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Art Education

As an educator, you will have the privilege and challenge of teaching future generations. Grand View's accredited education program is committed to the preparation of teachers of excellence. It is a dynamic and respected teacher-preparation program. Education faculty, in partnership with practicing teachers, model effective teaching and classroom management. Students spend at least two semesters in supervised in-school settings in preparation for the student teaching experience. You'll also learn critical thinking and problem solving strategies and will be coached in the development of a personal teaching philosophy.

Whatever life experiences have made you consider becoming a teacher, Grand View can help you become a great one. Here, you’ll get the knowledge and experience to become a reflective, compassionate, and socially conscious teacher—with the power to create real, long-term change in the communities where you live and work.

Grand View University offers college credit for students who have earned the Iowa Seal of Biliteracy.

Discover Student Success Stories

Degree Level:

Undergraduate Programs

Program Type:

Major

Format:

Full Time, In-Person

Program Catalog Visit Apply Contact

Why Grand View?

Faculty members nurture individual students while holding them accountable on their path to becoming a professional educator.
We are uniquely positioned in Des Moines, Iowa, which allows students to experience urban, suburban and rural classrooms in practicum and student teaching.
Committed to developing teachers who are empowered to meet the diverse needs of today's students.
The Grand View teacher education program is accredited by the Iowa Department of Education.
Earn graduate credit: eligible undergrads can dual-enroll in up to six hours of graduate coursework to count toward both their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Student Testimonial

Dr. Jaclyn Easter

“Dr. Easter has gone above and beyond for me on too many occasions to mention. She has encouraged me to present with her at a statewide teacher's conference, encouraged me to take multiple education practicum opportunities, and has overall pushed me to be the strong, confident student teacher I am today. She is truly an amazing woman. My Grand View experience simply would not have been nearly as remarkable without her. That is why Dr. Easter is absolutely deserving of the mentor appreciation award.” - Madison Green

Aaron Tinder

“Aaron has been a huge motivator, supporter, and mentor in the months that I have been at Grand View. I'm not sure that I would have found my career path if it weren't for Aaron. I knew I wanted to be a teacher, but I wasn't completely sure. He described the way I fit perfectly into the role of a high school art teacher. He mentioned how he sees my abilities in my interaction with my classmates. His support and direction solidified my idea and made me excited to graduate and to get out into the workforce. He supports every good idea, adjusts and guides when necessary, and provides all the tools that I need to succeed. I greatly appreciate his open mind, his dedication to myself and my peers, and his ability to see creativity everywhere.” - Chloe Vogel

Degree Combinations

You may also be interested in one or more of the following:

Program Details

Students who are interested in Art Education (K-12) must earn a minimum 3.0 GPA in a prescribed liberal arts pre-education program and have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA before they are formally admitted to the teacher education program of the University. (See Pre-Education Program and Application for Admission to Teacher Education sections of the catalog). Art Education students must earn a minimum 3.0 GPA in coursework required for the major (including ARTS pre-requisites) and a minimum 3.0 GPA in coursework required for each additional endorsement pursued. A grade of B or above must be earned in designated courses, and students must earn a grade of C or above in all other courses required for the major, each endorsement, and prerequisite courses. Students must earn a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in all college work. Any request for a change in the sequence of curriculum for the Art Education Program must be submitted to the Education and Art Department chairs for consideration by the faculty of both departments. Successful completion of these requirements and all other University graduation requirements will lead to program completion, which is required for recommendation for licensure in most states including Iowa.

Course Requirements (78-79 credits)

Pre-education Requirements/Pre-requisites for courses in the major: Minimum 3.0 GPA required (9 credits toward the major plus 12-14 credits toward General Education Core Requirements)

ENGL 101 or ENGL 220	First Year Composition or Academic English for Multilingual Students II	3 credits or 4 credits
A math course	Must meet GV General Ed Core	3 credits
A science course	Must meet GV General Ed Core	3-4 credits
PSYC 101	General Psychology	3 credits
SPCH 103 or SPCH 126	Making Connections or Speaking of Faith and Meaning	3 credits
EDUC 111	Introduction to Education	3 credits
EDUC 146	Psychology and Development for Educators	3 credits

*These courses will not be counted in computing the GPA for the major, unless required for the content major or endorsements sought.

Additional Prerequisites for the major: 12 credits

ARTS 101	Foundations of Drawing I	3 credits
ARTS 102	Foundations of Drawing II	3 credits
ARTS 103	Principles of Design I	3 credits
ARTS 104	Principles of Design II	3 credits

Remaining Requirements for Art Education majors (68-69 credits):

EDUC 342	Pedagogies of Exceptional Learners	3 credits
EDUC 243 or EDUC 244	Instructional Planning & Assessment or Planning and Assessment for Art, Music, and Physical Education	3 credits 2 credits
EDUC 280	Social Issues in Education	3 credits
ARTS 366 or ARTS 245 or ARTS 261**	Advanced Digital Imaging or Interactive Design I or Graphic Design I	3 credits each
ARTS 319	Art Methods for Elementary Schools	3 credits
EDUC 306 or EDUC 307	Education Practicum: Primary Elementary (Grades K-3) or Education Practicum: Intermediate Elementary (Grades 4-6)	2 credits each
ARTS 320	Art Methods for Secondary Schools	3 credits
EDUC 415	Mental Health First Aid/Trauma-Informed Care	1 credit
EDUC 421	Content Area Reading	3 credits
EDUC 442	Elementary Classroom Management	2 credits

Take 9 credits of Art History from:

ARTS 231	Survey of the History of Art I	3 credits
ARTS 232	Survey of the History of Art II	3 credits
ARTS/ENGL 330	Visual Culture and Rhetoric	3 credits
ARTS 340	The History of Graphic Design	3 credits
ARTS 342	Twentieth Century Art History	3 credits
ARTS 431	Special Topics in Art History	3 credits

Take 9 credits of studio courses selected from ONE of the three studio areas listed below:

ARTS 221	Beginning Painting I	3 credits
ARTS 222	Beginning Painting II	3 credits
ARTS 321	Intermediate Painting I	3 credits
ARTS 322	Intermediate Painting II	3 credits

Or:

ARTS 201	Intermediate Drawing I	3 credits
ARTS 202	Intermediate Drawing II	3 credits
ARTS 331	Advanced Drawing I	3 credits
ARTS 332	Advanced Drawing II	3 credits

Or:

ARTS 261**	Graphic Design I	3 credits
ARTS 265	Graphic Design II	3 credits
ARTS 300	Graphic Design III	3 credits
ARTS 361	Graphic Design IV	3 credits

Take 12 credits of Studio Electives (from areas other than the studio major) from:

6 credits of two-dimensional studio classes (drawing, painting, graphic design, printmaking)

		3 credits
ARTS		3 credits
ARTS		3 credits

And 6 credits of three-dimensional studio classes (3D design, sculpture, ceramics, bookbinding)

ARTS		3 credits
ARTS		3 credits

Take 12 credits of student teaching (take six credits of each):

EDUC 420
Elementary Student Teaching
6 credits

EDUC 425
Secondary Student Teaching
6 credits

Earn a Master's degree in Education in 5 years with Grand View's 4+1 program

Grand View University offers a 4+1 program where you can earn a Master of Education in just five years. Program participants begin taking graduate level courses while still working on their undergraduate degree. After obtaining a bachelor's degree, 4+1 program participants will complete the remaining courses within a year - each course running eight weeks. Participants are encouraged to begin teaching during this time.

4+1 Program Timeline

Freshman & Sophomore year	Take undergraduate classes as normal (Now is a great time to begin talking with your academic advisor about your interest in the 4+1)
Junior year	Apply to 4+1 program
Junior year	Begin taking graduate courses alongside undergraduate classes
End of senior year	Graduate with bachelor's degree
End of senior year	Begin regular teaching job
First year of teaching	Complete remaining courses, obtain master's degree

Application Requirements

Must be at junior status before applying and must apply no later than the semester before you expect to graduate with your undergraduate degree.
A Grand View cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a 3.5 cumulative GPA in your education courses is required
Request 3 letters of recommendation: 2 should be from education faculty and 1 can be someone of your choosing. You will request these when you complete the graduate application.
Complete the “Assessment of Dispositional Professional Qualities” with the Education Department
You must demonstrate proficiency in writing through submission of an essay and/or score on a standardized writing exam (such as the CBASE). If you take the CBASE exam you must earn a score of four or higher.
You must be a member in good standing of the Education Program and not on a plan for improvement.

Applicants who do not meet all four of the requirements may still be considered for admission to the program on a case-by-case basis. In these instances, the applicant will be interviewed by the department’s Admission Committee.

Students who are considering this program need to plan carefully as the program requires students to take full loads and perhaps courses in the summer. They are encouraged to begin working with an Education Department advisor as early as possible.

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Tuition & Scholarships

At Grand View University, your tuition supports instruction delivered by knowledgeable and experienced faculty who uphold our tradition of exceptional teaching. Additionally, we are dedicated to offering a high-quality education at the most affordable cost.

Transfer Credits

No matter what major you’re thinking about, you may be able to transfer in as many as 75 credits from a community college or junior college. If you have an A.A. or A.A.S. from an Iowa community college, you will be automatically admitted at junior status.

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Is Art Education Right for You?

Talented artist? Great with kids? Enjoy inspiring others to create? Become an art teacher! You’ll graduate with the ability to guide others to artistic fulfillment.

You'll choose a studio area to study in depth -- drawing, painting or graphic design. You'll learn and be able to demonstrate best practices in the teaching of Art and as a teacher, bring to your students your passion for art and your own love of learning.

Did You Know?

Upon successful completion of the required curriculum of 130 credits, you are recommended to the State of Iowa Board of Educational Examiners for licensure in Elementary Education.

Return on Your Investment

At Grand View, we believe the best way to become a successful elementary school teacher is to spend four years as an active participant in preschool to sixth-grade classrooms.

Your experiences in Des Moines metropolitan area schools will begin during your first year of study and continue until you graduate with the skills needed to be a licensed instructor.

As one of the largest programs of our kind in the Midwest, we have partnerships with school districts, offering our students the opportunity to student teach and engage in field experiences at small, large, urban, rural, public and private schools.