Undergraduate Visual Art Studies Program
Download Degree Plan: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art Studies
Download Checklist: All-Level Art Teacher Certification Requirements (pdf)
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art Studies degree features 33 hours of general education requirement (comprised of courses in Rhetoric, English, Government, History, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Natural Sciences), 18 hours education, 6 hours fine art courses, 12 hours visual art studies, 12 hours art history, and requires 27 hours of studio art beyond the four prerequisite core foundation courses (12 hours), for a total of 39 studio art hours. Total degree hours is 120.
Art educators believe that art is an essential component of all societies and that an education is not complete without knowledge of art’s history, purpose, function, and techniques. Further, art educators value art as an expressive medium for everyone.
Undergraduate students who pursue the B.F.A. in Visual Art Studies degree prepare to strengthen art education schools and communities through their coursework. Currently, there is a growing need for quality art teachers in schools and communities throughout the U.S. Preparation of art teachers includes an understanding of art education history, philosophy, student development, teaching strategies, standards, objectives, and evaluation procedures. Field observations and practical classroom teaching are required of all students in our programs.
The purpose of the Visual Arts Studies/Art Education Area is to:
- prepare outstanding art teachers for public and private institutions where art is taught,
- strengthen the disciplines of art and teaching through scholarly research, and
- enhance community artistic experiences through ongoing public service.
To achieve these ends, the B.F.A. Visual Art Studies/All-Level Teacher Certification degree plan is designed to provide strong course content in visual art studies, studio art, art history, natural sciences and liberal arts. Most students in the program plan to teach and seek public school K-12 art teacher certification; however, students can also work toward other related career options, such as working with or for community-based art education organizations, through completion of the degree.
Additional information on admissions, programs, and curriculum is included in this downloadable PDF document:
Undergraduate Admissions and Program Guide (pdf).
Related Websites
Austin Area Region XIII Education Service Center (Alternative Certification Program)
College of Education – UT Austin (Educator Certification Information)
Educator Preparation Programs in Texas by Region
National Art Education Association
State Board of Educator Certification
Teacher Certification Offices in the U.S. (Information on teacher certification outside of Texas)
Texas Art Education Association
TExES: Texas Educator Certification/Education Testing Service
Contacts
Prospective applicants should arrange an appointment in advance of visiting the department. Please see Visiting the Department for detailed information.
Ramey Guerra, Academic Advisor I
Art History Advising
Email: rameyguerra@mail.utexas.edu (Please allow 24 to 48 hour response time for email reply.)
Phone: 512-475-7718
Fax: 512-471-7801
Office: ART 3.334
Campus Mail Code: D1300
You may also contact the undergraduate advisor by writing to the following address:
Undergraduate Office
Department of Art and Art History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station D1300
Austin, TX 78712-0337
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