You will take intro courses and learn how to build a teaching philosophy and curriculum in art while also learning how to develop your interests into an arts-based research thesis.

You will also:

• Begin observations and student teaching at the elementary and middle school level
• Complete all state-mandated workshops
• Take trips to current and relevant museum exhibitions and galleries to encourage literacy through art education

This semester, you will:

• Take test prep workshops to prepare for your New York State teaching certification exams.
• Take courses in specialized content areas, including arts integration, educational psychology and art in technology.
• Complete your student teaching at the high school level and learn how to build art lessons for high school students.
• Develop and present your completed thesis research and art to your peers and school faculty.
• Develop your resume, participate in mock interviews with Career Services and create a website for your artist/educator portfolio.

This semester, you will:

• Traverse New York City for museum and gallery exhibitions showcasing contemporary and profound artists in the field
• Develop your exhibition from start to finish
• Celebrate with a department graduation and exhibition closing reception with your peers and school faculty

In the fall, you will begin observing in local classrooms, plan lessons for children who live in temporary housing shelters, and learn about teaching strategies and trauma-informed teaching.

You will work with SVA’s Curriculum Coordinator to find local schools where you can complete observations and student teaching with skilled art educators whose teaching philosophies and school environments support and challenge you.

You will spend your fall semester student teaching at the elementary and middle school level and your spring semester student teaching at the high school level.

You will also be able to speak with museum educators to learn about creating current exhibitions and attend lectures from leaders in the art education field.

Preparation for working with diverse populations starts with an introduction to the core values of the MAT program: social responsibility, equity, freedom of expression and lifelong learning. You will study:

• Paulo Freire
• John Dewey
• bell hooks
• Maxine Greene

Faculty refer to various diverse and contemporary artists and historical teaching methods from different cultures. In your Curriculum for Community Engagement course, you will spend weeks preparing and teaching art lessons to children who live in transitional housing shelters, honoring the commitment to art education for all children in the community of New York City.

SVA believes in a constant community cycle, starting with information sessions where you can ask alumni questions about the program. Several of the program’s cooperating teachers are SVA alumni who can relate to your experiences.

You will participate in a mock interview with Career Services and get feedback on your interviewing skills before graduation. You are always welcome to come back to the program to meet with your former professors and advisors to discuss any challenges you face in your career, and professors can help you choose future teaching positions.

Lifelong learning is one of the Art Education department's core values. The department believes that educators should be open to learning new skills and adapting to change. All staff are members of the National Art Education Association, including the department chair, who is also the co-chair of the Taskforce for Art Teacher Recruitment and Retention.

In April 2024, the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) awarded SVA's Art Education department full accreditation, acknowledging the program's effective preparation of quality educators.