M.Ed. in Teacher of Visual Art (PreK-8 or 5-12)

The programs of study below are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for either initial or professional licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and lead to initial or professional licensure in Teacher of Visual Art (PreK-8) or (5-12). See designations below for each program.

The Teacher of Visual Art Program examines changing ideas about art practices in a variety of contexts, including classrooms, communities, and the many cultures that make up our society. The focus on pedagogy emphasizes inquiry across disciplines, which encourages students to think about visual art and its relationship to other art forms through an integrative framework. Students are challenged to examine how their identity as reflective thinkers, researchers, and artists working in schools shapes and influences their teaching practices. Throughout students' course of study, art making, critical thinking, and collaborative work are key aspects of the educational experience.

The program is grounded in many broad beliefs. Faculty and administrators in this program believe that preparation to enter the field of visual art education must link theory with classroom experiences, in order to formulate new definitions of art, knowledge, and culture. Students are immersed in creative practices that enable them to envision new contexts for viewing and making art, and are introduced to theories of learning that exemplify the most current research in the fields of art and education, including visual culture, new media, art history, multicultural education, special education and child development. In addition, students investigate the historical, philosophical and cultural conditions that have contributed to the character of art education in contemporary contexts.

The programs leading to initial licensure are designed specifically for the student who holds an undergraduate degree in the visual arts (or equivalent) and wishes to obtain initial licensure. The programs leading to professional licensure are designed for students who already hold an initial license or provisional certification and wish to enhance their existing pedagogical knowledge with an emphasis on added studio art expertise, while obtaining a professional license. See the Certification Office website for information on MA licensure.

EARED and EARTS courses formerly GARTS and GARED, prior to June 1, 2009.

Master of Education Degree Leading to Initial Teacher License as Teacher of Visual Art (PreK-8)

* Must be completed before the practicum (EARED 7001). EARED 6114 may be taken concurrently with the practicum.
** Graduate level studio art courses require a prerequisite of the equivalent of 18 credit hours or more undergraduate studio art work.

Master of Education Degree Leading to Initial Teacher License as Teacher of Visual Art (5-12)

* Must be completed before the practicum (EARED 7004). EARED 6114 may be taken concurrently with the practicum.
** Graduate level studio art courses require a prerequisite of the equivalent of 18 credit hours or more undergraduate studio art work.

Course Descriptions: Initial Licensure Programs

EARED 6111 Principles and Practices of Art Education
This course is designed as an introduction to art education focusing on current trends, various movements and approaches, and curriculum and instruction. A pre-practicum field placement will be required to ground student learning in the field. Reflections from the field will be part of ongoing class discussions.

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EARED 6110 Arts and Education: History and Philosophy
Considers the history and philosophy of American education with special emphasis on the arts and their place in education. The approach includes using both mainstream sources and those (especially biographical narratives) from minority groups (African-American, Asian-American, Native American, Latino, religious minorities, and recent immigrants). How the arts emerge from various racial and cultural communities and how schools, communities, and the arts can come together in the education enterprise are examined.

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EARED 6112 Principles and Practices of Art Education
This course is designed as an introduction to art education focusing on current trends, various movements and approaches, and curriculum and instruction. A pre-practicum field placement will be required to ground student learning in the field. Reflections from the field will be part of ongoing class discussions.

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EARED 6113 Teaching the Fundamental Elements of Visual Art
This course for students in the Initial Licensure strands of the Master of Education Degree as a Teacher of Visual Art students (preK-8 and 5-12 grades) is designed to provide ways for students to become effective art makers and art teachers. The 6-hour per week format provides for the focusing on the major components of being art educators: art skills and techniques that can be used in the classroom; artmaking in the context of pedagogy and curriculum development; and effective classroom management. Students will examine their own views on art education and through presentation, collaboration, critique, and reflection will develop curricular and pedagogical approaches that will aid in the development of their own philosophies of art and teaching. Prerequisite: EARED 6111 or EARED 6112.

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EARED 5018 Arts and Human Development
This course familiarizes students with stages of human development from childhood through adulthood. Knowledge of human development is enhanced through interaction with art materials, music, movement, drama, and writing.

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EARTS 6393 Interactive New Media
The course will introduce the student to the technology and processes of Interactive Media by a demonstration/hands-on approach. It will cover a variety of devices and processes including computer, video, and web technologies. Learning theories involved in the design and presentation of complex information will be examined, as will issues relating to how these media influence society. The students will be encouraged to explore the various technologies with a goal of producing an interactive media piece. Students will address how these technologies can be utilized in curriculum for different age groups.

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EARED 6092 The Inclusive Visual Arts Classroom
Using the visual arts as a vehicle for learning, students will examine methodologies that will support the inclusion of children who face obstacles to traditional learning because of diagnosed physical disabilities or Limited English Proficiency in the art classroom. Potential accommodations and adaptations will be explored to help our students develop the capacity to facilitate an inclusive learning environment in their own art classrooms. Students will be introduced to IEP's (Individual Education Plans), 504 plans. The legal history of inclusion for special needs students and English language learners will be examined.

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EARED 6003 An Arts Approach to Multicultural Education
This course explores ways to approach human diversity and build understanding about similarities and differences through drama, movement, visual arts, music, poetry, and literature. Application is made for the classroom and other work settings.

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IAHIS 5100 Issues in Visual Culture
This course focuses on the interrelationship between art and society. Accordingly, students examine the role of visual culture and artistic practice within the context of everyday life. To accomplish this task, we address a wide range of issues relating to the many connections between art and society. To help tackle these issues, we read essays by artists, critics, and theoreticians who have been instrumental in defining our understanding of visual culture over the past three decades.

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EARED 6114 Rites and Rituals: Assessment in Art Education
In this course, students will develop comprehensive formal and informal assessment and evaluation techniques and methods. These methods will lead to improving teaching practice through knowledge of student learning, teacher reflection, and an understanding of the impact of students’ individual differences on learning.

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EARED 7701 Practicum and Seminar in Art Education (PreK–8)
This practicum and seminar focuses on current issues in art education and classroom practice through assigned readings, inquiry, reflection, and discussions about field experiences in the art classroom.

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EARED 7703 Seminar in Teacher Inquiry for Art Educators (PreK-8)
In this seminar, students will develop, plan, and carry through a research project that examines their teaching practice in art as it relates to various community contexts. This course includes a field site component designed to ground the research in teaching practice within multiple contexts that include classroom, school, and community. Note: Field-based research for Initial licensure.

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EARED 7704 Practicum and Seminar in Art Education (5–12)
This practicum and seminar focuses on current issues in art education and classroom practice through assigned readings, inquiry, reflection, and discussions about field experiences in the art classroom.

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EARED 7706 (5-12)
Seminar in Teacher Inquiry for Art Educators
In this seminar students will develop, plan and carry through a research project that examines their teaching practice in art as it relates to various community contexts. This course includes a field site component designed to ground the research in teaching practice within multiple contexts that include classroom, school, and community.

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Master of Education Degree Leading to Professional Teacher License as Teacher of Visual Art (PreK-8)

Master of Education Degree Leading to Professional Teacher License as Teacher of Visual Art (5-12)

Course Descriptions: Professional Licensure Programs

EARED 6100 Integrated Arts Approaches in the Curriculum
This course introduces several main themes: arts rationale, critical pedagogy, ways of knowing, reflection, assessment and multiculturalism. These themes are explored through practice, research and theory. Strategies for reaching all learners are considered as each art form is introduced. Students consider how multiple arts modalities strengthen learning across the curriculum.

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EARTS 6001 Collaborative Symposium: Power of Arts in School and Community
Series of workshops led by artists and leaders in multicultural education offering a variety of arts modalities and avenues to understanding cultural differences. Participants will explore the integration of drama, dance, music, visual arts, storytelling, and poetry into multicultural approaches to teaching and learning. This symposium will emphasize collaborative work in the arts as a path toward democratic schooling and social justice.

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EARTS 6101 Art and Culture in Community
This course will define community, both local and global. It will guide students in the process of identifying and utilizing arts and resources within communities. Students will develop an expansive definition of visual culture from the traditional to the popular and the contemporary. Through art-based work, they will obtain a complex understanding of the role of art in communities near and far while developing advocacy strategies.

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EARTS 6006 Power of the Image: Media Literacy
This course examines the nature and origins of images, the visual representation of minority groups in the mass media, and the use of images to create a sense of place, tell one's story and affirm personal/cultural identity. Students develop sophistication about the power, sources and uses of imagery, and engage in the creative process using drawing, computer-generated imagery, and video as art forms.

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EARED 6103 Literacy and the Arts: Vision and Voice
Students gain an understanding of how the arts can be integral to the process of whole language, and gain skills in designing integrated learning projects. Through participating in aspects of music, drama, visual arts, movement and related language arts activities, students develop individual ways of building curricula in reading, writing, speaking and listening, based on creative modalities.

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EARED 7705 Seminar in Teacher Inquiry for Art Educators (PreK-8)
In this seminar students will develop, plan and carry through a research project that examines their teaching practice in art as it relates to various community contexts. This course includes a field site component designed to ground the research in teaching practice within multiple contexts that include classroom, school, and community.

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EARED 7707 Seminar in Teacher Inquiry for Art Educators (5-12)
In this seminar, students will develop, plan, and carry through a research project that examines their teaching practice in art as it relates to various community contexts. This course includes a field site component designed to ground the research in teaching practice within multiple contexts that include classroom, school, and community.

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NOTE: Lesley University reserves the right to revise courses, credits or programs of study to strengthen the academic integrity of the program and/or satisfy external accrediting agencies. Licensure programs will be revised from time to time, to be in compliance with the regulations of the Massachusetts Regulations for Educator Licensure, 603 CMR 7.00. All students should contact their faculty advisors to obtain current information regarding program requirements.