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UF Art Education

Admission Requirements

The online Master of Arts in Art Education (MAAE) attracts students from across the United States and around the world. They have diverse educational, professional and cultural backgrounds and a range of artistic and educative interests. Most work in public, private, and charter schools, as well as in museum, community, and healthcare settings. The program’s internationally renowned faculty, leading-edge curriculum and immersive studio experiences provide you with a transformative education that helps you advance your career in meaningful ways.

We are here to guide you through every step of the admissions process and answer any questions you may have about requirements, application materials, deadlines, and more. If you would like assistance, please contact one of our enrollment advisors at (877) 360-1859 or onlinearteducation@arts.ufl.edu.


Upcoming Start Dates

You have three opportunities to begin the program each year and, for your convenience, we accept degree applications continuously throughout the year.

Upcoming Start

April 28, 2025

For our annual academic calendar and application deadline information, please contact an enrollment advisor at (877) 360-1859 or onlinearteducation@arts.ufl.edu.

Your application will be reviewed on the strength of your ability for graduate studies. The online MAAE Admissions Committee considers the whole person when evaluating applicants and requires no GRE. Additionally, if you fall short of the minimum GPA requirement, you may be admitted conditionally based on the strength of your overall application.

To give yourself the best chance for acceptance into the program, take time to review the admissions requirements now and check them off one by one as you complete the application process.


Admissions Requirements and Application Materials Checklist

Review the Application Materials Instructions section below this checklist for important details and requirements.

  • Undergraduate degree (major or minor) in studio art, art history, design, art education, museum education, museum studies, or related fields
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 60 undergraduate credit hours
  • Completed UF Graduate Application form
  • Transcripts from all colleges/universities from which a degree was earned
  • Personal statement
  • Three current letters of recommendation
  • Digital portfolio ($10 submission fee)
  • Resume/CV
  • Writing sample
  • Application fee: $37

Application Materials Instructions

Transcripts

To review your application, we accept unofficial or official transcripts. Applicants are encouraged to upload unofficial transcripts with their application. Ideally, unofficial transcripts appear as full PDF copies showing all completed courses, final grades, and a degree statement if applicable. Students who are accepted into the program, however, must submit official copies before they can register for their second term.

Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded in PDF format to the UF Graduate Application.

For official transcripts: When possible, applicants should opt for electronic transcripts to be delivered to te@admissions.ufl.edu. Transcripts must be mailed directly to Admissions in order to be considered official. When electronic transcripts are unavailable, please send hard copies to:

Office of Admissions
University of Florida
PO Box 114000
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000

If a street address is required, mail the transcript to:

Office of Admissions
University of Florida
1478 Union Road
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000

Personal Statement

Your personal statement should be one to two pages in length and describe your interest in our program, how this program aligns with your career goals in your current role or a future endeavor, and relevant experience/background related to the arts.

A basic understanding of academic writing is essential for success in the program, therefore, your statement should follow APA Style, 7th Edition (2019), guidelines when including in-text and reference citations.

Letters of Recommendation

We require three current letters of recommendation from a current supervisor/principal, former supervisor/principal or professor, or others who are qualified to speak to your ability to be successful in an art education graduate program (no letters from friends, family, or clergy). The letter should specifically articulate your professional growth — honing in on your hard skills, capabilities, qualities, strengths, accomplishments, and your academic potential. You can solicit these recommendations through the Graduate Application.

Digital Portfolio

Submit at least 10 professional-quality images of your original works of art to ufl.slideroom.com (CDs or slides not accepted). In addition, you may submit research papers, articles, or other samples of academic writing that demonstrate an understanding of art making and processes or demonstrate a breadth of methods or deep knowledge in one method in art. Please note that any writing sample(s) submitted are supplemental to your 10 pieces of original art, and they do not fulfill the portfolio requirement on their own.

Applicants with a studio background should consider demonstrating a broad range of media or a deep dive into a medium that demonstrates an understanding of art processes as makers.

Applicants with a museum/art history background should consider demonstrating a range of creative work that may be written or studio based that exemplifies an understanding of art making (i.e. paper on renaissance art) educating in museums, or other related writing centered around art and art processes.

Professional backgrounds vary, we encourage you to contact your enrollment advisor for tips on compiling a strong digital portfolio.

SlideRoom Instructions

  • Choose the Art Education Online portal that corresponds to the term you plan to enroll.
  • Images and videos can be labeled and ordered after they are uploaded.
  • Include the title of the work, medium, size, and date. You may also include the URL for your website.

Maximum file sizes

  • Images: jpg, png, or gif: 2MB each. For good image quality and fast upload, your image files should be sized no larger than 1280 x 1280 px @ 72 dpi.
  • Video: mov, wmv, flv-up to 20MB
  • PDF: 10MB per document
  • After you set up and review your online portfolio, submit the $10 portfolio submission fee.

Note: SlideRoom offers additional submission instructions. For technical assistance, email SlideRoom Support.

Resume/CV

Your resume/CV should be current and highlight previous professional and academic experience, as well as achievements and awards.

Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.

Writing Sample

Submit a writing sample, such as research paper, article, or other example of academic writing in the area of art education. Writing samples should also be submitted via SlideRoom (see above). Applicants without an academic writing sample such as those without teaching experience may submit two writing samples, one from each of the following categories:

Category A

  • Write a one- to two-page teaching philosophy statement or a clearly articulated goal for a teaching philosophy in art education.

Category B

  • Provide a convincing argument for art education in the general school curriculum, even in times of tight budgets.
  • Describe your personal history of art education and how your past art experiences and teachers have helped shape your ideas and beliefs about art and your role as an art educator today.
  • Write a narrative reflection on a current event in art education and how it has shaped your goals as an art educator.
  • Submit a research paper or a published article on a topic related to art education.

Please note that lesson plans, curriculum plans, sample assessments, and other non-academic writing will not be accepted as writing samples; a writing sample demonstrates your ability to write (using the discipline standard citation formatting — APA 7th edition for in-text and reference citations). Writing samples should demonstrate basic writing structures, fluency, relevant content, and vocabulary. If students believe their application will be made stronger by also including non-academic writing in their submission, they can include these documents as supplementary digital portfolio items.

A basic understanding of academic writing is essential for success in the program, therefore, whenever possible, we highly encourage you to submit writing samples that demonstrate your use and familiarity with the seventh edition APA Style guidelines.


Program Technical Requirements

Please take a moment to review the program’s Technical Requirements.


Admissions Process

Application Status

You can check the receipt of materials by the Office of Admissions and status of your application here. The Office of Admissions’ Online Status page will only reflect information concerning materials forwarded directly to the Office of Admissions, not information about the receipt of materials required to be sent directly to your academic unit.

Admissions Decision

Decisions are made at the departmental level for graduate applications. If your application is complete, the department will forward it to the online MAAE Admissions Committee for final review. You will receive their decision via email, from the director for distance education for the College of the Arts, Phillip Herr-Klepacki.


Transfer Credits

Students may be eligible to transfer up to 9 semester credits of graduate-level work from an institution approved by the UF Graduate School. Petitions for transfer of credit for a master’s degree must be made during the student’s first term of enrollment.

Request Information

To learn more about University of Florida’s online Master of Arts in Art Education download a brochure, fill out the fields below or call us at (877) 360-1859 to talk with one of our enrollment advisors.

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