About the Program
The Science of Learning Translated into the Art of Teaching
In order to develop into a great first-year teacher, pre-service teachers must be ignited by ideas of teaching and learning beyond their own personal experieince, be involved in a deep practice of the craft and science of teaching, and be carefully coached and mentored in that practice. Arcadia University’s School of Education programs are guided by these beliefs and the research that supports them. Our professors are dedicated to designing meaningful and rich courses connected to essential fieldwork. Students are mentored by classroom teachers, professors, and supervisors.
Arcadia University Education students will:
- Hone their teaching skills through mentored guided practice, starting in their very first Education course.
- Enjoy camaraderie, idea sharing, and collaboration with other students and faculty in Arcadia’s close-knit undergraduate programs.
- Have the opportunity to explore global learning and teaching experiences through Arcadia’s accessible and acclaimed study abroad program
At the end of their undergraduate studies, pre-service teachers will have the skills needed to design meaningful and rich learning opportunities for PreK-12 students, as well as a sophisticated understanding of 21st Century teaching and learning.
School of Education Program Highlights
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Students enjoy developing as teaching artists, earning a B.F.A. and a Minor in Education
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Our Art PK12 certification is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)
- Extensive fieldwork and student teaching partnerships with urban and suburban schools
- Opportunities to study abroad
- Institutional grants to collaborate with faculty on research and opportunities to present at regional, national, and international conferences
- Membership opportunities in honorary societies such as Kappa Delta Pi International Education Honorary Society in Education and Phi Kappa Phi Arcadia University Honor Society
- Student memberships in state and local professional education organizations such as the Pennsylvania State Education Association
- Students have the option of an early entry master’s degree program; in which they start taking graduate courses as early as the spring of their junior year. Students must apply separately to this program with Arcadia University’s School of Education
- Graduates of Arcadia’s Education program have been employed across the nation and in international locations.
About Art Education and Teacher Certification
At Arcadia, Art Education combines a traditional B.F.A. in Art including a studio concentration with courses in professional education and field work specific to teaching and learning art across the range of PreK to 12th grade. Students should declare the Education Minor as soon as possible. Students in this program complete teaching certification requirements in PK-12 Art Education through twenty-two credits beyond the normal B.F.A. degree. Completing requirements for PK-12 Teacher Certification plus a B.F.A. normally takes four and a half years. The School of Education has found that ambitious students may be able to complete the coursework in four years by taking courses during summer sessions. Teacher Certification candidates are generally not enrolled in any other coursework during their student teaching (ED 419 Practicum) semester.
The B.F.A. in Art plus PK-12 Teacher Certification program prepares students for careers as art educators with foundation knowledge in Studio Art: Foundations, Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Metals and Jewelry, Digital Imaging, Graphic Design, and Art History. Students experience a broad range of materials, approaches and processes, and are well-prepared to step into a variety of teaching situations after graduation, in public or private school, community organizations, and other art education opportunities. Students gain a wide range of studio experience; students are also required to take three Art History classes that provide the rich kinds of understanding and appreciation for art and art-making that they will one day facilitating in their own students, via a foundation both broad and global, as well as providing practice in the techniques and uses of criticism, and theory. As part of the B.F.A. requirement, students develop close relationships with Arcadia’s outstanding studio art faculty, select a chosen studio area of concentration for advanced-level studio mentoring, and prepare a Senior Thesis exhibition in that concentration.
Arcadia’s Teacher Certification candidates complete a full semester of full-time student teaching in two settings (one PK-6th grade and one in secondary 7th-12th grade). Prior to the student teaching practicum, candidates are required to spend one day per week in Art Education placements across two semesters. As part of the early courses, candidates are placed in several schools and are observed teaching and organizing a vibrant art learning environment; feedback on their lesson development and assessment skills helps students to feel more than ready for the later placements and eventual, full-time student teaching practicum, during which they are responsible for completely taking over professional teaching responsibilities.
Arcadia actively recruits high quality cooperating teachers through a collaborative process with Arcadia’s partner schools and school districts. Principals and school district administrators identify cooperating teachers who utilize best practices in the classroom. These qualities include a history of working at the grade level for three or more years, having proficient and/or distinguished ratings on their teacher evaluations, and a desire to support the growth and development of pre-student teachers and student teachers (Practicum) across two semesters.
Students work closely with their Advisers on course scheduling and meeting necessary requirements.
Advisers: Maryann Worrell and Carole Loeffler (Art & Design) and Peter Appelbaum (Education)
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