uiuc art education phd

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A foundation in research and practice

As a graduate student at Illinois, you're part of a community of scholars where learning and teaching are infused with research and practice. Join us in redefining the art and science of education for the 21st century.

Our highly ranked graduate programs at the College of Education prepare master's and doctoral students to deal with the most challenging issues in education. Here you will be mentored by world-class faculty who themselves are leading researchers in their fields.

You will hone the rigorous habits of mind and skills needed to be impactful leaders in the field of education. Here, you can leverage the advantages of being part of a research university , while developing and defining your own research interests. Join a community of scholars who want to make a difference and change the world.

Graduate students can apply to one of our four departments.

In addition to our on-campus degree options, we also offer  online and off-campus  degrees, including our  principal & superintendent endorsements and degrees ..

Curriculum & Instruction

The Department of Curriculum & Instruction believes in addressing critical issues of learning, teaching and social justice at global and local levels.

Education Policy, Organization & Leadership

EPOL is focused on training a new generation of researchers differently and better to address issues in educational policy & practice.

We pride ourselves in preparing students for positions as university professors, researchers, counseling psychologists, and testing, measurement and evaluation specialists.

We embrace a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service. Within this mission, we address issues that face special and general. education as rapidly as our changing world.

University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Art & Design: Art Education

• Art Education Professional Resources
• Art Education at UIUC
• Creating A Lesson Plan
• Children's Artistic Development
• Visual Popular Culture
• Further Readings

Opportunities

• Student Engagement at Krannert Art Museum Highlights of internships, student artwork, and volunteer opportunities.
• Krannert Center Youth Series Performance series for students to deepen knowledge of artists through classroom activities.

Faculty Publications

Not a comprehensive list. See more faculty publications at the profiles on this site .

• List of Professor Hetrick's Downloadable Work From Academia.edu
• List of Professor Lucero's Downloadable Work From Academia.edu

Faculty Research Interests

Some research areas of interest to current faculty members include:

• Arts-based research
• Community arts education
• Conceptual art practices and theory
• Creative cities
• Cultural globalization
• Emerging curriculum theory
• Performance studies
• Psychoanalysis
• Social practice
• Socially engaged art
• Teacher identity
• Urban education
• Visual culture
• Youth studies
• Art Education Faculty
• Courses Offered
• Classes Offered This Semester

Course of Studies

• BFA Course of Study
• MA Course of Study
• EdM Course of Study
• PhD Course of Study
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• Last Updated: Nov 9, 2023 10:50 AM
• URL: https://guides.library.illinois.edu/art-education

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Art Education

The BFA in Art Education offers a pathway for students to become licensed to teach K-12 art in Illinois public schools. Through hands-on experiences and coursework, students are taught to embrace multiple roles -- as artists, educators, and activists --- while engaging in a rigorous interdisciplinary study of contemporary art and visual culture in education. For teacher education requirements applicable to all curricula, see the  Council on Teacher Education .

• ARTE 101—Art, Design, and Society
• ARTH 110—Introduction to the History of Art and Visual Culture
• ARTE 202—Facilitating the Art Experience

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

The question for us is not whether you want to teach art as your occupation. For us, the REAL question is: Do you want to be an art educator throughout your life? We believe that art education is a way of thinking and being in the world. 

• Creative Practice
• Collaboration
• Facilitation
• Coordination
• Organization
• Communication
• Imagination
• K-12 Visual Arts Teacher
• Community Arts Educator/ Programmer/Administrator,
• Teaching Artist
• Museum Educator

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

• Participating in  undergraduate research
• Applying for a  study abroad  experience
• Utilizing resources of  The Career Center
• Student Education Association:  provides pre-professional educational development for future teachers

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Art Education, visit their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Art Education. These organizations include Illinois Art Education Association ,   American Art Therapy Association  and  National Art Education Association .

For further student questions contact Jennifer Bergmark at  [email protected] .

Northern Illinois University School of Art and Design College of Visual and Performing Arts

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• School of Art and Design
• Graduate Programs

Ph.D. Art and Design Education

Our doctoral program in art education will help you hone your skills as a researcher and theorist. You'll be prepared to become a teacher or scholar at a college or university. You'll also be ready for leadership positions in a variety of art education settings.

The program will enable you to conduct research on teaching and learning in fine arts and other forms of visual culture. You'll have opportunities to contribute substantial knowledge and exhibit original scholarship.

You'll benefit from:

• Financial support, such as scholarships and assistantships.
• Opportunities to conduct and present research.
• Our strong local community and extended network.
• Access to rich art and design education resources.

Program Requirements

The Ph.D. in art and design education requires 60 semester hours beyond a master's degree. The program emphasizes research, theory and philosophical development. It also focuses on the application of new knowledge in the visual arts and design education.

Course Requirements

• Core courses: 15 semester hours
• Research methodology: nine semester hours
• Cognate courses: 12-15 semester hours
• Elective courses: 12-15 semester hours

Please note: Some courses are offered online. Contact the doctoral program coordinator for more information.

Other Requirements

• Successful completion of a candidacy examination.
• Completion of a dissertation of original research.
• Successful oral defense of the dissertation.

Read more about program requirements .

Program Highlights

Financial support.

You can apply for scholarships, travel funding, tuition waivers and assistantships. A teaching assistantship will give you experience working with undergraduates. A research assistantship will give you a wide range of experience, from managerial work in a higher education program to providing assistance on a faculty research project.

You can apply for an assistantship by filling out a form when you apply to the program.

Research Opportunities

You'll have many opportunities to conduct and present your research. Our art and design faculty members will mentor you along the way. They are known around the world for their excellence in scholarship, as well as teaching and service. They will also guide your learning in areas such as conference planning, editorial experience and program planning.

Strong Community

Our program has a reputation for building a sense of community among students. We're also known for our networking with potential employers. Our faculty will work with you to ensure both collegiality during the program and employment after graduation.

You'll have opportunities to build your network by attending and presenting at conferences. Some of the conferences our students have been involved with include:

• National Art Education Association Convention
• Illinois Art Education Association Conference
• Art Education Research Institute Symposium
• International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry

You'll have access to resources at NIU that support study and research in art and design education. These include extensive library facilities and the NIU Art Museum. Due to our close proximity to Chicago, you can also make use of major museums and other resources in the area.

You'll have many chances to interact with the extended art education community and build your professional network. For example, we offer a scholar/speaker series that brings national and international leaders in the field to campus.

You'll work closely with our accomplished faculty members. They have published widely and received major awards and grants.

Douglas Boughton Professor of art education Area of focus: Assessment and curriculum

Kerry Freedman Professor of art   education Area of focus: Visual culture and curriculum

Kelly Gross Assistant professor of art education Area of focus: Disability studies and technology

Kryssi Staikidis Professor of art education Area of Focus: Multiculturalism

Shei-Chau Wang Professor of art education Area of focus: Studio pedagogy/cross-cultural curriculum

• How to Apply

We welcome you to apply for admission. You can find admission requirements and application deadlines on the Graduate School website.

View Application Instructions

• M.A. Art (Specialization in Studio Art) / M.F.A. Art and Design
• M.A. Art (Specializations in either Art History Research or Teaching at The Two-Year College Level)
• M.S. - Art and Design Education
• M.S. - Art and Design Education (online)
• Ph.D. - Art and Design Education
• Art History Certificate
• Museum Studies Certificate
• Digital Fabrication Certificate
• School of Art and Design Graduate Programs Handbook

Kerry Freedman , Ph.D Professor and Ph.D Advisor [email protected]

Ann Van Dijk Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator [email protected]

School of Art and Design Jack Arends Building , room 216 815-753-1474

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Course Catalog

ART Class Schedule

ART 100   Understanding Visual Culture   credit: 3 Hours.

Interdisciplinary methods in recognizing and understanding meaning of a wide range of visual messages in the arts, design, and culture, with emphasis on critical thinking and analysis. Topics include: visual perception, visual persuasion, the visual interpretation of time and space, humor. Contemporary art and design are explored through the use of semiotics and historical, cultural and ethical aesthetic and technical perspectives. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for: Humanities - Lit & Arts

ART 102   Drawing for Non-Majors   credit: 3 Hours.

Students will work with a wide variety of drawing materials, methods and strategies in a studio art context. Students will explore drawing concepts, form, and technique through production and critique of artworks, as well as address theories and histories of visual representation through readings and discussion. Students with little or no background in visual art are encouraged to participate as well as those who may have significant knowledge and experience. Not open to students majoring in art and design. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule.

ART 103   Painting for Non-Majors   credit: 3 Hours.

Students will work with a wide variety of painting materials, methods and strategies in a studio art context. Students will explore painting concepts, form, and technique through production and critique of artworks, as well as address theories and histories of visual representation through readings and discussion. Students with little or no background in visual art are encouraged to participate along with those who have significant knowledge and experience. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule.

ART 104   Sculpture for Non-Majors   credit: 3 Hours.

Students will work with a wide variety of sculptural materials, methods and strategies in a studio art context. Students will explore sculpture concepts, form, and technique through production and critique of artworks, as well as address theories and histories of visual representation through readings and discussion. Students with little or no background in visual art are encouraged to participate along with those who may have significant knowledge and experience. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule.

ART 140   Introduction to Art   credit: 3 Hours.

A creative and expressive exploration of multiple art media, including but not limited to drawing, painting and design elements. This course is an introduction to the art making process with weekly interactive lectures and hands on studio sections. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule. Not open to students in art and design and architecture. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for: Humanities - Lit & Arts

ART 150   Introduction to Drawing   credit: 2 Hours.

This is an introductory drawing course with an emphasis on heightening visual awareness and utilizing basic elements of technique and concept. Media such as pencil and charcoal will be used through a variety of technical and conceptual exercises. This course is designed for students who have little to no prior experience with drawing. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated in separate terms up to 4 hours. Prerequisite: Enrollment is restricted to students of Living Learning Communities and minors in Art + Design.

ART 151   Black & White Film Photography   credit: 3 Hours.

Course offers a foundation in black & white film photography. Camera use, film exposure & processing, and printing processes will be explained and demonstrated. Provides a technical & conceptual understanding of photography as a visual medium for expression and communication of ideas. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite: Restricted to students in Living Learning Communities and minors in Art + Design.

ART 152   Experimental Photography   credit: 3 Hours.

Introduces students to a variety of alternative photographic media and image making practices, including: photograms, pinhole cameras and paper negatives, Diana medium format cameras, orthochromatic film, cyanotype and VanDyke brown printing, solarizing/specialty print developers and print toners. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite: Restricted to students of Living Learning Communities and minors in Art + Design.

ART 153   Digital Photography Seminar   credit: 2 Hours.

Course offers a foundation in digital photography. Camera use and digital editing will be explained and demonstrated. Elements of visual composition for effective photographs will also be included. Course is taught as a service-learning project with the Champaign County Humane Society. Weekly field trips to photograph at CCHS are a component of the class schedule. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 4 hours. Prerequisite: Restricted to students of Living Learning Communities and minors in Art + Design.

ART 154   Digital Video   credit: 2 Hours.

This is an introductory course for those who have little or no experience working in digital video formats. Students will explore the tools and techniques of moving image production through individual and team projects, as well as view and discuss existing films and videos. Students will learn basic camera functions and the use of professional editing programs for video and sound. Projects will focus on the creation of time-based media with an emphasis on technique, documentation, narrative, and context. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 4 hours. Prerequisite: Restricted to students of Living Learning Communities and minors in Art + Design.

ART 155   Introduction to Graphic Design - Unit One   credit: 3 Hours.

This course introduces non-graphic design majors to visual literacy, composition, and the creative process. Students will solve real world visual communication problems in a hands-on studio environment using Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign). Students will receive instruction in the elements of visual grammar and establish a foundation for visual literacy based on design principles. Using hands-on exercises and problem-solving projects, students will work through the creative process and learn industry standards necessary to function in today's commercial art field. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. Prerequisite: Enrollment is restricted to students of Living-Learning communities and minors in Art + Design.

ART 156   Ceramics: Wheel Throwing   credit: 2 Hours.

Introduces the techniques of making functional ceramic work on the pottery wheel including: centering, opening, throwing a cylinder, making bowl and plate forms, and making handles. Class time will focus on demonstrations of techniques and instructor led skills development of same by students. Students will also learn about materials and chemistry in the production and application of glazes. Students will examine the work of contemporary ceramic artists towards developing a vocabulary for the assessment and critique of their own works as well as their peers. Weekly studio contact time 3.75 hours. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 4 hours.

ART 160   The Image World: Photography for Non-Majors   credit: 3 Hours.

Explores photography and video as the most powerful media in today's image-saturated world. Students will look at, think about, discuss, and write about a diverse array of photography and video. They will study examples of historical and contemporary art, design, journalism and advertising, in various and numerous contexts. Students will make their own images, create their own videos, conduct visual research, and produce media-based projects. Students will also build their own individual social media sites for sharing their work with both their classmates and the world. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule. Credit is not given for ART 160 if credit for ARTD 160 has been earned. Prerequisite: For non-majors and Art & Design Minors.

ART 191   Unit One Studio/Seminar   credit: 1 to 3 Hours.

Topics vary; consult Unit One office. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated if topics vary.

ART 199   Undergraduate Open Seminar   credit: 1 to 5 Hours.

Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule. May be repeated.

ART 201   Art in Early Childhood   credit: 2 Hours.

Philosophical and practical foundations for teaching art in early childhood settings. Lectures, discussions and class activities focus on the value of art in the curriculum, artistic development and instruction, observation and guided teaching practice. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule. Prerequisite: Not open to students majoring in art and design.

ART 205   Experience & Meaning in Design   credit: 3 Hours.

Introduces students to the cultural impact of graphic design by connecting graphic design theory to the everyday experience of meaningful design. Graphic design will be studied as a mediating factor between culture and cognitive processing. The course utilizes a weekly pattern of assigned readings, online presentations, design assignments delivered online, and peer review. The reading and presentations will connect the students to major concepts. The assignments will allow students to demonstrate understanding of those concepts. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for: Social & Beh Sci - Beh Sci Cultural Studies - Western

ART 208   Digital Art and Sustainability   credit: 3 Hours.

The course will explore the social and environmental impacts of art-making practices that rely heavily on computer and Internet technologies. We will examine the wide range of artistic practices that employ computer and internet technologies and will introduce students to artists and artistic practices that criticize computer and Internet technologies and their impacts. Students will research the source of materials and labor used to manufacture computer and Internet related technologies, the facilities that support the infrastructure of the Internet and the social, political and economic systems that impact end of life management of electronic waste. From this base of research, students will employ digital or Internet technologies to produce a final project that explores how they understand the impact of their use of these technologies in scholarly pursuits including research, writing and making art. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for: Humanities - Lit & Arts

ART 210   Special Topics for Non-Majors   credit: 3 Hours.

Allows students to explore a revolving series of genres, specializations, and /or interdisciplinary practices. Possible subjects include, but are not limited to, site-specific public art, recycled and sustainable materials, performance, sound, or emerging technology. Topics and subject matter to be published in course listings. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 6 hours.

ART 221   Visual Culture of Fandoms   credit: 3 Hours.

The course will involve writing and art making as two modes of interpretation and response to mediated imagery. We will consider the idea that students may become so closely entwined with their own fandoms that it affects their sense of self, personal/societal relationships, and memory. We will also focus on the importance of imagination in creating/sustaining fandoms and fan art. The framework of this course will be supported by academic literature on fandoms as well as visual methodologies. Students will briefly learn about elements and principles of design; the codes and conventions that structure the image; the viewers and how they interpret or experience the image; and the contexts in which an image is exhibited and viewed. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for: Humanities - Lit & Arts

ART 299   Special Topics in Art   credit: 1 to 3 Hours.

Topics and subject matter to be published in course listings. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule. May be repeated in the same term to a maximum of 6 hours. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 12 hours. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.

ART 310   Design Thinking   credit: 3 Hours.

Introduces design literacy and promotes an understanding of the field of contemporary design. Explores design thinking as a common thread that connects all disciplines concerned with the making of things, the solving of problems, and the organization of information. Through a series of lectures, case studies, and simple design projects, this course offers an extensible framework of tools and strategies that can be applied across multiple disciplinary boundaries. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for: Humanities - Lit & Arts

ART 350   Writing with Video   credit: 3 Hours.

Students will engage in a comprehensive exploration of creative inquiry, self-reflection, social engagement, and media production. They will adapt the basic, traditional principles of critical writing and analysis, to communicate effectively using image production and post-production. Directed writings in concert with video production projects will allow students to experience an integrated process of thinking, creating, and problem-solving. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule.

ART 499   Special Topics in Art   credit: 1 to 4 Hours.

Topics and subject matter to be published in course listings. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule. 1 to 3 undergraduate hours. 1 to 4 graduate hours. May be repeated in the same term for 6 undergraduate or 6 graduate hours, if topics vary or to a maximum of 9 undergraduate or 12 graduate hours in separate terms. Prerequisite: Senior standing or consent of instructor.

ART 550   Writing with Video Workshop   credit: 4 Hours.

Explores the use of video in research, scholarly, and/or creative endeavors. Students engage in a comprehensive examination of video as a rhetorical narrative medium, with a focus on the actual production of video work. Emphasizes the use of video as a tool for inquiry, engagement, composition, and communication across a broad range of cultural and professional practices. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

ART 594   Art & Design Graduate Teaching Assistant Pedagogy Seminar   credit: 1 Hour.

Students in this course will learn about pedagogy and related resources available on campus. Structured for students across A+D degree programs, this course will focus on broadly relevant, rather than discipline-specific, practices. Other times, it will ask students to share discipline specific knowledge with the goal of developing interdisciplinary pedagogical approaches that can be used in a range of teaching contexts. Students will always be encouraged to adapt course materials to their specific needs. 1 graduate hour. No professional credit. Approved for S/U grading only. Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in the Art and Design.

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PhD in Art History

The PhD Program in Art History is designed to train highly qualified students in the knowledge, skills, and theoretical grounding specific to each student’s planned area of specialization.

PhD Art History

The aim of the PhD Program is to produce effective researchers, thinkers, and writers whose scholarship, curatorial work, and critical writing will contribute to and help shape discussion of the visual arts both inside and beyond academia.

Students accepted into the PhD Program must hold a Master of Arts degree in Art History or a related field and have demonstrated competence in a foreign language. All doctoral degree students are required to pass departmental exams in two languages. Major and minor fields are selected from the following areas:

• European Renaissance
• European Baroque and Rococo (ca. 1600-1750)
• European, ca. 1750-1900
• Photography
• 20th century
• Contemporary
• Latin American (colonial/modern)
• Late Imperial China
• West Africa and Diaspora (precolonial, colonial and contemporary)

Upon competing the required course work, PhD students take written preliminary exams in their major and minor fields. After passing the preliminary exams doctoral students focus on writing the dissertation. The PhD dissertation is an original piece of research that demonstrates the student’s mastery of his or her topic and that makes a significant contribution to the scholarship in this field. Recently completed PhD dissertation topics include Ray Johnson’s mail art, Soviet photography, the role of imagery in constructing the medieval institution of the university, artistic patronage at the court of the English Queen Charlotte, and Etruscan temple terracottas.

Students in the doctoral program can compete for several internal grants that support dissertation research travel and travel to present papers at conferences. In addition, students are encouraged to apply for external grants. In recent years, doctoral students in the Art History Program have won the DAAD (Deutcher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) Fellowship, the Smithsonian American Art Pre-doctoral Fellowship, the Henry Luce Foundation ACLS Fellowship, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Fellowship, Newberry Library Fellowship, Smithsonian Institute Latino Studies Fellowship, Belgian American Educational Foundation, and multiple FLAS (Foreign Language and Area Studies) Fellowships.

Graduate students in art history can take advantage of many supplemental resources on campus. These include:

• The University Library , the largest public university library in the U.S., includes many branch libraries in specific subjects such as History and Philosophy, Modern Languages, Education and Social Sciences.
• The Ricker Library of Architecture and Art  is a branch of the University Library, and its collection includes more than 120,000 books, 33,000 serials, and a wide selection of videos.
• The Rare Book and Manuscript Library , also part of the University Library, includes original illustrated books and rare artists’ editions of books from the fifteenth through twentieth centuries.
• The Krannert Art Museum  has a permanent collection of over 8,000 works of art from all areas of the world and hosts an ongoing schedule of rotating exhibitions.
• The Spurlock Museum  is an ethnographic museum with a diverse array of functional and art objects that represent past and present cultures from around the globe.
• Japan House  is a center for the study of Japanese aesthetics and traditional arts. It offers classes on subjects including Japanese aesthetics, the Way of Tea, and ikebana.

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