Arts

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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2026-2027

School of the Arts

Concentration(s):

Art Education

Program description

The Department of Art Education supports instruction in art that encourages the construction of meaning. Faculty and students are actively involved with the Art World, education, and local and global communities through art-based service-learning, visual culture studies, critical thinking, exhibition, assessment, curriculum, critical theory, and emerging digital technologies (virtual and interactive). Through our own research and instruction we engage students and ourselves in traditional and non-traditional forms of inquiry.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Arts with a concentration in art education is an approved teacher preparation program that complies with the professional standards of the Virginia Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is further accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. All of these agencies assure the highest professional program standards.

Career opportunities

With emphasis on diverse approaches to artmaking and instructional practices, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Arts with a concentration in art education prepares highly capable and effective visual art educators.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts is an approved teacher preparation program that complies with state and national professional standards. The curriculum is further guided by the professional standards of the National Art Education Association. All of these agencies assure the highest professional program standards. Graduates of the program are eligible for teacher licensure in pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

Most art education students enter the teaching profession and teach art in either elementary, middle or high school. Others pursue further education to work as art consultants, art therapists, arts administrators, museum personnel, college instructors, and in other art-related business positions.

Change of major requirements

Completion of the Art Foundation Program is a prerequisite for entry into all fine art and design departments.

Students are required to submit their application and required portfolio here.

Typical application deadlines are November 1 (for spring applicants) and April 1 (for fall applicants).

Bachelor-level job titles

Art Museum Educator
Art Teacher
Artist
Creative Writer
Education Administrator
Program Manager/Director

Graduate and professional level job titles

Art Director
Art Museum Educator
Director of Education
Nonprofit Director

Professional associations and resources

Degree requirements in Bulletin

Arts, concentration in art education

Plan of study in Bulletin

Arts, concentration in art education

Requirements

Highest level of math required

Quantitative Foundations requirement only

Science required

Natural Sciences requirement only

Foreign language requirements

Additional tuition/fees

GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)

Transfer students and students currently attending VCU must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be considered for departmental admission; however, there is a higher cumulative GPA requirement of 2.8 for departmental admission to teacher preparation. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.8, or if a faculty member raises concerns about a student’s professional disposition at any point, the student will be put on cautionary status. The chairperson will review students designated with cautionary status each semester to determine continuation in the program. Students will be notified if they are placed on cautionary status.

Transfer Maps

View Transfer Maps for this major

Contact information

Department name:

Department of Art Education

Building/room location:

Franklin Terrace, Suite 200

Phone:

(804) 828-7154

Email:

https://arts.vcu.edu/arteducation/contact/

http://arts.vcu.edu/arteducation/

Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):

Monroe Park

Major map

Year 1

Explore

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner.
Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives.
Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center.
Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
Take UNIV 291: Maximizing and Advancing in AFO.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community.
Connect with Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs and review resources such as Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets, study abroad fairs or complete Rams Abroad 101. to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities.
Consider applying to the Honors College.
Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests.
Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.)
Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.
Apply for the Fall Undergraduate Juried Student Exhibition at the Anderson.
Check out the VCUarts Calendar.
Prepare your Major Declaration materials which includes your digital portfolio and writing sample.
Subscribe to the Lamp Post to get a weekly newsletter of visiting artists, grants, scholarships, internship opportunities and more!
Understand VCUarts research and grant opportunities.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
Take advantage of the portfolio building and writing workshops offered by Art Foundation; details are found in ARTF101 in Canvas.

Year 2

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
Enroll in ARTE 310, ARTE 311, ARTE 250, and EDUS 301.
Apply for required teacher preparation on March 1.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
Join the National Art Education Association (NAEA).
Attend annual events like the SPEED Symposium, visiting artist lectures, Teach Appreash, the Student Teacher exhibition, and the ArtE Party.
Apply for a VCUarts Dean's International Study Grant to fund creative exploration.
Discuss strategies for working with diverse and differently-abled students with faculty.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
Take and pass the VCLA exam prior to spring semester to stay on track with the commonwealth's licensure requirements.

Year 3

Experience

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
Enter teacher preparation and enroll in the practicum sequence of ARTE 401 and ARTE 402.
Build your best work via supportive critique in practicum-based, peer feedback groups.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
Design a community-engaged research project.
Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.
Attend an art education conference such as NAEA or VAEA.
Help plan and organize annual departmental events and shape future events.
Enroll in ARTE 450 Art for the Exceptional Student.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
Update your ePortfolio.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year.
Apply for an internship with a community art space or art museum like the VMFA, Art 180, or the Visual Arts Center.
Build your resume and get your research funded by applying for a VCUarts undergraduate research grant.

Year 4

Excel

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING

Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
Plan for meeting your student teaching requirement and apply to your clinical internship on September 1 for spring placement or February 1 for fall placement.
Be sure you complete TEDU 485 or TEDU 486, as well as ARTE 404, no later than your final semester so you meet your clinical internship requirement.

EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY

Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
Apply to teach with the VCUarts Creative Arts Day Camp.
Attend professional conferences that offer student rates or scholarships such as the National Art Education Association (NAEA) or the Virginia Art Education Association (VAEA).
Join national and state professional organizations like the National Art Education Association (NAEA) or the Virginia Art Education Association (VAEA).
Reflect on the experiential learning you have engaged in thus far and discuss with current or potential mentors like peers, faculty, advisors, alumni, or practicing art teachers.

EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps.
Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.

PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
Complete a Emergency First Aid/CPR/AED certification course to meet teaching licensure requirements.
Use your clinical internship to create professional your own teaching portfolio with lesson plans and learning artifacts.

Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost

2026-2027

Arts

School of the Arts

		MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING	EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY	EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS	PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore	Year 1	Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals. Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner. Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives. Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center. Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help. Take UNIV 291: Maximizing and Advancing in AFO.	Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living-learning community. Connect with Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs and review resources such as Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets, study abroad fairs or complete Rams Abroad 101. to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities. Consider applying to the Honors College. Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore student organizations and get involved, meet people, and develop your interests. Get involved and meet new friends through the Student Government Association or one of over 450 student clubs and organizations (BSPS Student club, Chemistry, etc.) Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks. Apply for the Fall Undergraduate Juried Student Exhibition at the Anderson. Check out the VCUarts Calendar. Prepare your Major Declaration materials which includes your digital portfolio and writing sample. Subscribe to the Lamp Post to get a weekly newsletter of visiting artists, grants, scholarships, internship opportunities and more! Understand VCUarts research and grant opportunities.	Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader. Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services. Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists. Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake. Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app. Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones. Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.	Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future. Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page. Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni. Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor. Take advantage of the portfolio building and writing workshops offered by Art Foundation; details are found in ARTF101 in Canvas.
Experience	Year 2	Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide. Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience. Enroll in ARTE 310, ARTE 311, ARTE 250, and EDUS 301. Apply for required teacher preparation on March 1.	Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty. Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship. Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit. Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities. Join the National Art Education Association (NAEA). Attend annual events like the SPEED Symposium, visiting artist lectures, Teach Appreash, the Student Teacher exhibition, and the ArtE Party. Apply for a VCUarts Dean's International Study Grant to fund creative exploration. Discuss strategies for working with diverse and differently-abled students with faculty.	Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events. Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake. Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field. Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value. Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.	Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation. Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest. Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships. Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans. Take and pass the VCLA exam prior to spring semester to stay on track with the commonwealth's licensure requirements.
Experience	Year 3	Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning. Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning. Enter teacher preparation and enroll in the practicum sequence of ARTE 401 and ARTE 402. Build your best work via supportive critique in practicum-based, peer feedback groups.	Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions. Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning. Design a community-engaged research project. Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals. Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities. Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU. Attend an art education conference such as NAEA or VAEA. Help plan and organize annual departmental events and shape future events. Enroll in ARTE 450 Art for the Exceptional Student.	Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience. Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor. Update your ePortfolio.	Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center. Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship. Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility. Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. Apply for an internship with a community art space or art museum like the VMFA, Art 180, or the Visual Arts Center. Build your resume and get your research funded by applying for a VCUarts undergraduate research grant.
Excel	Year 4	Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree. Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree. Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met. Plan for meeting your student teaching requirement and apply to your clinical internship on September 1 for spring placement or February 1 for fall placement. Be sure you complete TEDU 485 or TEDU 486, as well as ARTE 404, no later than your final semester so you meet your clinical internship requirement.	Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships. Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners. Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field. Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization. Apply to teach with the VCUarts Creative Arts Day Camp. Attend professional conferences that offer student rates or scholarships such as the National Art Education Association (NAEA) or the Virginia Art Education Association (VAEA). Join national and state professional organizations like the National Art Education Association (NAEA) or the Virginia Art Education Association (VAEA). Reflect on the experiential learning you have engaged in thus far and discuss with current or potential mentors like peers, faculty, advisors, alumni, or practicing art teachers.	Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, or AmeriCorps. Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers. Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.	Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter. Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey. Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities. Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation. Complete a Emergency First Aid/CPR/AED certification course to meet teaching licensure requirements. Use your clinical internship to create professional your own teaching portfolio with lesson plans and learning artifacts.