Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art Education & Fine Art
Online, USA
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
10 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 1,682 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* per unit for international students / USD 1,301 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
About: The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Art Education and Fine Art double-major programme combines art pedagogy and studio practice to prepare students to teach and create. Through coursework, curriculum design, and fieldwork you'll learn education theory, lesson planning, and classroom techniques while developing a fine art portfolio demonstrating technical, aesthetic, and conceptual growth. The programme stresses research, testing of teaching methods, and problem-solving to link theory and practice.
Career Outcomes: Graduates pursue roles in schools, museums, and community arts and outreach. Potential paths include: K–12 art teacher; museum educator; community arts coordinator; teaching artist; curriculum developer; gallery curator.
The BFA in Art Education and Fine Art (Double Major) program provides a pathway to becoming an art teacher in classrooms, museums, and community-based art programs. Through the Art Education coursework and fieldwork, students will learn how to develop successful curricula and art lesson plans for a wide range of audiences. Through the fine art major, students will develop a portfolio that will showcase their high level of artistic skill and their ability to solve creative problems through the synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
Art Education & Fine Art Double Major Degree
The Art Education major focuses on the Science of teaching and will require our students to research, investigate, and test educational theories and provide practical evidence for their effectiveness in a classroom.
The Fine Art major will help develop the Art of teaching and will be anchored in our students’ maturity as visual Artists. The BFA requires students to develop an Art portfolio that shows an evolution of artistry. As Fine Art students struggle and evolve through their own creative process, they are better able to guide their future students to a high level of artistic success.
Teaching itself is a creative act; our Double Major students will approach their instructional strategies and curriculum choices with developed discipline, creativity, and both traditional and innovative ideas.
The Art education/Fine Arts Double Major BFA program provides a pathway to becoming an art teacher in classrooms, museums, and community-based art programs. Through the Art Education coursework and fieldwork, students will learn how to develop successful curricula and Art lesson plans for a wide range of audiences. As a Fine Arts Major, students willdevelop a portfolio that will showcase their high level of artistic skill and their ability to solve creative problems through the synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
Semester 1
- FA 145: Printmaking
- FND 110: Analysis of Form
- FND 131: Figure Modeling
- LA 101: Freshman Symposium: Artistic Resilience
Semester 2
- FA 110: Still Life Painting 1
- FND 112: Figure Drawing
- FND 125: Color and Design
- LA 107: Writing for the Multilingual Artist
- LA 120: Art History Through the 15th Century
Semester 3
- FA 121: Intermediate Figure Drawing
- FA 211: Introduction to Painting: Figure
- FA 213: Introduction to Anatomy
- LA 121: Art History Through the 19th Century
- LA 202: English Composition: Creative Persuasion and Argument
Semester 4
- FA 143: Silkscreen 1
- FA 222: Heads and Hands
- FA 224: Composition and Painting
- FA 423: Abstract Painting
- FASCU 234: Head and Figure Sculpture
- ILL 133: Digital Media: Digital Manipulation
- LA 291: Designing Careers
Semester 5
- FA 311: Clothed Figure Painting 1
- FA 321: Head Painting 1
- FA 328: Landscape Painting
- LA 292: Programming and Culture
Semester 6
- ARE 105: Overview of the Theories and Practices of Art Education
- FA 322: Quick Studies
- LA ###: Any LA course
- LA 110: Writing the Short Story
- LA 147: History of Photography
- LA 243: History of American Illustration
Semester 7
- ARE 305: Educational Psychology
- ARE 310: Curriculum Development for the Art Classroom
- FA 310: Spring Painting Studio
- LA 124: Physics for Artists: Light, Sound, and Motion
Semester 8
- ARE 340: Learning to Talk About Art
- FA 325: Mixed Media Drawing and Painting 1
- LA 270: U.S. History
- N/A: Any Course | Elective
Semester 9
- ARE 515: Integrating Technology into Art Education Settings
- FA 241: Book Arts
- FA 368: Urban Landscape
- N/A: Any LA Course
Semester 10
- ARE 460: Senior Seminar in Art Education
- FA 110: Still Life Painting 1
- FA 325: Mixed Media Drawing and Painting 1
- FA 420: Senior Portfolio Workshop/Professional Practices
BFA Double Major Fine Art/Art Education students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Art and Design Skills
- Create a portfolio of work representing a range of visual media as well as a specialized discipline of art/design
- Demonstrate craftsmanship and fine attention to detail in technical and creative aspects of work
Teaching and Communication Skills
- Design effective art education curricula targeted to an intended audience with consideration for the needs of diverse learners.
- Articulate the importance of art in education based on research, observation, and fieldwork experience.
Concept Development and Critical Analysis
- Explore and clearly articulate concepts and creative possibilities with a given topic or subject.
- Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the concept and execution of a given artwork.
Visual Literacy
- Articulate the formal and expressive properties of works of art/design as well as their content, meaning, and purpose.
Knowledge of Human Development
- Articulate appropriate strategies for meeting the needs of all learners and learning styles with consideration for human developmental stages, cultural and linguistic diversity, physical and cognitive disabilities, and accelerated learning in art education settings.
Professional Readiness
- Demonstrate breadth and depth of accomplishment as an artist and art educator through a professional portfolio.
- Produce a professional-standard portfolio of well-crafted artwork demonstrating personal vision.
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Use professional terminology to evaluate their work and work in the field.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design
- Engage with a variety of communities beyond the classroom through internship opportunities, study abroad programs, athletics, student interest clubs, and participation in collaborative, civic, and pro bono projects.