 
Fine Arts Education Coordinator
Dr. Dorothy Heard
973-655-4210
Overview | Curriculum | Faculty | Facilities | Student Work | Applying
Fine Arts Education/
What It’s About
Igniting someone’s passion for the thing that you love . . . Is there anything more satisfying? Teachers of the arts do just that – stirring an appreciation that can last a lifetime, as well as helping students discover the artist within.
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Fine Arts major offers three Fine Arts Education concentrations, including a combined BA/MAT option, to prepare students to teach in public and private educational and community settings:
The essential goals of the Fine Arts Education program are two-fold:
- To induct students who identify with, and who would inculcate qualities that are in line with, the University’s Portrait of a Teacher philosophy; and
- To provide students the opportunity to acquire a broad range of basic and advanced knowledge and skills in studio art, art history and pedagogy in order to comprehensively guide and deepen the artistic development of children in grades P-12.
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What You Will Study
Through the Fine Arts Education programs at Montclair State, students are prepared first as artists and then as educators – the principle being that learning how to bring out the best in oneself is an important precursor to teaching. In line with this philosophy, prospective Fine Arts Education students matriculate first into the School and Community Settings Concentration and follow a standardized foundational art curriculum before choosing to continue in the School and Community Settings Concentration or applying to one of the other Concentrations. While most courses are offered in the fall and spring semesters, a limited number are also available during the summer.
In the spring semester of the sophomore year, students may opt to stay in the School and Community Settings Concentration, or pursue Teacher Certification in Art (P-12) through two other Concentration options within the Fine Arts major.
Three Concentration Options —
BA in Fine Arts; Fine Arts Education Concentration with Teacher Certification in Art (P- 12)
This Concentration is a professional-degree option within the university’s Teacher Education program that leads to qualification for the initial certificate to teach art in New Jersey’s public and private schools, grades P-12, as well as schools elsewhere in the country. The degree is also appropriate for teaching in settings such as museums, cultural centers and community organizations.
After completion of the Foundation art and design courses, and in conjunction with fulfilling the University’s general education requirements, prospective certification candidates must apply to, and be accepted by, the University’s Center of Pedagogy. Successful candidates then proceed towards intensive coursework in education including P-12 art-classroom methods and hands-on experiences through student teaching.
Curriculum and Course Descriptions Links —
Students must complete a total of 129-147 credits of coursework in order to graduate in this major. Curriculum, course descriptions and other requirements may be found through the links below:
Combined B.A. Fine Arts /M.A.T. (Master of Arts in Teaching) Concentration: Fine Arts Education with Teacher Certification in Art and Teacher of Students with Disabilities Certification (Preschool-Grade 12)
This combined program gives students the option of becoming art teachers while earning both an undergraduate and graduate degree within a condensed timeframe. The program’s emphasis is on critical examination of best practices in art education and teaching the visual arts to students in P-12 school settings. Candidates complete a rigorous course of study from a wide range of pre-professional undergraduate art and education courses (see above description), followed by professional-level graduate courses and clinical experiences that culminate in student teaching. The program prepares students to be eligible for a dual New Jersey initial teacher certificate in P-12 Art Education and certification in Teacher of Students with Disabilities, in conjunction with receiving both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Curriculum and Course Descriptions Links —
Students must complete a total of 127-151 credits of coursework in order to graduate in this major. Curriculum, course descriptions and other requirements may be found through the links below:
B.A. Fine Arts major; Concentration: School and Community Settings
This Concentration is an option for art students who are seeking an undergraduate degree along with preparation to teach in a public-service organization such as a museum, community organization or related setting for which state certification is not required. It is a pre-professional degree option—no license, registration and/or certification is issued when students successfully complete the program. Students may choose pre-professional study in one or more “Clusters” including (a) art therapy, (b) museums and galleries, and /or (c) school and community settings. Each Cluster provides students with an introductory understanding of the goals and practices of visual arts professionals working in a wide range of culturally, community-based fields. Students who successfully complete the program are positioned for further graduate study and/or entry-level work in non-certification professions and activities that may include mural making, museum management, art therapy, community center administration, event planning and/or arts lobbying.
- Art therapy Cluster — This cluster is recommended for students who wish to become art therapists and who plan to pursue a graduate degree and licensure in the discipline. As a therapeutic modality, art therapy is focused on the healing potential of creative expression and making art – an experience that can lead to feelings of personal fulfillment and recovery from physical illness, depression or trauma, as well as emotional or social isolation. Art therapists work with diverse populations in settings such as clinics, hospitals, social-service agencies, community centers, nursing homes, and adult day-care centers.
In addition to the cluster curriculum, students are required to take a range of recommended electives or to complete a Minor such as Cognitive Science, Gerontology, Justice and Families, Psychology or Public Health.
- Museums and Galleries Cluster — This cluster is recommended for students who may wish to become administrators in an art exhibition setting and who plan to pursue a graduate degree in museum or arts management, business, communication or a related area. Through coursework, students develop knowledge and skills related to organizational development, funding, programming and practices that are pertinent to museums and galleries. They also study the roles arts institutions have played historically and the new and evolving ways in which they provide meaningful and accessible, culturally diverse experiences.
In addition to the cluster curriculum, students are required to take a range of recommended electives or to complete a Minor in areas such as Business, Communication Studies, Economics, History, Latin American and Latino Studies, Religious Studies or Anthropology.
- School and Community Settings Cluster — This cluster is recommended for students who desire to work collaboratively with community groups, organizations and government agencies – in a teaching or programming capacity. Upon completion of the program, students may pursue graduate degrees in disciplines such as urban planning, event marketing, environmental justice, public health, or business economics, to name a few. Through coursework, students become familiar with the management, promotion, funding and complexity of community arts projects.
In addition to the cluster curriculum, students are required to take a range of recommended electives or to complete a Minor such as Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Economics, Gerontology, Public Administration, or Urban Studies.
Curriculum and Course Descriptions Links —
Students must complete a total of 120-126 credits of coursework in order to graduate in this major. Curriculum, course descriptions and other requirements for the Concentration may be found through the links below. In addition, students will be provided a “work program” that defines courses to be taken for the cluster(s):
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An Outstanding Faculty
More than 28 full-time faculty and 90-plus adjuncts and visiting professionals, including renowned guest artists and art critics, mentor our Art and Design students every semester. The quality of instruction and experiences they share foster students’ development as artists, as well as lend invaluable insights into the multiplicity of arts professions. In addition to studying with faculty in the Department of Art and Design, Fine Arts Education students are mentored by faculty experts in the College of Education and Human Services.
Faculty Directory Links —
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Studio Facilities
The Department of Art and Design occupies several buildings on campus that house fully equipped facilities for all art areas. Outside of the department, students take their education classes in University Hall, the University’s recently constructed, largest academic facility.
Facilities Link —
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Student Work
Throughout their course of study, students in all programs, including Fine Arts Education, create work using a variety of media and studio techniques.
Student Work Link —
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How to Apply
For information on applying to the Fine Arts Education programs and all programs in the Department of Art and Design, go to the Department Admissions page.
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