Graduate Studies
APPLICATION PACKET AND HANDBOOK
This handbook has been developed both for prospective students and enrolled students.
We welcome your questions and suggestions
Introduction to the Art and Visual Culture Education Division
Thank you for visiting us. The Master of Arts degree in Art and Visual Culture Education is an integral part of the comprehensive art programs offered by the School of Art. The graduate program is intended to meet the needs of students who wish advanced professional understanding within the field of Art and Visual Culture Education. Students may pursue an M.A. or, for students interested in certification to teach in public schools but not currently certified, the M.A. plus certification. Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees are offered through the College of Education with a minor or specialization in Art Education. In addition, students with a B.A. or B.F.A. in Art may pursue Post-Baccalaureate Certification as an unclassified graduate student or as an undergraduate (see separate handbook for this option) .
There are exceptional resources available to graduate students in art. The University houses several museums, including The University of Arizona Museum of Art, the Center for Creative Photography (one of the worlds leading photography archives and exhibition centers), the Arizona State Museum, and the Joseph Gross, Lionel Rombach, and Student Union art galleries. The University Library has an extensive collection of books, periodicals, and video-tapes and is ranked seventeenth among research libraries in the United States. Excellent multimedia facilities are available to students. The Center for Computing and Information Technology's Multi-Visualization Lab are well-equipped for the art and art and visual culture education student. The School of Art's visual resources lab (slides and digital images) contains over 200,000 slides and a large digital bank. Take virtual tours of the campus, artworks on campus, and Tucson. The city is rich in arts and cultural resources and was recently named as 15th in the nation for its public arts. Students interested in internships are often able to arrange for such experiences in settings such as the Center for Creative Photography, the University of Arizona Museum of Art, the School of Art galleries, and Tucson Museum of Art.
Admission requirements and procedures
Admission is a two part process, and must be completed by October 1 for Spring admission and February 1 for Fall or Summer admission. Applicants missing these deadlines may enroll as Unclassified status for one semester. See section below on Unclassified Graduate Status.
Part I. Graduate College RequirementsAll prospective graduate students must meet the general eligibility requirements outlined in the Graduate Catalog of the University of Arizona. The Graduate College requires for admission that all graduates applicants have a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a college or university granting degrees recognized by the University, a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) over the last 60 units of undergraduate course work or a minimum of 12 hours of graduate course work at an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative average of 3.25. Applications and information are available directly from the Graduate School's website; you are encouraged to apply online.
Part II. Art and Visual Culture Education requirementsStudents are expected:
- to have met the requirements of the Graduate College, and
- to have received a Baccalaureate degree in either Art Education, Studio Art, Art History, or Education from an accredited institution. If your degree is in another area, please contact an Art and Visual Culture Education faculty member to discuss your application.
The following materials are required:
- Signed and dated copy of the Graduate Application form.
- Official transcripts from every college or university attended, in original sealed envelopes.
- The Art and Visual Culture Education Application Form (click on the highlighted text to obtain a copy).
- Three original and confidential letters of recommendation sent by your referees directly to the Graduate Secretary. These letters should address your academic abilities and potential.
- An updated resume.
- A typed (1-2 pages) autobiographical statement addressing your educational and personal experiences, achievements, and goals relevant to art and visual culture education.
- If you have a studio background, 10-20 images of work on a CD. Images should be 72 ppi, maximum of 800 pixels for longest dimension, and readable in multiple formats. (Slides and photographs are no longer accepted.)
- A research paper or other sample of your written work.
- An interview with an Art and Visual Culture Education faculty member in person or by telephone.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the School of Art's graduate secretary at 520.621.8518 or an art and visual culture education faculty member (egarber@email.arizona.edu or lynng@email.arizona.edu ).
Please send these materials to:
The Graduate Secretary
Art and Visual Culture Education
School of Art, PO 210002
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721.0002
Unclassified Graduate Status
A student who does not meet the admission deadlines for the semester in which she/he wishes to enroll may apply to the Graduate College for admission as an unclassified graduate student. Students may apply a limited number of units (up to 12) in the unclassified status towards their M.A. degree. Students wishing to receive certification but not work on an M.A. degree may retain unclassified status throughout their certification course work. For information on being admitted as a non-degree seeking student, please visit http://grad.arizona.edu/Prospective_Students/Admissions_Requirements/Non-Degree_Enrollment.php.
Course of Study: Options for the M.A. Degree
Three options are available to students seeking the M.A. Degree:
- Option A: M.A. in Art Education, Art and Visual Culture Studies Option
- Option B: M.A. in Art Education, Community and Museums Option
- Option C: M.A. in Art Education, Certification Option
Option A: M.A. in Art Education, Art and Visual Culture Studies Option
The following courses are required:
For descriptions of these and other courses, please see the University's on-line catalogs at: http://catalog.arizona.edu/allcats.html
- ARE 530 Research Methods in Art and Visual Culture Education
- ARE 630 History and Philosophy in Art and Visual Culture Education
- ARE 633 Issues and Recent Research in Art and Visual Culture Education
- ARE 560 Curriculum Theory in Art and Visual Culture Education
- ARE 910 (Thesis) or ARE 909 (Master's Report), 3 units
6 elective units in ARE
9 elective units, chosen in conjunction with the student's art and visual culture education advisor. Please note: Students planning to do survey or statistical research are expected to take MUS 551, Behavioral Research in the Arts, as part of their elective creditsOption B: M.A. in Art Education, Community and Museums Option
The following courses are required:
- ARE 530 Research Methods in Art and Visual Culture Education
- ARE 630 History and Philosophy in Art and Visual Culture Education
ARE 633 Issues and Recent Research in Art and Visual Culture Education- ARE 520 Community, Culture, and Art Education
ARE 593 Internship (3-6 units)- ARE 910 (Thesis) or ARE 909 (Master's Report), 3 units
6 elective units in ARE
3-6 elective units, chosen in conjunction with the student's art and visual culture education advisor. Please note: Students planning to do survey or statistical research are expected to take MUS 551, Behavioral Research in the Arts, as part of their elective credits.
Option C: M.A. in Art Education, Certification Option
Below are listed courses and general information about the certification option. For further information, please see the semester-by-semester guide to completing the MA + certification or contact an art and visual culture education faculty member.
The following courses are required as part of the M.A. program:
- ARE 530 Research Methods in Art and Visual Culture Education
- ARE 630 History and Philosophy in Art and Visual Culture Education
- ARE 633 Issues and Recent Research in Art and Visual Culture Education
- ARE 560 Curriculum Theory in Art and Visual Culture Education
- ARE 910 (Thesis) or ARE 909 (Master's Report), 3 units
- ARE 534, Diversity Issues in Art and Visual Culture Education
- ARE 576, Art and Cultural Criticism in Art Education OR ARE 569, Teaching Media and Visual Culture
- ARE 531, Pedagogical Practices in Art and Visual Culture Education
- ARE 538 Teaching Art and Visual Culture Education
3 elective units in ARE or MUS at the 500 level or above, chosen in consultation with the student's art and visual culture education advisor. Please note: Students planning to do survey or statistical research are expected to take MUS 551, Behavioral Research in the Arts, as their elective credits.
Additional course work for certification (only courses numbered 500 or above carry graduate credit; for most students seeking certification, graduate credit will not be necessary to complete the Graduate School M.A. requirement of 30 units of course work at the 500 level or above):
- TTE 300, Classroom Processes and Instruction
- EdP 310 or 510, Learning in Schools
- TTE 350 or Educ 501, Schooling in America
- LRC 416, Introduction to Structured English Immersion
- TTE 493b Student Teaching in the Secondary School (12 credits); Student teaching does not carry credit towards a graduate degree
- SER 301b or Educ 502, Mainstreaming (usually taken with student teaching)
Certification requires some non-curricular steps, mandated by the Arizona Department of Education for the K-12 Art Endorsement in the state of Arizona:
- US & Arizona Constitutional Exams. This requirement can be met by taking: POL SC 210, or a course at Pima Community College, or at the University of Phoenix, or by taking a test. Please contact the College of Education Student Services Area or the Arizona Department of Education for details and test dates.
- Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessment (AEPA). Students take assessment exams in:
(i) Art and (ii) Professional Knowledge: Secondary
Please contact the College of Education Student Services Area or the Arizona Department of Education for details and exam dates .- Fingerprints (required for student teaching) All students must be fingerprinted in order to student teach in Arizona’s schools. Please allow AT LEAST TWO MONTHS for processing. The College of Education schedules fingerprinting sessions.
- Meeting criteria for the College of Education Fitness to Teach
Additional information for M.A. + certification students:
Upon acceptance to the program, you should obtain an application for the College of Education from an art and visual culture education faculty member. This is required to take course work in the College of Education. Because Art Education is considered an Associate Program of the College of Education, you will remain in the Graduate College but must be admitted to take the education classes that are required for your certification. You must apply for Fingerprint clearance at this time.
As a certification student, you will be required to participate in two portfolio reviews. These reviews are both formative and evaluative, that is, they will help you understand your strengths and areas you need to work on (formative) as well as indicate your eligibility to continue in the certification program.Most M.A. students pursuing certification take art and visual culture education certification course work simultaneously with their M.A. course work. Some of the course work for certification, including the student teaching semester, is taken at the undergraduate level.
Students enrolled in the College of Education must meet and maintain "Fitness to Teach Criteria."
There are no electives available in this option, because they have been used towards certification. If the student wishes to pursue electives, these may be taken in addition to the 30 units required for the M.A. degree.
Art certification in the state of Arizona is a Secondary certificate with an endorsement to teach art K-12. This certificate approximates certification requirements in most states.Additional information for all options:
Please see the University's on-line catalog for short descriptions of each of these courses. The catalog can be reached at: http://catalog.arizona.edu/allcats.html. Sample course syllabi from previous semesters for some art and visual culture education courses can be previewed online:
ARE 576: http://www.arts.arizona.edu/are476
ARE 630: http://www.arts.arizona.edu/are630
Each student will be advised by one major professor within the Art and Visual Culture Education Division. In cooperation with the major professor, each student will develop a proposed course of study leading to the M.A. degree. This major professor also hold primary responsibility for supervising the student's work on the thesis or major project. In conjunction with the advisor, students in the Options A and B select additional course work from art education, studio art, art history, education, anthropology, women's studies, or other related areas. Independent study and internships are also available. This coursework should support the student's proposed research direction.Upon completion of 15 units of course work, each student must file a Program of Study with the School of Art Graduate Secretary. The program of study includes course work--both taken and projected--a thesis title, and identification of the major advisor. Please visit the Graduate College's Forms page to obtain the "Master's/ Specialist Plan of Study" form.
Also upon completion of 15 units of course work, each student must establish a Thesis/ Research Project committee. The committee, chaired by the student's major professor, must include at least two faculty members from art and visual culture education (the major professor and one other faculty member). A third faculty member may be drawn from the art and visual culture education faculty or from other areas of the School of Art or the University, as appropriate to the thesis/ research project topic. Each student must discuss his/her committee choices with the major professor. The purpose of the thesis/project committee is to direct research, writing, and defense of the thesis/ research project as well as course work leading towards the M.A. degree. The requirement to form a thesis committee at the mid-point of the Master's Program signals an evaluation of a student's performance. The failure to find faculty willing to serve on the thesis/ project committee and/ or a recommendation of termination from the program from the Graduate Committee in Art and Visual Culture Education, that reviews student progress with the major professor, will result in an administrative drop from the program.
[Click here for detailed thesis information]
The thesis or research project must adhere to certain guidelines. These include a proposal approved by all members of the student's Thesis or Research Project committee, the written thesis or research project, and an oral examination defending the thesis or research project. Theses should follow The University of Arizona's guidelines for theses. An oral examination defending the thesis or major project is required.Students should bring the "Master's/ Specialist Completion of Degree Requirements" form to their oral examination.
For additional information specific to the Graduate School and getting your degree, please visit the graduate school website at: http://grad.arizona.edu.
You are required to maintain a minimum of a 3.0 grade average in all M.A. and certification course work. It is the policy of the School of Art that any student receiving a non-passing grade in a course in their major (a grade of C or lower) will be administratively dropped from the program as a degree student.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) & Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degrees
The Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees are offered through the College of Education with a minor or specialization in Art and Visual Culture Education. Please contact the College of Education and an Art and Visual Culture Education faculty member for more information. You can view the College of Education programs on the web at: http://www.ed.arizona.edu/overview/doctoral.html.
Grades
All students must receive a B or better in graduate courses in order for these courses to count towards their degree. Incompletes will only be granted in the most extenuating circumstances. Failure to make up Incompletes by the end of the following semester will lead to a negative evaluation. Failure to make up an Incomplete by the end of the calendar year after a class has been completed will result in the grade of E. The Graduate College requires a minimum of a 3.0 average to remain in good standing. It is the policy of the School of Art that any graduate student receiving a non-passing grade (a grade of C or lower) in a course in their major will be administratively dropped from the program.
Transfer credit
A student transferring from another accredited institution may, upon recommendation of the art and visual culture education faculty, apply a maximum of 20% of the total units required (6 units) for the M.A. The units will be evaluated based upon whether they contribute to the student's studies as an art and visual culture education graduate student. Transfer may be initiated after the completion of the first semester in residence at the University but will not become effective until the student completes her/his Program of Study.
Scholarships and teaching assistantships
A limited amount of money is available from the Graduate School for Scholarships. A minimum 3.0 undergraduate grade point average is required for these scholarships. These Scholarships are administrated by the School of Art.
The School of Art holds an annual Scholarship competition for awards of varying amounts. Awards for art and visual culture education students are made on the basis of slides and paper submitted for admission. To apply, students should include with their application materials a written statement to the Graduate Secretary that they wish to be included in the Scholarship competition and meet all admission deadlines for fall admission. At this time, there is no scholarship competition available for spring admissions.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships are available on a selected basis to qualified M.A. candidates and are awarded by the Art and Visual Culture Education faculty. Students should indicate interest in being considered for an assistantship with their application materials. Every effort is made to award assistantships to qualified candidates.
Financial aid
Applicants and students requesting financial aid should contact the Student Financial Aid Office, room 203, Administration Building, Tucson AZ 85721 or telephone (520) 621-1858. Financial aid is available in forms including student loans and work study programs. You are advised to apply early.
Professional activities
All students, whether post-baccalaureate certification, M.A. plus certification, M.A., or BFA-Art Education are invited to begin their professional lives while students at the University. This includes joining the professional art education organizations: National Art Education Association (NAEA) and affiliate Arizona Art Education Association (AAEA); and the University of Arizona Student Chapter of the NAEA. Membership in one automatically creates membership in the other.
NAEA can be reached at:
1916 Association Dr.
Reston, VA 20191-1590
phone: (703) 860-8000
fax: (703) 860-2960
http://www.naea-reston.org
Education career services
Education Career Services are located on the fourth floor of the west wing of the Student Union Building, Suite 411 (above the Bookstore): 621-4224; Website: http://www.career.arizona.edu .The Office of Education Career Services provides a wide range of career services to all current and prospective educators, from kindergarten teachers through university professors. Services are provided to graduates of the College of Education as well as school librarians, speech pathologists, rehabilitation majors, sports medicine/athletic trainers, and graduates of other colleges who wish to be employed in higher education. Services range from initial career counseling and planning, including supply and demand projections, to career exploration, job search skills, and placement services, including the maintenance of the educator's placement or credential files.
