Elementary and high school teachers who want to hone a specialization in art, or practicing artists who want to add teaching credentials to their portfolios, have a perfect option in Tyler’s Master of Education with a Major in Art. This intermingling of students with complementary goals creates a stimulating synergy in MEd classes, and the emphasis on research and studio practice keeps the program current.

“The MEd has become increasingly attractive,” says former Art Education Program Head and assistant professor emeritus Dr. Jo-Anna Moore. “We are an urban program in a first-rate art school in an excellent research university—that covers a lot of bases for our students. What we look for is a diverse mix of candidates with real commitment to community-oriented work, who also welcome an intellectually rigorous program of study.”

The program is comprised of an Art Education component (12 credits), an Art History component (6 credits), and a Studio component (15 credits). Three courses (Art Education Research, Contemporary Issues in Art Education, and History of Art Education) are required, and others may be selected from Tyler’s rich menu of studio and graduate-level academic offerings. In-depth studies are encouraged, so students may take as many as 3 studio courses (9 credits) in one studio area ranging from painting, to printmaking, to glass, and more.

TEACHING CERTIFICATION
MEd candidates may pursue Teaching Certification concurrently with their graduate studies. Depending on educational background, an additional 15 credits in the professional sequence includes coursework in educational psychology, education, art education methods, an internship, and student teaching in art. The MEd with Teaching Certification program of 48 credits, along with successful completion of the Praxis Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge exam and Praxis Art: Content Knowledge exam, provides all of the requirements for Pennsylvania State Certification in Art, kindergarten through twelfth grade.
 

Anyone without U.S. citizenship who is interested in PA Teaching Certification needs a Permanent Resident Visa (green card) in order to file a "Declaration of Intent to become a U.S. citizen".  This would allow them to receive what PDE calls a "Foreign Alien" Certificate valid for five years from date of issuance. In that time period, they need to get their U.S. Citizenship. 

CERTIFICATE IN COMMUNITY ARTS PRACTICES — Temporarily on Hold
In addition to or instead of Teaching Certification, MEd candidates also have the option of pursuing a Community Arts Practices (CAP) Certificate. An additional 12 credits of coursework, involving interdisciplinary seminars, workshops, research, and field internships, are required to graduate with this certificate. The CAP program connects students with families, community organizations, schools, and artists in Philadelphia, enabling students to extend their art disciplines as community collaborators and co-create arts-based civic engagement projects.

TERMINAL REQUIREMENTS AND TIME LIMITS
At the end of the final semester’s residence, MEd candidates are required to pass a graduate review of their artwork conducted by a committee of studio and art education faculty. A scholarly master’s paper, developed through student research under the guidance of an advisor and standing in lieu of a comprehensive exam, is also required for graduation.

The MEd may be completed on a full or part-time basis. The MEd without teaching certification can be completed in three semesters of full-time study. Students are required to register each semester, and the degree must be completed within four years.

ASSISTANCE
Academic internships, teaching assistantships, and tuition scholarships are available on a competitive basis. Students accepted into the MEd program on a full-time basis may also apply for a work-study award or financial aid in the form of a Perkins Loan. More opportunities for graduate funding and assistance can be found here.