The Department of Art and Design offers a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree with a major in Art Education and two sub-concentrations candidates may apply to: (A) MAT-AE Teacher Certification in Art (Preschool-Grade 12); and, (B) MAT-AE/TSD Teacher Certification in Art and Teacher of Students with Disabilities (Preschool-Grade 12.) The Department of Art and Design also offers a Post-Bachelor’s Certificate-only program for students wishing to obtain certification to teach art but not seeking a master’s degree.
Each program is designed to prepare highly qualified teacher candidates for our nation’s schools with goals that are essentially two-fold:
- To induct students who identify with, and who would inculcate qualities that are in line with, the University’s Portrait of a Teacher philosophy; and
- To provide students the opportunity to acquire a broad range of basic and advanced knowledge and skills in studio art, art history and pedagogy in order to comprehensively guide and deepen the artistic development of children in pre-school through grade-12.
Candidates applying to the programs must have completed a bachelor’s degree. Depending upon the undergraduate visual arts courses that a candidate has satisfied at the time of application, programs may be completed in three to five full-time semesters.
The Department of Art and Design offers three graduate-level art and education programs:
- MA in Teaching, Art Education Concentration with Teacher Certification in Art (Preschool-Grade 12)
- MA in Teaching, Art Education Concentration with Dual Teacher Certification in Art and Teacher of Students with Disabilities (Preschool-Grade 12)
- Post-Baccalaureate Program –Teacher Certification in Art (no MA)
Master of Arts in Teaching with Teacher Certification in Art (P- 12) (MAT–AE)
The MAT–AE is a professional option within the Master of Arts in Teaching program for students wanting to teach art in the public schools.
Students will participate in a combination of professional education courses and field experiences, including student teaching, basic and advanced studio and art history courses, and art classroom methods relevant to teaching pre-school through grade 12.
The MAT–AE student must sit for a comprehensive examination before attaining the master’s degree. Upon successful completion of the program and passing the exam, candidates are then recommended to the New Jersey Department of Education for a teaching certificate. (Students interested in teaching in other states should seek information from appropriate state authorities. New Jersey has reciprocity agreements with 40 other states.)
Curriculum and Course Descriptions Links —
MAT-AE students must complete pre-requisite and required coursework and professional fieldwork. Curriculum, course descriptions and other requirements may be found through the links below:
- Teaching, with Teacher Certification in Art (Preschool-Grade 12) (MAT)
- Teacher Education Program Overview
Master of Arts in Teaching with Teacher Certification in Art and Teacher of Students with Disabilities (P-12) (MAT–AE/TSD)
The MAT-AE/TSD is a professional degree option within the Master of Arts in Teaching program for students wanting to teach art in public schools to mainstream, inclusive and/or self-contained student populations.
Students will participate in a combination of professional education courses and field experiences, including student teaching, basic and advanced studio and art history classes, and art classroom methods relevant to teaching pre-school through grade 12 and students with disabilities.
Students take courses in best practices of planning and providing developmentally appropriate instruction for students with special needs and/or disabilities.
The MAT-AE/TSD student must sit for a comprehensive examination as part of the master’s degree. Upon successful completion of the program and passing the exam candidates are recommended to the New Jersey Department of Education for the initial teaching certificates in P-12 art and teacher of students with disabilities. (Students interested in teaching in other states should seek information from the appropriate state authorities. New Jersey has reciprocity agreements with 40 states.)
Curriculum and Course Descriptions Links —
MAT-AE/TSD students must complete prerequisite and required coursework and professional fieldwork in order to graduate from this major. Curriculum, course descriptions and other requirements may be found through the links below:
- Teaching, with Teacher Certification in Art (Preschool-Grade 12) and Teacher of Students with Disabilities (MAT)
- Teacher Education Program Overview
Post-Baccalaureate Art Education Program; Teacher Certification in Art (POSTBAAE)
The POSTBAAE is an option within the overall post-BA program, intended for students seeking professional teaching licensure without a master’s degree.
Students will participate in a combination of professional education courses and field experiences, including student teaching, basic and advanced studio and art history classes, and art classroom methods relevant to teaching pre-school through grade-12.
Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be recommended to the New Jersey Department of Education for a teaching certificate. (Students interested in teaching in other states should seek information from the appropriate state authorities. New Jersey has reciprocity agreements with 40 other states.) No graduate degree is awarded through this option.
Curriculum and Course Descriptions Links —
Students must complete required coursework and professional fieldwork in order to graduate in this major. Curriculum, course descriptions and other requirements may be found through the links below:
The faculty in the Departments of Art and Design and Curriculum and Teaching include scholar-practitioners with expertise across art and other content areas, Special Education, and Educational Technology, among other fields. Collectively they foster the University’s long and proud history of preparing highly qualified teachers who model clear and compelling standards for what constitutes good teaching, learning and teaching.
Faculty Directory Links
The Department of Art and Design occupies several buildings on campus that house fully equipped facilities for all art areas. Outside of the department, students take their education classes in University Hall, the University’s recently constructed, largest academic facility.
Facilities Link
Throughout their course of study, students in all programs, including Art Education, create work using a variety of media and studio techniques.
- Phone:
- 973-655-4210
- Email:
- heardd@montclair.edu