Teacher Education Major
Art Education Program
Art education is for individuals who decide to pursue art and teaching as a career. Art educators teach art in the public and private schools, museums, after school and summer programs and more. Students wishing to go into an area of art—painting, ceramics, sculpture, drawing, media arts, graphic design, photography—may complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a second major in Art Education and certification to teach. Certified art educators are licensed Kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12).
Art instruction fosters development of visual memory, and visual communication skills, and can reinforce and contribute to knowledge in all school subject areas for all kinds of learners. Students in an art classroom are taught how to create art (production), how to critically examine and discuss art (art criticism), how to look at art from various cultures and relate it to history (art history), and explore their personal thoughts and responses to art (aesthetics). Art educators teach a wide variety of processes, therefore, understanding of the content area of art and opportunities to study and engage in the processes of art making (traditional and contemporary) are necessary. In addition, competence in a chosen area of concentration demonstrates ones personal commitment to art. A university curriculum that requires understanding and studio exploration into two and three dimensional processes, a background in art history, aesthetics, and art criticism, as well as study of the functions and purposes of art from various cultures prepares the future art teacher with the ability to address state and national art education standards.
University art education programs should include the study of historical development and prevailing theories of art education. The development of visual perception and brain research, art education philosophies and opportunities to practice teaching of art through field experiences are vital components of an art education program. The University of Tennessee Art Education program meets these needs.
Contact
Information
Art Education
A111 Jane and David Bailey Education Complex
The University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3442
Phone: 865-974-2431
Fax: 865-974-8674
For More Information on Art
College of Arts and Sciences, School of Art
213 Art and Architecture Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-2410
865-974-3407
Contact the Department of Theory and Practice in Teacher Education
A204 Jane and David Bailey Education Complex
1126 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, Tennessee
37996-3442
Phone: 865-974-6228
Fax: 865-974-6302
tallmon@utk.edu