Are you interested in:

• Making art or in “maker culture”?
• Mentoring others?
• Organizing activities or creative experiences, planning activities for groups?
• Do you like children?
• Do you enjoy crafts? Have you customized your shoes (or surfboard or skateboard)?
• Do you organize calendars or are you are a list maker?
• Sharing how to make something? Have you ever seen a DIY project that you could have done better?
• Have you made an instructional video for YouTube? Is that an intriguing idea? Do you like to watch YouTube to learn how to do something?
• Do you like to lead people or events? Can you visualize leading a classroom?
• Do you like to write or draw? Do you like to blog or doodle ideas?
• Hands-on learning?
• Teaching?
  
  

The art education program emphasizes the development of teaching skills within the art content area as well as a strong theoretical background. Every art education major creates an electronic portfolio at a glance, a comprehensive collection of educational materials developed by the student, such as lesson plans and pedagogy, philosophy of education, and digital artifacts. The art education curriculum includes developing knowledge of current art techniques and movements, understanding current issues and trends in art education, acquiring skills for teaching in a diverse population, and learning to infuse technology into instruction.

Types of jobs:

• K-12 teacher or college professor
• Art therapist
• Art director for YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, or other organizations
• Workshop teacher
• Entrepreneur (designing your own private program to teach art)
• Artist-teacher
• Illustrator
• Freelance artist/instructor
• Museum educator
• Curriculum writer
• Arts management
• Principal or superintendent
• Arts administrator
  
  

Attend graduate school for:

• Master of Fine Arts
• Art education (or Master in Teaching)
• Art therapy
• Museum studies
• Curriculum and instruction
• Higher education
  
  

Options for the major:

• Minor in any additional related area of interest
• Early exposure to teaching through in-department workshops
• Presentations at North Carolina Art Education Association conferences
• Enhancements of major
  • Includes specific courses for licensure requirements for elementary, middle, or high school teaching
  • Senior Exhibition in professional gallery setting
• Other opportunities for experiential learning including:
  • Frankie G. Weems Gallery
  • Astspace
  • Contemporary Museum of Art
  • North Carolina Museum of Art
  • Visual Art Exchange
  • Claymakers
  • Pullen Art Center
  • Penland Residency
  • Gallery C
    
    

Professional associations:

• National Art Education Association www.arteducators.org
• North Carolina Art Education Association www.ncaea.org
• Kappa PI, International Honorary Art Fraternity www.kappapiart.com
• National Association of Women Artists, Inc. www.thenawa.org
• College Art Association www.collegeart.org
• Southeastern Museum Conference www.semcdirect.net
• American Alliance of Museums www.aam-us.org
• American Art Therapy Association www.arttherapy.org
  
  

Career outlook:

High school art teacher
Middle school art teacher
Kindergarten and elementary school teacher
Art therapist