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Art Education (PK-12 Certification), M.A.T.

College of Arts and Sciences
College of Education

Develop your talents and earn a PK-12 licensure for teaching art in public schools with hands-on classroom experiences teaching children and youth in community settings and schools.

Combine your passion for art with a degree program that provides professional instruction on teaching art to young students in PK-12. Enjoy professional development opportunities like art workshops and art education conferences. You'll complete a semester of teaching in a public school and take a comprehensive exam in art education.

Program Highlights

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    Ready to Work

    Meet the teacher demand. Most students sign job contracts during their final semester of student teaching.

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    Valuable Experiences

    Learn while doing during hands-on experiences teaching in schools or community settings.

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    Supportive Faculty

    Learn from award-winning artists, scholars, and educators with teaching and research expertise across areas.

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    Growth Opportunities

    Form close professional relationships in our vibrant student chapter and during professional development opportunities.

What You’ll Study

Courses include the professional education curriculum and practicums in order take the Praxis exam and receive a teaching license in South Carolina. Learn to develop curriculum reflective of the goals and purposes of art education. You'll also take studio art courses, art education courses, and practice directed teaching in a PK-12 classroom.

Building Skills

Gain the professional and personal intelligence it takes to have a successful career.

  • Teaching

    Foster learning by conveying knowledge, skills and concepts to students

    Curriculum Planning

    Designing educational programs, courses and learning experiences that align with educational standards

    Research

    Gathering and analyzing information to increase knowledge or solve problems

  • Cultural Awareness

    Learning about and respecting diverse cultures and beliefs

    Communication

    Exchanging information and ideas through speaking, writing or other means of expression

    Collaboration

    Working with others to achieve a common goal or objective

Using your degree

Make your college experience the foundation for a successful future.

Learn how alumni use degrees with outcome data from Gamecock GradStats, a service of the University of South Carolina Career Center.

Potential Careers

  • K-12 Art Teacher
  • Art Museum Educator
  • Community Art Educator

Job Titles of Alumni

  • Art Teacher
  • Drama Teacher
  • Theatre Arts Teacher
  • Adjunct Instructor
  • Arts Education and Organizations Director
  • Fine Arts Department Head

Average Alumni Salary

Five to 10 years after graduation without additional education $64,951

Workplace Settings

  • Education
  • Museums
  • Nonprofits
  • Private Business

Employers of Alumni

  • Lexington County School District One
  • Greenville County Schools
  • University of South Carolina
  • South Carolina Arts Commission
  • Saluda River Academy for the Arts
  • The Atlanta Opera

I have been fortunate to grow the art program at my school, starting Advanced Placement courses and aligning curriculum across the high school program. Taking leadership opportunities and getting one-on-one mentorship from the professors was invaluable to my success in the workplace.

Rachel Stansell
Portrait of Rachel Stansell
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