412 AND ARHS 414. For students enrolled in the Area of Emphasis in Graphic Design, three-hours must include ARHS 406.
- **
Students enrolled in the Area of Emphasis in Graphic Design must complete ART 234S.
- ***
PRAXIS Content - Must be successfully completed before enrolling in ART 491D.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | GEF 2 | 4 |
| ART 111S | 3 | ART 2XX Studio Studio Emphasis AOE | 3 |
| ART 121S | 3 | Foundations Exploration | 3 |
| ART 122S | 3 | Foundations Exploration | 3 |
| ARHS 120 (GEF 6) | 3 | ARHS 160 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| ART 191 | 2 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ART 2nd Studio Emphasis | 3 | ART 264 | 3 |
| Foundations Exploration | 3 | ARHS 389 | 3 |
| Foundations Exploration | 3 | Area of Emphasis Course | 6 |
| ARHS 200+ | 3 | EDP 301 | 3 |
| GEF 3 | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | ||
| 18 | 18 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ART 365 | 3 | ART 366 | 3 |
| SPED 404 (GEF 4) | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 |
| Area of Emphasis Course | 6 | Area of Emphasis Course | 6 |
| GEF 8 | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ART 489 | 4 | ART 491D | 15 |
| SPED 460 | 3 | ||
| Senior Project | 6 | ||
| ART 367 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 130 | |||
Areas of Emphasis
- 2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media
- 3D Studio and Public Art
- Digital Art and Animation
- Graphic Design
2D Studio Painting, Photography, Print Media Area of Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Art 300-level Studio Emphasis Area | 18 | |
| Painting 3 | ||
or ART 330S | Printmaking | |
or ART 331 | GPS-Jackson Hole Photography Workshop | |
or ART 332S | Intermediate Photography | |
or ART 333S | Alternative Photography | |
or ART 335S | Advanced Photography | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
3D Studio and Public Art Area of Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Art 300-level Studio Emphasis Area | 18 | |
| Sculpture | ||
or ART 340S | Ceramics | |
or ART 341S | Ceramic Production Methods | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Digital Art and Animation
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum grade of C- or higher for all ART and ARHS courses required. | ||
| Art 300-level Studio Emphasis Area | 18 | |
| Intermediate Electronic Media | ||
or ART 371S | Interactive Art | |
or ART 372S | Interactive Design | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Graphic Design Area of Emphasis Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ART 323S | Graphic Design 3 | 6 |
| ART 324S | Graphic Design 4 | 6 |
| or ART 425S | Graphic Design: Senior Project | |
| ART 328S | Advanced Typography | 3 |
| ART 337S | Design for Web and Screen | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Major Learning Outcomes
Art Education
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) is a professional degree with an intensive focus on an area of the Arts supported by a program in general studies. The intent of the B.F.A. is to prepare for professional practice in the area of the degree.
- The ability to think, speak, and write clearly and effectively, and to communicate with precision, cogency and rhetorical force.
- An informed acquaintance with the mathematical and experimental methods of the physical and biological sciences, and with the main forms of analysis of the historical and quantitative techniques needed for investigating the workings and developments of modern society.
- An ability to address culture and history from a variety of perspectives.
- Understanding of, and experience in thinking about, moral and ethical problems.
- The ability to respect, understand and evaluate work in a variety of disciplines.
- The capacity to explain and defend views effectively and rationally.
Additional specific goals related to the art education major:
- Studio Art-The prospective art teacher must be familiar with the basic expressive, technical, procedural and organizational skills, and conceptual insights which can be developed through studio art and design experiences.
- Art History and Analysis-The prospective art teacher must have an understanding of: (1) The major styles and periods of art history, analytical methods, and theories of criticism. (2) The development of past and contemporary art forms. (3) Contending philosophies of art. (4) The fundamental and integral relationships of all these to the making of art.
- Teaching Competencies-The artist-teacher must be able to connect an understanding of educational processes and structures with an understanding of relationships among the arts, sciences, and humanities, in order to apply art competencies in teaching situations and to integrate art/design instruction into the total process of education. Specific competencies include:
a. An understanding of child development and the identification and understanding of psychological principles of learning as they relate to art education.
b. An understanding of the philosophical and social foundation underlying art in education and the ability to express a rationale for personal attitudes and beliefs.
c. Ability to assess aptitudes, experiential backgrounds, and interests of individuals and groups of students, and to devise learning experiences to meet assessed needs.
d. Knowledge of current methods and materials available in all fields and levels of art education.
e. Basic understanding of the principles and methods of developing curricula and the short- and long-term instructional units that comprise them.
f. The ability to accept, amend, or reject methods and materials based on personal assessment of specific teaching situations.
g. An understanding of evaluative techniques and the ability to apply them in assessing both the progress of students and the objectives and procedures of the curriculum.
h. Ability to organize continuing study and to incorporate knowledge gained into self-evaluation and professional growth.
Policies
Art Education majors must:
- maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA,
- earn a C- or higher in all ART and ARHS courses,
- complete 125 clinical observation hours prior to their fourth year of enrollment to obtain a student teaching permit, as mandated by the State of WV Department of Education; students can discuss details regarding steps to attain these observation hours with the coordinator of the Art Education program,
- pass the PRAXIS ART CONTENT exam no later than the semester before taking ART 491D for their teaching placement, and
- assemble a Writing Portfolio to be eligible for graduation.