Application and Portfolio Deadlines
M.F.A. and M.A. in Studio Art
- Fall Semester: January 19, 2018
M.A. in Art Education
- Summer Semester: Rolling admission
Applications received after the deadline, or applications that are incomplete as of the deadline, may not receive full consideration.
Degrees and Concentrations
The School of Art, Design and Art History offers the Master of Fine Arts degree in studio art and the Master of Arts in art history, art education and studio art.
Mission
The Master of Arts in Art Education at JMU is a graduate program for certified art educators dedicated to excellence in teaching and directing comprehensive art education programs in schools, museums, art organizations or the private sector. The program includes in-depth analysis of the methods and techniques for teaching studio art, art history, art criticism, aesthetics and visual culture. The program promotes graduates who are:
- Dedicated art education professionals.
- Articulate art education advocates.
- Charismatic leaders who demonstrate art education as a vital component of general education.
Goals
- To provide students with the structure, skills, core concepts and methods of inquiry for teaching and directing comprehensive art education programs, including: aesthetics, art criticism, art history, studio production and visual culture.
- To provide students with opportunities to create and evaluate art instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.
- To provide opportunities for students to demonstrate an extensive range of strategies for teaching and evaluating art instruction, including the use of technology.
- To foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction among students for developing thesis papers and projects.
- To deepen a student’s knowledge in a specific area of art education scholarly interest.
- To provide students with access to the latest research on how children learn and develop and how culture influences human development and creative artistic expression.
- To provide students with access to the latest research on how children learn to understand, appreciate, create and judge works of art.
- To provide students with opportunities to apply research to art lessons that support intellectual, social and personal development.
Application Requirements
In addition to the requirements of The Graduate School, applicants must meet additional qualifications established by the School of Art, Design and Art History.
The candidate must have an undergraduate degree with a minimum of 33 credit hours in studio art and nine credit hours in art history. The art history hours must include six hours surveying the history of Western art and three hours in upper-level art history. The candidate must have an art-teaching license and submit:
- Three letters of recommendation.
- A teaching philosophy.
- An example lesson plan demonstrating comprehensive art education.
- A personal statement as an indication of preparation for graduate study.
Evidence of a current art teaching license is required to waive the GRE.
Program Requirements
The program of study includes nine hours in art education, three hours in art history, three hours in criticism, nine hours in education and/or art education electives (Directed Study), and six hours of thesis.
