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Art Education

Master's

Overview

Application Requirements

MA Teaching Licensure Disclosure

Director's Message

Faculty

Related Programs

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Application Deadlines

Fall: Jan 15
Spring: n/a
Summer: n/a

School/Department

Education

Program Director

Patricia Palmer, ad interim

Contact

gradadmissions@tufts.edu

Location

Boston SMFA Campus

Format

Hybrid

Commitment Options

Full-time
Part-time (Daytime)

Average Duration

12-16 months

Credits

Tuition per Credit

$1233

Eligible for Aid/Scholarship

Yes

Overview

Our 12-month Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education prepares artists to teach in schools, art centers, non-profits, and/or museums as they cultivate their identities and practices as educators, artists, and researchers in our diverse communities. You'll take courses in education, art education, and studio art, taught by faculty from both the Tufts Department of Education and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts.

This program includes courses taken in-person and online and can be completed full-time in 12 months. Coursework begins in the summer with four courses that are offered remotely. During the fall and spring semesters, students take studio courses at the SMFA, student-teach in Boston area PK-12 schools, take art education seminars and assist in children's art classes at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Program Outcomes

This program will help you develop critical, scholarly knowledge and reflective, pedagogic skills through the lens of culturally responsive education while considering the role of art and visual culture in the lives of pre-K to 12th grade students and their communities.

You will investigate various philosophies in the field of art education which will inform the development of your own philosophy for teaching art and explore the role of technology and new media in the professional practices of art education. You'll also gain invaluable experience student-teaching in a Boston area PK-12 school and have the opportunity to assist with children's art classes at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Graduates of the program have the necessary background to teach in PK-12 schools, after-school programs, or museums, and will prepare you to apply for the Massachusetts Teacher License in Visual Art at the Initial Level for the PK-8 and 5-12 grade levels. The MAT in Art Education is designed and approved to meet only the Massachusetts initial licensure requirements but may be reciprocal with many other states.

Field Placement

The field placement is an integral part of your experience in this program. Our field placement process begins as soon as you enroll in the program. We’ll help you find a school site that meets your pre-professional preparation needs and matches your skills and interests.

Application Requirements

Application fee
Resume/CV
Personal Statement: Elaborating on your reasons for wishing to pursue graduate study at Tufts and your vision of becoming an art teacher. Your personal statement should be a maximum of 2,500 words, single spaced. Describe experiences, including inspiring individuals or events that motivated you to take this path.
Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable
Transcripts: One official copy of each of your college transcripts
Three Letters of Recommendation: Collectively the letters should address your capacity to accomplish graduate-level studies, your studio art practices, and your potential to become an effective PK-12 art teacher.
Art Portfolio
- The portfolio gives us insight into who you are as an artist. We want to see your best work and learn more about your practice. We also want to see a wide range of artmaking practices or media, as that will be necessary in a school setting. Additionally, you are welcome to share a few examples of student work if you have some. Please label all images and provide context when necessary.

To apply for this program, select the "Education (MAT)" from the "Program" dropdown, then choose "Art Education" from the "Concentration " dropdown.

Tuition and Financial Aid

See Tuition and Financial Aid information for GSAS Programs. Note: This program is eligible for federal loans and Tufts tuition scholarships.

Disclosure on teacher initial licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Each state has its own requirements for licensure. It is our duty to disclose our approvals and requirements.

Our MAT program is an approved initial teacher licensure program by the Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE). As such, the program requires that all required practicum hours for licensure be completed in person at a public or approved charter school in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. While the required course work is offered online, the program is limited to candidates who can commit to completing their practicum in Massachusetts.

If you intend to teach outside of Massachusetts once you complete the program, it is not determined whether this program meets your home state requirements for initial licensure. It is your responsibility to complete any due diligence for reciprocity with other state licensure requirements. Please see the following table link for contact information for your home state’s licensure agency to confirm whether this program will meet your home state’s requirement for licensure. (Table)