Online Master Degree
The Online MA in Art Education program engages arts educators working in K-12 schools, museums, and community settings who want to transform their understanding of contemporary approaches to teaching and art-making. In an interactive online community of arts educators and a world-class faculty, students develop approaches based in current art education research to cultivate their own artmaking practice and invigorate their teaching.
This flexible, online program is designed to fit into the schedule of full-time educators who want to immediately apply new concepts to their daily teaching practice. It is a 30-hour comprehensive program that students can complete in three semesters as a full-time student or six semesters as a part-time student.
With an emphasis on social justice and contemporary arts, the dynamic curriculum will engage you as both an artist and an educator. From the very beginning, you’ll be challenged to think more deeply about your own practice and your students’ work. Expert instructors and a worldwide network of peers will inspire you to champion the arts in your community and help you re-discover your passion for art education. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in international collaboration experiences that offer insight into arts policies, practices and pedagogies from around the world. This program does not lead to a teaching license.
Our program offers rolling admission, with students being able to apply to start autumn, spring or summer semesters. Part-time students typically take 4 or 7 credit hours per semester. Full-time students take 7, 8, or 11 credit hours per semester.
The Ohio State University Online Master of Arts in Art Education is a 30-hour comprehensive program. The curriculum focuses on meaning-making, critical thinking and reflective practice, emphasizing:
- Teaching artmaking with meaning
- Designing meaningful art curriculum
- Critical multiculturalism and intercultural learning
- Creating connections between practice and research
- Arts advocacy
Each cohort takes core classes together, developing a community of support and learning as they work together and share their diverse experiences as art educators. In addition to the required courses, students choose four 3-credit hour elective courses to tailor their studies to their interests and take advantage of faculty expertise. Please note, our program does not lead to licensure.
Core Classes (12 Credit Hours)
- ARTEDUC 7000.30 – Issues, Frameworks and Theories for Art Educators
Critically analyze articles that provide an overview of topics for art education research; graduate faculty research; national and international issues, and research resources. (3 credits) - ARTEDUC 7708 – Universal Design for Learning: Disability Studies
This course explores Universal Design for Learning in Art Education for the purposes of enhancing the learning experiences of students with disabilities and all learners and makes practical applications to classroom experiences. - ARTEDUC 7767 – Critical Analysis of Multicultural Art Education
Investigation and analysis of multicultural theories, issues and practices for art education. (3 credits) - ARTEDUC 7200.3 – Overview of Research for Arts Educators
Introduction to research methodologies in the field of arts education in which students complete a research project. (3 credits)
Reflective Practice, Research, and Portfolio (6 Credit Hours)
Students take one Reflective Practice, Research, and Portfolio credit hour per semester, which provides a structure and opportunity to observe and reflect on their practice in relation to the coursework. These credit hours culminate in the Final Reflective Practice Portfolio, the final written component of the program.
Elective Courses (12 Credit Hours)
Electives are offered on a two-year rotation. Course options include:
- ARTEDUC 5367 – Native American Arts, Education, and Representations
Introduces broad range of issues, theories and practices of visual culture within the gaze of American Indians and how reaction to or rejection shapes indigenous identities, as well as non-Native understandings of American Indians. This course will explore action research practices, historical research methodologies, and critical readings. - ARTEDUC 7604 – Teaching of Studio Activities
Students will create their own art in this course through innovative and contemporary practices, while learning how to use their personal artmaking as a model for fostering creative thought and play in student artmaking. (3 credits) - ARTEDUC 7606 – Technology, Digital Texts, and Instructional Design for Online Learning
Theory and practice of engaging others in technologies and digital texts relative to art education practice. - ARTEDUC 7607 – Curriculum Planning and Assessment in Art Education
Students in this course are guided in learning about approaches to curriculum development, what causes curriculum and assessment to change, the roles of arts in society, contemporary art, and arts integration. Students develop a unit of study guided by instructor and peer feedback. (3 credits) - ARTEDUC 7707 – Action Research Theories and Methods
Exploration of action research theories and practices in school, community, and organizational setting for the purpose of creating change through collaboration, including a COIL research project. Course work will also have students involved in exploring personal identity and intercultural competencies, significant components to conducting qualitative and participatory research, locating and analyzing literature on a chosen topic, and writing critically and reflectively as a form of analysis. (3 credits) - ARTEDUC 7777 – Research to Advocacy
This course engages practicing arts educators in developing effective advocacy strategies, arguments and approaches grounded in reliable research and assessment measures. Educators clearly communicating these measures can effectively leverage them in persuading administrators, parents and policy makers to energetically support and advance the critical work of arts education. (3 credits) - ARTEDUC 7795 – Special Topics in Art Education: Intercultural Development and COIL Virtual Exchange
This course explores the theory of intercultural development, and COIL as an effective approach to facilitating intercultural learning. Students will explore their own intercultural competency and participate in a COIL project with an international partner institution, exploring ways in which COIL may be directly or indirectly applied to their practice. (3 credits)
Graduates of the program routinely describe their experience as transformative. They describe such changes as a greater depth of meaningful teaching practices and personal art making; increased engagement with the local community; and an infusion of globally enhanced curriculum, exposing their students to a breadth of cultural practices through art.