Art Education
Art Education Program Overview
The online MA in Art Education provides the same rigorous curriculum as the campus-based program. This distance-learning program is designed for Pre-K-12 art educators in public and private schools, museums, and enrichment classes who wish to continue with graduate study in the field of art education.
Licensed art education teachers who complete an art education master’s degree at Kent State University develop a focused competence in the visual arts as well as an intellectual understanding of the history and current issues of the field of art education. Students complete a course on quantitative and qualitative approaches to research and then select to do a research study with a thesis or a master’s project option.
Our program addresses all of the visual arts, as defined by the National Art Education Association, to include both contemporary art and design. Addressing both will prepare you to make a powerful contribution in guiding students in their cognitive, social, and emotional development as they prepare for college, careers and citizenry.
Graduates will develop a focused competence in the visual arts as well as an intellectual understanding of the history and current issues of the field of art education. The program at Kent State provides coursework in studio practice and art history in conjunction with theoretical research in art education pedagogy. Once the candidacy exam is passed, students may choose a thesis or project option as a capstone experience. The thesis culminates in a document that is based on scholarly research on an art education-related topic. The master’s project involves research that focuses on participant/researcher studies in curriculum, classroom settings, grant implementation, and/or community-based projects.
Accreditation: An accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the School of Art offers degree programs in Art Education that are approved.
Program Structure
- 30 minimum credits
- Most courses are 3 credits with 6 credits required for either the non-thesis option or the thesis option
- The non-thesis option is appropriate for students in contexts in which research can be completed on their own practice, in most cases in their own art classrooms or other educational venues
Art Education Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university1
- Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale
- Official transcript(s)
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
- Goal statement that focuses on the philosophy of art education
- Portfolio
- Three letters of recommendation
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
- Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
- Minimum 77 MELAB score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 Duolingo Test score
1Preference is given to the applicant holding a B.A., B.F.A. or B.S. degree in Art Education.
For more information about graduate admissions, please visit the Graduate Studies admission website. For more information on international admission, visit the Office of Global Education’s admission website.
Art Education Courses
Courses for the online MA in Art Education cover a range of topics relevant for educators who wish to teach art in a PK-12 setting. These include theoretical and practical approaches to art education, as well as a research seminar detailing prevailing academic trends within the field. Students may elect to complete a 6-credit thesis or a combination of a research project and an elective course in order to fulfill all graduation requirements for this program.
Art Education Tuition and Fees
Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
| $571.90 | $1,715.70 | $17,200 part-time1 $12,500 full-time2 |
Non-Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
| $581.90 | $1,745.70 | $17,500 part-time3 $12,600-$12,700 full-time4 |
1The $571.90 per-credit-hour tuition rate applies to part-time Ohio resident graduate students taking fewer than 11 credit hours per semester.
2The flat-rate semester fee of $6,277.40 applies to full-time Ohio resident graduate students taking between 11-18 credit hours per semester.
3The $581.90 per-credit-hour tuition rate applies to part-time non-Ohio resident graduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking fewer than 11 credit hours per semester, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour.
4The flat-rate semester fee of $6,277.40 applies to full-time non-Ohio resident graduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking between 11-18 credit hours, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour of actual credits taken each semester (between 11-18 semester credits or $110-$180).
An additional Distance Learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change.
Actual tuition costs may vary based on a student’s chosen academic plan. For a complete listing of tuition rates for approved online programs please contact the One Stop for Student Services at 330-672-6000, or via our website Contact Us link.
The total program costs are estimates and are not final or binding. Program costs are based on standard fees, but fees may vary based on the actual classes taken. Kent State University disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance upon these program cost estimates by any person. Program costs are subject to change without notice.
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