Art Program Information and Admission Requirements

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• Art Education - Master of Arts in Education Degree
• ART Courses
• Department of Art and Art History

Master of Arts in Education: 36 Hours

• A maximum of 9 semester hours (by department approval) can be transferred in from another accredited institution.
• A maximum of 6 semester hours can be completed through independent study.

The student must complete a "change of program" form because all transfer classes will require a review by the graduate office. Any studio courses which the student wishes to transfer to UNK for credit will have the same requirements as the review of the undergraduate studio work. Slides must represent only the work completed in those graduate studios. A copy of the course syllabus is recommended.

The Master of Art in Education - Art Education degree does not lead to certification or a field endorsement. Students who are seeking certification or a field endorsement must contact the Teacher Education Department. Certification and field endorsements require the student to meet all department, university, and state requirements.

Option 1: Online Program: Art Education Research Paper

The Art Education research paper option is designed to meet the needs of those individuals who are remotely located. The research paper is the only option for online degree completion. In the research paper option, students will choose an art education topic and according to established criteria, write a scholarly paper. The paper will be reviewed by three or more faculty members. The research paper will fulfill the requirements for the comprehensive examination.

Option 2: Online/On Campus Program: Art Education Research Paper or Thesis in Art Education

The combination online/on campus program offers the Research Paper option listed above or a thesis option. The thesis option is much more rigorous than the research paper option. In addition to coursework, students will design and conduct original research in art education and write a scholarly paper. The student will culminate the degree requirements through a successful oral defense of the thesis and any of the required coursework covering the major areas of study and/or by passing a comprehensive written examination. The thesis option prepares the student for pursuing a terminal degree (Ed.D., Ph.D.). It is recommended that the thesis student take courses on campus whenever possible to fully benefit from the academic rigor of the university environment. The thesis option can only be completed by successfully passing a UNK on campus research methods course or by transferring in an equivalent course.

Format of Examinations

The written examination (thesis option) is in an essay format. The intent of this process is for the student to demonstrate the ability to transfer knowledge from various areas of the degree to provide solutions to problems or questions asked during the exam.

The oral defense (thesis option) will be compiled of questions formulated from both the coursework and the thesis document. All members of the students' thesis committee will submit questions and an open invitation for questions from qualified attendees will be solicited.

Retake of Examinations

The culminating written and/or oral defense may be attempted only twice. The retake of the examination may be scheduled no earlier than the following semester. The second written examination will also be a synthesis level essay examination. The oral defense will require scheduling a time for the examination on campus. The time and location will be arranged by the student in consultation with the advisor.

Program Admission Requirements

Acceptance into the Department of Graduate Studies and Research does not assure acceptance into the Master of Arts in Education - Art Education degree program.

In addition to the general graduate application requirements of the Department of Graduate Studies and Research, admission to the Master of Arts in Education Degree program in Art Education is based upon consideration of the following:

1. Transcript for an accredited BA or BS degree in Art Education, or a BFA, BA or BS in a visual art degree program. These degrees must have a minimum of 24 semester hours of art/art history/ art education courses. (Students with an undergraduate degree in a related discipline, such as Museum Studies or Art History, will be considered by the graduate committee based upon the relevancy of the student's transcript and the strength of the written statement).
2. Portfolio Review. This requirement applies only to the students who are applying to the combined online/on campus program. This requirement does not apply to the online degree program applicants. Portfolio Review can include undergraduate and/or graduate studio work. The portfolio must include 15 professional quality slides or digital images on a CD. In most cases, graduate students cannot take a graduate level studio course unless the student has completed that studio at the undergraduate level or has demonstrated an equivalent proficiency. However, final decisions rest with the studio faculty and graduate committee.
3. All applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from individuals (not related to the applicant) who are familiar with and can attest to the student's professional qualities and academic potential.
4. A current resume and a statement by the applicant elaborating the reasons for pursuing advanced studies in art education. The statement should be two to four pages in length using standard margins and font.
5. All required application materials must be completed and delivered to the Art Department office (301 FAB) by the appropriate deadline. The applicant must provide a stamped self-addressed envelope for the return of slides or CD.

Application Deadlines* are as Follows:

• Apply by June 15 to be admitted for the Fall semester.
• Apply by October 15 to be admitted for the Spring semester.
• Apply by March 15 to be admitted for the Summer semester.

Upon acceptance into the program the Graduate Committee will appoint a major professor. Upon completion of six hours of course work the student's status will be evaluated and again at the completion of twelve hours. Based upon satisfactory performance at twelve hours the major professor will make recommendations for admission to candidacy. Thesis students will need to consult the Art Department's graduate handbook for thesis committee requirements.

Technology Requirements

1. Availability of a good quality digital camera.
2. Students who are entering the program must determine if the computer system on which they intend to complete online course work meets the minimum necessary UNK requirements for delivery. Please check the UNK webpage for a complete description of required equipment.
3. A strong working knowledge of blackboard. An on-line tutorial is available and should be completed prior to the beginning of any on-line courses. Check with individual professors for their requirements.

Corrected application deadlines posted in January 2011.