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The Advanced Certificate in art education is tailored to students who have felt hampered or unfulfilled in an office, or who have teaching experience and want to change their specialty to a profession that better utilizes their energy or artistic talent. Our graduate program will give students the skills and knowledge they need to become a certified teacher in New York State focusing on early childhood art education, grades pre-K through 12. Students will learn about integrating multiple perspectives of teaching art by understanding human functioning and development across art education.
Art education teachers will learn how to run a classroom where the imagination runs free but students are under control. The Advanced Certificate in art education leads to an initial or professional teaching certificate for students who already hold a master’s degree in art or an appropriate discipline, or an M.F.A.
The program information listed here reflects the approved curriculum for the 2024–25 academic year per the Brooklyn College Bulletin. Bulletins from past academic years can be found here.
The Advanced Certificate in art education (24 credits) is a path leading to an initial or professional teaching certificate for students who already hold a master’s degree in art or an appropriate discipline, or an M.F.A.
The curriculum consists of education courses, field experiences, to accommodate students who have family and/or professional responsibilities. Most students complete the program in two years; however, individuals are free to set their own pace for progressing through the program. This program is open to both master’s and M.F.A. students.
By completing this advanced certificate program, students will learn about integrating multiple perspectives of teaching art by understanding human functioning and development across art education (PK–12) domains, and culture.
The 24-credit Advanced Certificate requires nine sequential courses:
The department chair may allow substitutions for one or more of these requirements consistent with the educational goals of the program.
Students must obtain fingerprinting clearance. Fieldwork or student-teaching in an early childhood setting requires students to be fingerprinted by New York City Department of Investigation or Department of Health. Fieldwork/student-teaching in a public school requires students to be fingerprinted by the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE). Get more information about fingerprinting.
Maintain matriculated status. Students must have passed the following New York State exams at the specified transition points:
Throughout student-teaching, students complete the art education program-specific performance assessment, which involves submitting video clips of teaching and lesson plans along with commentaries on planning and instruction.
A student must complete student teaching with a B or higher, students who receive a grade lower than a B must apply to the ECAE chair for permission to reregister to repeat student teaching. Students will be allowed to repeat an ECAE course (including student-teaching) only once.
Note: Students not seeking certification must schedule a meeting with the graduate art education program coordinator to set up an alternative transition point plan during their initial semester.
Entrance requirements for acceptance include an earned graduate degree with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00. Applicants must have completed a graduate degree in art or related field. Additional courses may be required prior to admission to remedy any deficiency in a prospective student’s ability to meet matriculation requirements. Applicants must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00. A minimum GPA of 3.00 in graduate courses is required to maintain matriculation.
Applicants who have not completed all the specific course requirements are given individual consideration and may be admitted with conditions, with the approval of the program coordinator of art education and the chair of the Early Childhood Education/Art Education Department.
Applicants are required to demonstrate written proficiency in English. International applicants for whom English is a second language are required to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of at least 575 on the paper-based test or 233 on the computer-based test or 79 on the internet-based test, before being considered for admission.
Applicants must submit a digital portfolio of their artwork.
General matriculation and admission requirements of graduate studies are in the section “Admission.”
The student learning outcomes for the art education programs are based on six National Art Education Association (NAEA) larger standards with 13 NAEA substandards embedded for Art Education Professional Preparation Programs. Upon completion of their program of study in art education, our art education candidates will understand and be able to:
Show thorough understanding of the visual arts through their own studio skills and art-making processes; their ability to create, design, and write art projects; and their ability to interpret and critically evaluate through oral and written means their own and others’ works of art while setting up safe, interesting, and psychologically positive environments that are conducive to creativity, expression, and making art (Standard 1).
Show insightful understanding of students’ experiential and social characteristics, abilities, and learning styles. Respect and value all students’ unique backgrounds, abilities, and interests. (Standard 2).
Understand diverse social and cultural constructs of identity. Respect and value the diversity of people, philosophies, and cultural approaches in instruction, (Standard 3).
Make informed selections of art content and curriculum. Nurture and encourage approaches to artistic problems through thoughtfully prepared curriculum and instruction that makes accessible traditional, contemporary, and popular art worlds and the art from a wide range of cultures (Standard 4). Show knowledge of students as learners, plan appropriate instruction (Standard 5). Use contemporary technology to enhance teaching and learning (Standard 6).
Construct meaningful and appropriate assessment of student learning (Standard 7). Reflect on own teaching practice (Standard 8). Assess program for its effectiveness (Standard 9).
Collaborate with other educators (Standard 10). Give service to schools and community (Standard 11). Participate in continued learning and professional development (Standard 12). Contribute to the growth of their profession (Standard 13).
Submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
Students must obtain fingerprinting clearance. Fieldwork or student-teaching in an early childhood setting requires students to be fingerprinted by New York City Department of Investigation or Department of Health. Fieldwork/student-teaching in a public school requires students to be fingerprinted by the New York City Department of Education. See SOE website for more information.
Refer to the instructions at Graduate Admissions.
2307c James Hall E: hjiesamfoek@brooklyn.cuny.edu P: 718.951.5205
Or contact:
222 West Quad Center 2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210 E: grads@brooklyn.cuny.edu P: 718.951.4536
Mondays–Fridays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
To make an appointment with a graduate admissions counselor, visit:
BC Admissions Appointment Tool
Brooklyn College is an integral part of the cultural and artistic energy of New York City. Our faculty members in the Department of Early Childhood Education/Art Education offer incomparable expertise and tremendous talent, and each brings a unique perspective to their teaching and mentoring in and out of the classroom.
Students complete internships in public and private schools throughout the New York City region as well as across the United States. The internship is a supervised experience designed to hone the requisite skills and knowledge to work as an arts educator.
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