Expand your knowledge to excel in 21st century learning environments and fulfill your dreams of artistic and professional growth.
Program Overview Explore the CurriculumTo learn more about the University of Florida’s online Master of Arts in Art Education and download a free brochure, fill out the fields below. You can also call (352) 662-3395 to speak to an enrollment specialist.
We graduate the fourth highest number of students annually of all U.S. MAAE programs.
Forbes ranked UF No. 4 in Top Public Universities. U.S. News & World Report ranked UF No. 5 among public universities.
The University of Florida’s online Master of Arts in Art Education (MAAE) program provides you with a top-notch education and the ability to continue working while earning your degree. Our leading-edge curriculum and studio experiences invigorate you intellectually, nourish you artistically, and prepare you to thrive in an array of 21st century teaching and learning environments.
We live in an increasingly visual, technological, and culturally diverse world with complex economic, environmental, social, and political challenges. As an art educator, you are in a unique position to assert art’s role not only in fostering multicultural and intercultural understanding, but also in cultivating essential critical thinking and problem solving skills in others. These are exciting times to work in our field.
The online Master of Arts in Art Education program engages students purposefully in art education theory and practice, contemporary art, and their own studio work. Our dynamic online learning environment fosters meaningful interaction among you and your classmates and our world-class faculty. You flourish academically and creatively among a supportive, close-knit community of art educators, artists, cultural workers, and scholars.
The online MAAE curriculum provides you with a thorough understanding of the history and ongoing evolution of art education, and equips you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to meet the needs of diverse students and communities in our changing world. Our students also become inspired. This inspiration infuses not only their teaching, but also their studio practice. Students graduate prepared to excel as 21st-century art educators and cultural workers, engage their artistic practice, advance their careers, assume leadership roles, and expand the boundaries of the field.
The instruction is phenomenal. It’s anything and everything you want it to be. And I love my classmates. I never thought I could have this much camaraderie with an online degree program. The connections you make with people, technology and art — it’s amazing. It’s very relevant, and it’s something that you need to give yourself.
Heather Blackmon-Gordon ‘18
online M.A. Art Education, University of Florida
The online MAAE program exemplifies the high-caliber learning for which the University of Florida is renowned. UF is committed to providing distance learners everywhere with the same level of academic excellence and support services that its on-campus students enjoy. This commitment is reflected in the University’s top rankings as #5 in public universities and #28 in the nation from U.S. News & World Report.
With this broad institutional support, the School of Art + Art History carefully crafted a master’s that offers working professionals the opportunity to obtain a top-quality online graduate education from a leading university — while maintaining work-life balance.
Virtual Community - We take full advantage of an array of media-rich learning technologies to stimulate and expand student engagement and interaction, mirroring and even surpassing face-to-face classroom experiences.
Leading-Edge Curriculum - Faculty members continually update and expand the curriculum to ensure you are on top of the latest developments in an ever-evolving discipline. You learn innovative teaching methodologies and strategies; how to use the internet and digital media for impactful art education; and much more.
Studio Work - Your development as an artist is central to our program, and we support your artistic growth with immersive, hands-on advanced studio experiences. You choose whether to take our innovative summer studio courses on campus, online, or both.
Work-Life Balance - Online flexibility and eight-week mini-semesters enable you to focus on one course at a time and complete your degree in just two years.
Personalized Learning - Faculty are expertly trained and attuned to learners in online programs, supporting your success through student-centered instruction, accessibility, and personal attention.
Distinguished Faculty - You study with artists, practitioners, scholars, and leaders who are actively engaged in the field. Their diverse areas of pedagogical expertise encompass global initiatives, digital media technologies, socially engaged creative practices, and more.
Affordable Tuition - UF is consistently ranked a top value school by leading organizations including Forbes and Money. In keeping with this distinction, the online MAAE program offers an affordable, competitive tuition.
Holistic Admissions - No GRE is required for admission; we consider the whole person when evaluating applicants.*
UF Graduate Research Award - Online students in the Master of Arts in Art Education may take advantage of UF’s graduate research award. This award helps eligible students pursue opportunities, such as speaking at conferences or conducting fieldwork, by providing financial support for travel and other related expenses. For more information, please visit our Graduate Research Award Page.
NASAD Accreditation - With National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accreditation, the Master of Arts in Art Education program meets the highest level of accreditation standards.
*GRE scores are required only from applicants who have not earned a degree in the United States.
Though geared to art educators, the online M.A. in Art Education attracts students with a range of educational and professional backgrounds. Most work in public, private, and charter schools, as well as in museum, community, and healthcare settings. They typically love creating and teaching art and making a difference in the lives of others and the world.
For reasons that may include the following, our students seek a master’s degree to:
The online MAAE also welcomes qualified individuals who seek to develop their arts knowledge and creative skills to advance, evolve or be agents of change in other disciplines in an increasingly multidisciplinary professional world that is fueled by creativity and innovation.
Earning a Master of Arts in Art Education can open doors to a wide range of fulfilling and impactful careers. Below is a snapshot of common career paths and the associated median salaries, highlighting how advanced study in art education can support both your professional growth and your ability to make a difference in diverse educational and cultural settings.
| Jobs in Art Education | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| High school-level art educator | $66,800 |
| College-level art educator | $94,100 |
| Arts Instruction Coordinator | $73,100 |
| Art director | $90,900 |
| Museum curator | $64,800 |
Source: Lightcast. Salary will vary depending on location, experience, education, and other factors.
For more information, read our articles about Careers in Art Education and What You Can Do With a Master's in Art Education.
All University of Florida students, including those enrolled in online programs, gain access to Gator CareerLink, which is a platform where they can search through job postings, build resumes and connect with our career services.
In addition, online Master of Arts in Art Education students are eligible to apply for the UF graduate research award, which provides financial support for a variety of professional development and academic research activities.
For more information, visit the UF Master of Arts in Art Education FAQ page.