MAT in Art Education (grades PK-8 and grades 5-12)

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Art Education program prepares art teachers to contribute to our multicultural society. Our students explore art-making and works of art through a variety of cultural, historical, and socio-political lenses, and our graduates make art accessible and sustainable for their students of all ages in diverse communities.

The program is aimed at artists who want to teach in PK-12 schools, after-school programs, or museums. The requirements include student teaching internships at area public schools, fieldwork at the MFA, as well as coursework in art, education, and art education. It is a 12-month program for full-time students, beginning with three courses at Tufts in the summer. During the fall and spring semesters, students take courses at the SMFA and work as interns in area schools, observing at first and working up to full-time student teaching in the spring.

Courses & Requirements

The MAT in Art Education is a 10-12 course program leading to endorsement for an initial teacher license in Massachusetts. Students are encouraged to complete the program as full-time students; the MAT degree is usually completed over 12 months - during two 6-week summer sessions and an academic year (i.e., fall and spring semesters).

Summer Sessions on the Tufts University Campus

• 1 Course in Human Development and Learning:
  • ED 130 Human Development and Learning
• 1 Course in the Social, Cultural, and Historical Foundations of Education (choose one):
  • ED 161 Anthropology and Sociology of Schooling
  • ED 162 Critical Histories of U.S. Education
• 1 Course in Exceptionalities in Learning:
  • ED 142 Education of the Exceptional Child
  • ED 191B The Exceptional Child and Art Pedagogy

Fall Semester at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts

• 1 Course in Art Education Foundations (choose one depending on the track)
  • EDS 175 Art Education Foundations, Pre-K-8
  • EDS 177 Art Education Foundations, 5-12
• 1 Course in Field Studies in Art Education - This includes Pre-practicum internships which are comprised of 1 day per week in the public school and 1 session per week in the Museum children's studios (choose one depending on the track):
  • EDS 179 Field Studies in Art Education, Pre-K-8
  • EDS 180 Field Studies in Art Education, 5-12
• 2 Studio Art Courses

Spring Semester in the full-time student teaching internship with 2 courses at SMFA at Tufts.

• 1 Course in Art Education Curriculum (choose one depending on the track):
  • EDS 176 Grades Pre-K-8
  • EDS 178 Grades 5-12
• 1 Full-Time Student Teaching Practicum, 5 days a week, and Seminar on Student Teaching (choose one depending on the track):
  • EDS 173 Student Teaching in Art, Pre-K-8
  • EDS 174 Student Teaching in Art, 5-12

Field Placement

We help you find a school site placement that meets your pre-professional preparation needs, and we solidify placements by the end of June and begin the process as soon as you enroll in our program.

• Step 1: Think about what grade level you hope to teach and what type of school district interests you.
• Step 2: As soon as you are admitted and enroll in the program, we discuss your thoughts about the field placement and potential supervising practitioner and school sites.
• Step 3: We schedule a visit with the recommended supervising practitioner. We recommend that you spend a day visiting the school in order to observe classes, meet with the supervising practitioner, and get a sense of the school culture. If you are not going to be in the Boston area until after the end of the school year, the potential supervising practitioner and you are introduced by phone, email, or Skype.

Objectives

• To develop critical, scholarly knowledge and reflective, pedagogic skills and consider the role of art in the lives of PK-12 school students and their communities.
• To consider art education in a multicultural context and interdisciplinary perspective.
• To explore various art education philosophies in order to inform teaching and learning.
• To expand studio art and technology skills.
• To address the needs of all PK-12 students by means of differentiated instruction and a variety of appropriate art materials and media.
• To learn how to effectively collaborate with museum educators and cultural organizations.
• To meet all program requirements in order to be eligible to apply for the Massachusetts Teacher License in Visual Art at the Initial Level (for either PK-8 or 5-12 grade levels).
• To be prepared to enter professional teaching communities in PK-12 schools and be knowledgeable of employment opportunities, job search processes, professional portfolios, and interview skills.