Studio Art (B.F.A.) - Art Education Specialization

Program Coordinator/Contact

Diana Behl, Studio Art Program Coordinator
School of Design
Grove Hall 101, Box 2802
605-688-4103

Program Information

The Art Education specialization is part of the Studio Art Program and prepares majors for careers as art educators in elementary and secondary schools (K-12). Art Education comprises courses from the Studio Art Program and the Secondary Teacher Education Program. The curriculum prepares students for the state educator certification process which includes the successful completion of a state-designated pedagogy test. Students pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree that provides instruction in all the studio art areas focusing on technical and conceptual development along with the coursework in teaching and learning.

Student Learning Outcomes

The courses in the Art Education specialization are designed to provide students with fundamental experiences necessary in visual knowledge, decision-making and the mechanisms of creative and expressive abilities. The program offers candidates interested in teaching art in schools (K-12) a strong and diverse program in art education. Upon completion of our curriculum, the student is prepared for certification as an art teacher to teach levels from kindergarten through high school. The art education curriculum, in accord with the College of Education and Human Sciences Undergraduate Teacher Education Program at South Dakota State University, provides candidates with the skills and experience necessary to develop effective teachers.

Upon completion of the Art Education specialization, students will be able to:

• Apply the basic principles of visual organization, in two and three dimensions, to the creation and the analysis of works of art. This includes the application of fundamental drawing skills, design concepts, color theory, and studio specific applications.
• Generate a body of original works of art that exhibits a coherent set of artistic/intellectual goals.
• Analyze and critically evaluate works of art and design from various cultures and historical periods as well as the ability to apply art historical context to their own work.
• Articulate, both orally and written, a critical discourse on their artwork and processes, the artwork of others, and art history through the appropriate application of art and design language and concepts.
• Demonstrate the skills required by professional artists in the communication, documentation, and exhibition of their artwork and experience.
• Understand the principles of children’s artistic development, and to use that knowledge to design active learning opportunities that are appropriately adopted for varied developmental levels and diverse approaches to teaching and learning.
• Integrate pedagogical studies with knowledge of specific disciplines to create meaningful learning experiences.
• Develop assessment strategies to evaluate student progress, and to utilize the results to determine whether curricula programs are addressing student needs and facilitating student achievement.

Academic Requirements

• Studio Art students must maintain at least a major GPA of 2.6 and an overall GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the duration of the program.  A grade of a “C” or better is required in all ART, ARTE, ARTH, GDES, DSGN, LA, ARCH, and ID courses. 
• A grade of “C” or better is required in CMST 101 , ENGL 101 , PSYC 101 , and MATH 103  or higher (if these courses are in your plan of study), and all courses for the major (classes with department/program prefix).
• An overall GPA of 2.5 is required to enroll in any education courses.

Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure

Accreditation

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
South Dakota Department of Education

Certification and Licensure

• Completion of an approved bachelor’s K-12 preparation program.
• Completion of an approved Indian Studies course.
• Pass the state designated content knowledge test or 2.7 GPA in content major coursework.
• Pass the state designated pedagogy test.
• Completion of a Suicide Awareness and Prevention training, available free online through the South Dakota Department of Education.
• Apply online with the South Dakota Department of Education.
• Written recommendation from institution of higher education (SDSU) verifying program completion.

Course Delivery Format

Course content is delivered through hands-on studio work combined with lectures, demonstrations, and critiques.