Five-Year BFA/MA in Art Education with Initial License
Undergraduate students who wish to major in graphic design, painting, printmaking, or sculpture but would also like to obtain state licensure to teach art in the public schools can combine an undergraduate studio art major (BFA) with a Master of Arts (MA) in Art Education with Initial License. This master’s program includes all licensure requirements.
Completing the BFA and MA degrees within five years can be accomplished by taking graduate courses during the first four years in addition to undergrad coursework. This program meets the standards set forth in the Massachusetts regulations for both initial and ensuing professional licensure.
Recommended Program of Study
The following courses are needed to meet state licensing requirements and should be taken during the BFA degree as liberal arts or studio electives. They will count toward the 132 credits required for the BFA degree.
| Design or Technology: CFA AR 123, 210, 225, 385, 389, 527, 581, 589 | 4 cr |
| CAS PS 101 General Psychology | 4 cr |
| CFA AR 470 Ceramics | 4 cr |
| Photography: CFA AR 415, 508, 515 | 4 cr |
| Printmaking: CFA AR 250, 251, 270, 425, 447, 448, 451, 452, 517, 518 | 4 cr |
The following courses are required for the MA in Art Education with Initial License degree and are also taken during the sophomore, junior, and senior years. These 20 credits do not apply toward the 132 credits required for the BFA degree; they are held in reserve until the student enters the graduate program in the fifth year. Therefore, students pursuing this program must take a total of 152 credits during their first four years (132 BFA credits, plus 20 MA credits).
In most cases, BFA/MA students will take summer courses and overload during their first four years in order to fit in their required courses. There is flexibility in the suggested course sequence below for students who wish to study abroad.
| Graduate courses taken during sophomore, junior, and senior years | |
| CFA AR 586 Child Growth and Development (fall only) | 4 cr |
| CFA AR 559 Contemporary Issues in Art Education (fall only) | 2 cr |
| CFA AR 567 Special Populations (spring only) | 2 cr |
| CFA AR 566 Processes and Structures (spring only) | 4 cr |
| CFA AR 864 Elementary Methods of Art Education (fall only) | 4 cr |
| CFA AR 866 Secondary Methods of Art Education (spring only) | 4 cr |
The fifth year of the program is taken as a graduate student in the MA in Art Education with Initial License program and follows the completion of the BFA in graphic design, painting, printmaking, or sculpture.
| Fifth Year | |
| CFA AR 563 Practicum Seminar Pre-K–8 | 2 cr |
| CFA AR 765 Practicum Pre-K–8 | 4 cr |
| CFA AR 564 Practicum Seminar 5–12 | 2 cr |
| CFA AR 766 Practicum 5–12 | 4 cr |
| CFA AR 865 Visual Arts Pre-K–12 Curriculum Design and Writing | 4 cr |
| CFA AR 767 Clinical Practicum | 4 cr |
| Education or Studio elective | 2 cr |
For the Education or Studio elective, students select a course in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor. Courses from which a student may select include but are not limited to:
- CFA AR 548 Principles of Painting Tech. 2
- CFA AR 589 Interactive Design
- CFA AR 594 Graphic Design Theory
- CFA AR 597 Experience Design
- CFA AR 747 Advanced Printmaking
- SED AP 526 Family and Community Engagement
- SED CT 534 A Practical Approach to Classroom Management
- SED DS 502 Adolescent Development
- SED SO 520 Project Citizen: Promoting Civic Engagement
- SED SE 504 An Introduction to Early Childhood Disabilities
- SED SE 505 An Introduction to Severe Disabilities
- SED SE 510 Special Education Curriculum and Instruction
- SED SE 534 Classroom Behavior Management
- SED SE 535 Understand Autism
Students can also take a Directed Study 2-credit course with a studio professor of their choice.