The blended B.S./M.S.Ed. dual degree in Art Education allows students to be eligible for meeting the schooling requirements for professional certification as Art educators in 146 credits as opposed to the typical 150+. We do this by making graduate coursework and some graduate studio coursework available in the Senior year of their undergraduate experience for students who qualify by GPA and program director approval; this enables earlier entry into the master’s level coursework and completion of the graduate portion in a more timely manner.
We teach our students that teaching art is an art form. Using an artist/teacher model, students are knowledgeable of and competent in a wide range of media, art history, criticism, and aesthetics. Students learn by doing. Students experience a variety of “real-life” teaching labs, practicums, and student teaching with diverse student populations.
Nazareth College prepares art teachers who take a constructivist approach to teaching by creating meaningful, conceptual art experiences for their students, reflecting critically on their teaching practice, and promoting the role of visual art in the educational process. The art education program is accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council and strives to meet the National Art Education Association’s Standards for Art Teacher Preparation.
Undergraduate art education majors must maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.0. Students’ GPAs are monitored each semester. A GPA of 3.0 in the subject area is required to continue into the graduate level work. Students will be evaluated in AED 307 Concepts in Art Education for recommendation to continue into graduate level coursework.
In addition to the art education program courses, students must complete the New York State certification examinations required for certification:
1.Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAST)
2.Assessment of Teaching Skills – Written (ATSW) (Because art certification is B-12, students may take either the Elementary or the Secondary version of the exam.)
3.Content Area – Visual Arts (CST)
4.Transfer students must complete a minimum of five studio art courses at Nazareth College.
Undergraduate students are accepted to the art education major at the time of acceptance to Nazareth College. The criteria/cut off point for students to be considered as an internal program change or external transfer student is best determined by the Spring semester of the Sophmore year. Decisions to accept or deny will be based on the applicant’s transcript.
Upon completion of the B.S./M.S.Ed. degree program, graduates are eligible to apply for NYS Initial Certification, Art - B-12.
Requirements for New York Initial Teacher Certification
All teacher candidates must successfully complete the following to meet the requirements for New York teacher certification:
• Academic and education program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• All education course work with a grade of C+ or higher
• New York State teacher certification examinations
A minimum of three exams need to be passed:
• Liberal Arts and Science Test (LAST)
• Written Assessment of Teaching Skills (ATS-W)
• Content Specialty Test (CST)
See www.naz.edu/dept/edu/certification.cfm for details, suggested timelines for these exams and costs.
Teacher candidates use the NYS TEACH system to apply for Initial certification(s) and need to pay the fees in effect at the time they apply. New York requires all teacher candidates to have fingerprint/background check on file with TEACH and pass all appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations www.nystce.nesinc.com. New York State Education Department maintains a website with certification requirements: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/
During a teacher candidate’s final semester information on the application process will be sent via email. Additional support may be obtained by contacting the Nazareth College Teacher Certification Office at 389-2592 or 2591 or e-mail gpotemp2@naz.edu or chill0@naz.edu, www.naz.edu/dept/edu/certification.cfm
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