Art educators work in public, private and charter schools, as well as museum, community and healthcare settings. A career as an art educator is not a desk job and has many advantages including the opportunity to share your passion with others and have a powerful impact on individuals and communities. Additionally, many art educators report that the profession provides them with creative and intellectual engagement and even inspiration for their own art practice.
Ongoing research increasingly demonstrates that arts integrated instruction engages students in school, increases learning, and helps students develop collaboration, communication, and other valuable skills that lead to success in work and life and are critical in our increasingly culturally diverse society.
This recognition of the power of the arts is leading communities, social service organizations, museums, and health organizations to integrate the arts into their domains, and there now are many art programs outside of school walls. Since creating visual art requires less practice at the basic level than, for instance learning an instrument, art educators are well-positioned to engage others in making art on a broad scale.
Outside-the-wall opportunities for art educators may be found in these and other areas:
Some schools, museums, and other organizations that employ art educators require a master’s degree as a condition of employment or professional advancement. Two states, New York and Massachusetts, mandate that public elementary and secondary school teachers earn a master’s degree in education within a number of years of attaining initial certification.
Many educators choose to earn a master’s degree in art education to update and broaden their pedagogical knowledge and skills. They recognize that art education is evolving in response to changing cultural, economic, social, political, and technological conditions and want to be part of this change. Many also seek to reinvigorate their personal art practice through graduate-level studio courses and the opportunity to give and receive critical feedback in a supportive community of artist educators.
Additionally, holding a master’s degree can help art educators attain greater recognition, expand their professional opportunities, assume leadership roles, or pursue a doctorate.
Though salary schedules for teachers vary greatly by state and district, for many educators earning a master’s degree leads to a salary increase. Salary.com data shows that the median salary for a public school teacher with a bachelor’s degree is between $52,605 and $56,722 and for a public school teacher with a master’s degree is between $54,015 and $60,485.
It’s important to note that the UF online MAAE does not offer a certification track at this time, though earning the degree may fulfill some state certification requirements. Students with questions about certification requirements should thoroughly research their state’s teaching certification requirements.
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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