One of the core values surrounding the concept of art education is that of citizenship, and such a discipline aims to create community-minded citizens who care to engage critically with the world around them. They are self-reflective, and can constructively question the social, political, and cultural structures that surround others in daily life. Art educators aim to promote communication and engage in democratic values across societies and cultures.
Master of Arts
This post-graduate degree is an individualized program that’s not just intended for artists and designers; it is also aimed at teachers, cultural workers, museum educators and other arts professionals who seek to use art as a medium for positive change. Courses for this program cover an immense range of topical courses that are relevant and pertinent to how people live and interact in today’s society. These include Feminist, Queer and Trans Studies, Museums, Pedagogy and Cyberpedagogy, Thesis Research Methodology, and College Level Teaching. Students are expected to complete a thesis and apprentice teaching placements.
Feminist, Queer and Trans Studies
For a master’s degree in art education, you are expected to work to graduate level. Reading and discussion-based seminars form the crux of this boundary-challenging course, where works from Judith Butler, Samuel Delaney, and others, are drawn upon to question and explore themes of pedagogy, childhood, sex and HIV, and science.
Museums
Museums in this program are studied and reviewed as critical curriculums, to understand how teachers, artists, and arts organizers can use them as effective pedagogical methods. Students study strategies employed by local, national, and international organizations to effectively administer museum-based curriculums into active learning communities.
Pedagogy and Cyberpedagogy
Cyberpedagogy laboratory sessions allow students with an interest in digital media production the opportunity to create education-relevant projects, such as lesson plans and new textbooks to showcase the possibilities and problems of teaching in a digital age. Students can explore video production, multi-media authoring, and website creation.
If you’re considering a career in art education, contact the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to explore Masters Degrees. Get more information online at http://www.saic.edu/about.
