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Art Education Major

Bachelor of Science in Education in Art Education

Earn your teaching certification with the Bachelor of Science in Education in Art Education in Temple University’s Tyler School of Art and Architecture. This 155-credit undergraduate degree is one of two pathways toward earning art teaching certification in Pennsylvania and becoming a teaching artist. Students may also become certified teachers through the Bachelor of Fine Arts with Art Education Concentration. 

The BSEd in Art Education is a NASAD-accredited program that can lead to Pennsylvania Teacher Certification in art for kindergarten through grade 12. You’ll complete a rigorous course of study in art education, art history, studio art and Temple’s General Education curriculum, combined with field placements in Philadelphia schools, at all grade levels. 

With small class sizes and the plentiful resources of a top-rated art and architecture school and a large, public research university, the Art Education Major gives students the extensive knowledge and skills necessary for teaching art to children of all ages. Its accomplished faculty are experienced in a variety of teaching contexts and committed to urban art education and the power of collaborating with communities.  

As an art education student, you won’t just learn how to teach art and grow as an artist—you’ll learn how to affect positive change in the communities where you work. 

Foundations Program

Foundations

All undergraduate first-year students at Tyler begin with a yearlong immersion in our foundations program. Foundations is a multidisciplinary curriculum through which students gain knowledge in essential concepts and theories, established principles and practices, and time-honored skills and techniques in the study of art, design and the built environment. Students develop a global understanding of artistic traditions and the role of art and design in society before choosing a major in their second year at Tyler.

In the art programs, including graphic and interactive design, students begin with focused study of drawing, 2D design and 3D design. They explore diverse materials, processes and perspectives—from the traditional and low-tech to the innovative and experimental. This bachelor’s degree program is highly structured and intensive, and imparts fundamental studio practices for all visual art. Through the foundations coursework, students gain an academic grounding in the forms, techniques, styles, subjects and symbolism represented in art, architecture and design. Faculty members from across the art and design areas teach the foundations courses, assuring a broad range of experience and diverse viewpoints.

Learn more about the foundations program at Tyler.

Community Arts Practices Program

Tyler’s Community Arts Practices (CAP), led by nationally recognized faculty in arts education, exists at the intersection of art, academics and activism and works in partnership with artists, community organizations and schools in North Philadelphia (where Temple’s Main Campus is located). Students integrate a range of interests—from urban and environmental studies to racial justice, community development and LGBTQIA+ studies— into their coursework. CAP partners with community groups, schools and artists in North Philadelphia to develop and deliver after-school workshops, school residencies, intergenerational forums, and interdisciplinary exhibitions and performances based on lived experiences in the community.  

in2Art Program

Tyler's in2Art Program explores the methods and materials behind teaching art to elementary and secondary school students in an online space. The art program satisfies a component of the Art Education fieldwork requirement—allowing students in the program to exercise creativity and innovation in their lesson plans while integrating online learning into the curriculum.

Classes & Curriculum  

Along with an art education and general education curriculum, Art Education majors take studio art courses across multiple disciplines, including courses in community arts, a discipline that offers coursework at the undergraduate and graduate levels.  

You’ll take the following courses as part of the curriculum. 

  • Adolescent Development for Educators  
  • Art in Elementary & Secondary School*
  • Effective Instructional Strategies for Young Children with Disabilities*
  • Inclusive Art Education K-12 Students in the Art Room 
  • Introduction to Special Education Principles and Practice for Teaching English Learners*
  • Science & Art of Teaching*
  • Socio-Cultural Foundations of Education in the U.S. 

* Indicates the course involves hands-on field experience

Minor in Art History 

With courses in Art History, students in the Art Education BSEd have the opportunity to complement their coursework toward earning kindergarten through grade 12 art teaching certification in Pennsylvania and becoming an artist educator.

For more information about the Art History Minor at Tyler, contact Erin Pauwels, art history assistant professor and undergraduate advisor.
Phone: 215-777-9737
Email:  ​

Related Graduate Degrees  

Related Graduate Certificates  

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, the Bachelor of Science in Education program offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

These tuition costs apply to the 2025–2026 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $19,608.00 per year
Out-of-state: $35,232.00 per year

Program Contacts

Lisa Kay, associate professor and department chair. 
Email:

Student Clubs & Organizations

Joining a student organization can enrich your coursework, help you build meaningful networks with peers and gain leadership experience. Below are examples of student clubs and organizations that can help you grow academically, creatively and professionally. 

See a full list of student organizations.

Study Away

Exposure to diverse cultures, environments and mindsets is essential for art, architecture and design students. At Tyler, you are encouraged to broaden your perspective and explore unique environments through study away programs. 

Programs to study in Rome, Tokyo and Venice are offered throughout the year. 

For a half-century, Temple Rome has been a center for hands-on, interdisciplinary learning, where the “Eternal City” is the classroom, the studio and the campus. It offers extensive experiences for art and architecture students, with courses in architecture, art history, drawing, liberal arts, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.  

Temple University Japan offers a Bachelor of Arts in Art with a Digital Media concentration. Students may also take individual digital photography, art history and architecture courses on the Japan campus. 

The Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses office is available to answer questions. 
Email:  
Phone: 215-204-0720

Accreditation

Tyler School of Art and Architecture’s degree programs are accredited by the following accrediting bodies. 

Tyler School of Art and Architecture’s architecture and environmental design programs are accredited by the following accrediting bodies. 

Our Academic Advisors

Tyler’s academic advising team offers every Tyler student one-on-one, personal and academic guidance, beginning at Orientation right through to graduation. The academic advisors help you chart your course through your degree program and major, and ensure you are on a clear educational path. 

Advisors are available to discuss registration, study abroad and staying on track to graduate, as well as policy and procedures and navigating other available resources across the university. 

Appointments with the advising team can be made by visiting the Student Tools tab in TUportal. General questions can be submitted to the team’s virtual front desk during regular business hours, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Academic Advising Office 
Tyler 212  
2001 N. 13th St. 
Philadelphia, PA 19122

Additional Program Information