Art Education, B.S.

Art education is a perfect choice for students who thrive in creative, collaborative environments. People who choose this meaningful career path love viewing, discussing, and making works of art/design and are passionate about engaging others in the artistic process. Art educators help children and adults discover their own creative capacities and the countless contributions visual artists make to our communities each day.

UWMadison's art education program provides essential preparation for a variety of careers in art education. Students work directly with children and adolescents in both school and community-based field placements in every semester of the program. They study with outstanding art and education faculty in a range of rigorous and engaging studio, art history, curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, and educational policy studies courses, while also connecting with Madisons vibrant arts community through field trips and service learning.

Graduates of our program earn a Bachelor of Science degree, a career-ready Wisconsin teaching license in PK12 art education, and gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to teach the visual arts in public and private schools, at the elementary and secondary levels, in the United States and internationally, and in community settings such as art museums, maker spaces, and senior centers.

Consult the departmental website for additional information about art education.

1. Identify and explore important eras, developments, movements, and theories in historical and contemporary art practice.
2. Identify and analyze the elements and principles of design in the work of other artists and consistently and effectively employ the elements and principles in their own studio work.
3. Develop technical skill, a personal creative practice, and knowledge of the historical and current practices of at least four separate visual art disciplines, including 2D, 3D, 4D, and graphics areas.
4. Examine best practices (historical and contemporary) in art curriculum planning, instruction and assessment, apply knowledge to k-12 curriculum development, and effectively teach art to diverse populations in community and school-based settings.
5. Meet all School of Education Teacher Education Standards and DPI k-12 art licensure requirements (including child development and learning theories, history of American Education, and the role of art in literacy education).

All undergraduate students at UW–Madison must complete the university-wide General Education Requirements, which are designed to convey the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. These requirements provide for breadth across the humanities and arts, social studies, and natural sciences; competence in communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills necessary for success in college and beyond; and investigation of the issues raised by living in a culturally diverse society. This core is intended to provide students with intellectual and practical skills, basic knowledge of human cultures and the physical world, strategies for understanding these topics, and tools intended to contribute to their sense of personal and social responsibility. General Education complements the work students do in their majors and degrees. Together, these requirements help students learn what they need to know not just for making a living, but also for making a life.

Completing the General Education Requirements is an important part of achieving these competencies, and to do so, students choose from many courses in communication, ethnic studies, quantitative reasoning, and breadth of study across disciplines in the natural sciences, humanities, literature, and arts, and social and behavioral sciences.

Completing the General Education Requirements is an important part of achieving these competencies, and to do so, students choose from many courses in communication, ethnic studies, quantitative reasoning, and breadth of study across disciplines in the natural sciences, humanities, literature, and arts, and social and behavioral sciences.

Each school and college may choose to allow General Education courses to count toward other degree and/or major requirements. Students should always check with their advisors to discuss any additional degree requirements and determine if students are required to take specific General Education courses or to complete the requirements in a particular order. Students should review their Degree Audit (DARS) report to see how they are progressing toward fulfilling the General Education requirements. Please refer to.

Art Education Advising

Prospective off-campus and on-campus art education students will meet with the art education program coordinator Dr. Mary Hoefferle, 6241 Humanities Building, 455 North Park Street, [email protected]; 608-772-7016. Students considering art education should contact Dr. Hoefferle as soon as possible. Pre-admission advising is conducted by the Department of Art and advisors in the School of Education Student Services office, see below.

The undergraduate art program advisors are Matthew Mauk, [email protected], and Julie Ganser, [email protected], located at 6241 Humanities Building, 455 North Park Street. Current students can schedule an appointment with either advisor online through the Starfish app in MyUW. Appointments can also be made by contacting either advisor via email or, once the office reopens, by calling 608-262-1660.

General School of Education Advising

Dedicated to supporting and promoting student success, the School of Education Student Services office coordinates a number of student-related services for prospective and current School of Education students in all programs. Student Services staff offer support in academic advising, career advising, mentoring and advocacy for underrepresented and international students, requirements monitoring, interpreting academic policy, and more. Students in the School of Education are encouraged to make Student Services a vital part of their academic and employment journey.

To schedule an appointment: Call 608-262-2651, email [email protected], or stop by 139 Education Building when the office reopens. Current students can schedule an appointment online through the Starfish app in MyUW.

 Career Advising in the School of Education

The School of Education Career Center provides students with the knowledge needed for connecting their classroom experiences with real-world application. Through individual appointments, events, and online resources, the Career Center provides students and alumni with the tools needed to be successful in their career development. From building resumes, conducting job and internship searches, developing interview skills, and negotiation strategies, the Career Center provides a foundation for developing the essential skills for the ever-changing world of work.  

Students can set up their profile on Handshake, the campus online career management system, to find open internships, jobs, and career events.  

Current School of Education students can make an appointment with a Career and Internship Advisor by logging into Starfish from the MyUW dashboard and selecting a day and time that works best with their schedule.

School of Education Alumni can schedule an appointment by completing the appointment request form.

For more information, visit the School of Education Career Center website or reach out at