Additional Art Education, Studio Art and Graphic Design Degree Programs
Program Overview:
The Center for Art and Design at The College of Saint Rose prepares creative and critical thinkers for careers in Studio Art, Graphic Design, and Art Education. Faculty of professional artists, designers, educators, and scholars are dedicated to the development of each student’s informed creative voice. The carefully developed sequence of studio and art history courses advances each student from a strong foundation to a focus on conceptual and expressive inventiveness. Art students benefit from the rare combination of a rigorous curriculum enhanced by a strong liberal arts commitment and sound intellectual discourse.
The Center for Art and Design’s programs of study focus on fostering strong artists, designers, and teachers and encouraging students to become leaders in their fields and communities. Faculty believe that individualized attention, a strong curriculum, the expectation of disciplined work, and the encouragement of leadership offer the best environment for learning, achieving success, and making a lasting impact on the world.
Mission Statement
The Center for Art and Design is driven by its Mission Statement: Visual and cultural literacy are fundamental to a liberal arts education and necessary for navigating competitive professional environments. The Center for Art and Design promotes visual and cultural literacy through disciplined studio and research practices, intellectual challenge, and interdisciplinary exchange. Faculty are committed to each student’s ability to see aesthetically, think critically, act creatively, and make lasting contributions as innovative artists, designers, educators, scholars, and leaders.
Art Education Program Goal
The Bachelor of Fine Arts Dual Concentration in Art Education/Studio Art is an approved degree pathway to New York State Initial Certification in Art Education, grades P-12. What makes our program unique is the emphasis on artistic development at an advanced level, as well as rigorous art education coursework. Our goal is to prepare you to be an exemplary artist as well as a creative teacher, and to successfully place you in the teaching field soon after graduation.
Teaching art is not just a job - it is a calling. As an Art Education graduate and certified teacher you will communicate the powerful and unique role that art plays in the world and in the future lives of your students.
Rigorous and Fulfilling Curricula
BFA Dual Concentration in Art Education/Studio Art: Students earning a BFA degree in Painting & Drawing, Sculpture, Printmaking or Photography have the option of completing the courses necessary for Initial Certification in Art Education plus a BFA in one studio area, or split between two studio areas.
Students pursuing a BFA degree in studio are required to take 12 credits in Art or Art History electives, depending upon their area of studio concentration. Students who are enrolled in the BFA with Dual Concentration in Art Education/Studio Art will fulfill 12 credits of electives through their Art Education pedagogy requirements.
Students in the BFA with Dual Concentration in Art Education/Studio Art program complete their student teaching during a ninth semester.
Note: All art education majors are enrolled in the BS in Art Education program until the end of sophomore year. By the end of sophomore year, students with a 3.0 average or above in their area(s) of studio concentration may apply for admission to the BFA Dual Concentration in Art Education/Studio Art program by submitting an application form that includes the signatures of faculty in the student’s area(s) of studio concentration. Forms can be found in The Center for Art and Design Office. Faculty who sign in support of a student are indicating the student is accepted into the program. Once accepted, the student must maintain a 3.0 average or above, overall and in the major, to remain in the BFA Dual Concentration Art Education/Studio Art program.
Studio Art majors may also change their major to Art Education any time before the beginning of their junior year.
Studio: To become the best art teacher you must also be a strong artist with a passion to share your knowledge of art with children. Enjoying the same standards, expectations, and studio courses required of studio majors, you will progress through our curriculum to develop a body of artwork that demonstrates independent creative thinking and artistic maturity, and be prepared to pursue an MFA at the graduate level.
Field Experience: Our program places you in direct contact with students in every art education course. This includes a minimum of 90 hours in an actual art classroom during the school day, as well as 10 hours of teaching in after school art programs, before you progress to student teaching. In the last semester before student teaching, you will teach your own group of students at one grade level in a local school, during a 20-hour lab teaching experience. You will be challenged to research, write, plan, reflect, and to consider teaching as an extension of your own creative thought process. Progressing from lab teaching to full-time student teaching, you will be mentored by the best teachers in the field.
NYSTCE Pass Rates: The art education program at The College of Saint Rose, housed within the Center for Art and Design, boasts a very high pass rate among its students on the newly revised New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (ALST, EAS, and CST); and a 100% pass rate on the Visual Arts edTPA. Sixty percent of those taking the Visual Arts edTPA so far have achieved Mastery level.
Art Education Program Objectives
The required professional preparation and ethical expectations of NYSED, NCATE, and NASAD guide the outcomes of our art education programs. In addition, all education-related programs at The College endorse the Professional Education Candidate Learning Outcomes, also known as the "CSR 8." The following outcomes integrate the CSR 8 with an art education focus.
Candidates in the professional art education programs at the Center for Art and Design are expected to:
- Acquire and apply the knowledge, skills and dispositions of disciplines relevant to the making of art; and to the teaching of art to all students, PK-12.
- Apply principles and theories of lifespan human development and learning in all of its diversity to art education service learning and classroom practice; and demonstrate the capacity and disposition to continuously update that knowledge, and practice according to the best emerging research in the field.
- Plan and implement art education practice that is rigorous, comprehensive, inclusive, creative and motivating; inviting students’ analytical and creative skills; and promoting their dispositions to be lifelong learners and/or supporters of the visual arts.
- Ensure that evaluation and decision-making are informed by qualitative and quantitative data, produced through multi-faceted, collaborative and recursive assessment; and align instructional goals, practice, assessments, and standards.
- Develop and demonstrate personal and professional values that foster the highest ethical standards of the profession; intellectual curiosity and open-mindedness; understanding and responsiveness to multiple social and global perspectives; and collegiality and collaboration among partners in the educational process that involve children, families, community members, and other professionals.
- Promote optimal learning opportunities and environments for all individuals in the context of their experiential, cultural, and/or racial/ethnic backgrounds, including, but not limited to learners who are speakers of non-English languages; or who are gifted, have disabilities, are educationally challenged; or who have different interests, ambitions or sexual orientations.
- Demonstrate in their practice that oral and written language is a functional, as well as social and artistic tool for communication and thought; and reflect the multiple visual literacies of local, national and global cultures.
- Integrate a variety of technological methods and programs to enhance pupil learning and practitioner effectiveness, facilitate acquisition of technological skills, and the dispositions to use them in experiencing and making art.
Special Requirements
- GPA: Art education majors must ordinarily achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in both their major and their overall cumulative average to be admitted to ART 475 Methods of Teaching Art, and must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to remain in the program.
- NYSED Teacher Certification Exams: To be recommended for Initial Certification, in addition to completing their degree requirements, candidates must pass four New York State Teacher Certification Examinations. The Academic Literacy Skills test (ALST), and fingerprinting clearance must be passed before being placed in ART 486 Student Teaching. The Teacher Practice Assessment (edTPA) is done as part of student teaching; and the Content Specialty Test (CST) and Educating All Students test (EAS) may be done before or during student teaching.
Application Process:
In addition to The College of Saint Rose academic admissions requirements, all applicants to programs offered by The Center for Art and Design are required to submit a portfolio as part of the admission materials. All art applicants (Studio Art, Graphic Design or Art Education) should follow the same format when preparing their portfolio.
Portfolio Preparation Guidelines
Please see Additional Art Admissions Information: for a listing of specific portfolio requirements.
A Note for Transfer Students
The Center for Art and Design welcomes transfer students; however, all transfer credits in art are subject to portfolio review. Those students who have not completed the equivalent of the first two years of our program before transferring may not be able to complete the program in two and a half more years (this degree track is nine semesters). Art education courses do not usually transfer due to the unique structure of our curriculum and are subject to content review; however, Educational Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Special Education courses usually transfer smoothly.
For purposes of evaluation and placement, transfer students seeking credit for a studio course taken at another institution will need to include additional work to represent the content covered in each class for which the student is applying for transfer credit.
Transfer students should consult The College of Saint Rose Transfer Equivalency Database at: www.strose.edu/officesandresources/registrar/transferequivalency to review transfer equivalency agreements between their former institution and The College of Saint Rose.
Program Contacts:
To email the Department Chair, Kristine Tolmie: tolmiek@strose.edu
For admissions questions contact the Undergraduate Admissions Liaison,
Marian Chilson: chilsonm@strose.edu
For art education questions, contact Associate Professor of Art Education,
Jennifer Childress: childrej@strose.edu
For general questions contact, the Art and Design Coordinator: grzymals@strose.edu
Program Webpage: www.strose.edu/art-education/
Program Requirements:
BFA Dual Concentration in Art Education/Studio Art (108 credits)
Major Requirements - Studio - 55 credits
Choose THREE studio areas out of the following four (Painting 1, Sculpture 1, Printmaking 1, Photography 1): 9 Credits
Choose THREE studio areas out of the following four (Painting 2, Sculpture 2, Printmaking 2, Photography 2): 9 credits
*Must be in same area as Studio 1 courses
Plus
SIX advanced studio courses in ONE area of concentration, or THREE advanced studio courses in TWO areas of concentration
| ART 4XX | Painting & Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, or Sculpture | 18 |
Plus
Major Requirements – Art Education Pedagogy – 37 credits
| ART 275 | School Experiences in Art | 0 |
| ART 374 | Devel in Art & Literacy | 4 |
| EPY 244 | Child & Adolescent Development | 3 to 4 |
| ART 375 | Art Curriculum and Assessment | 4 |
| EPY 350 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| ART 475 | Methods of Teaching Art | 3 |
| ART 476 | Methods of Teaching Art Lab | 1 |
| SED 225 | Includ Stud w/Disabilities | 3 |
| ART 477 | Adv Methods of Teaching Art | 3 |
| ART 486 | Stdt Tch in El & Sec Schools | 12 |
*Students earning a BFA Dual Concentration in Art Education/Studio Art will do their student teaching during a ninth semester.
Plus FIVE New York State-Required Workshops
Major Requirements - Art History - 16 Credits
Required Art History Courses:
Choose ONE of the following eight:
Choose ONE of the following five:
*AHI 344: preferred course for Art Education majors
Electives
- Due to intensive program requirements in art education, electives are difficult to schedule. However, art education students can make room for electives if they are careful about scheduling courses according to the prescribed sequence and maintain a strong GPA. Art education service learning, studio, gallery management, studio assistantship, and art history electives are available through The Center for Art and Design; as well as liberal education and service learning offerings outside of the department.
- Taking an elective in Art History will allow the student to complete a minor in Art History (19-20 credits).
Internship/Field Experiences/Study Abroad/Service:
Field Experience
Prior to student teaching, art education students fulfill over 100 hours of hands-on art experience with school age children. They act as an aide in an art classroom, and work with children and young teens in an after-school program.
They will also spend an entire semester teaching an assigned grade level at a local school that does not have an art program. By participating in this component of the program, students learn valuable teaching skills while opening the world of art to children who may not otherwise experience learning in art.
A full semester (15 weeks) of student teaching is required, where those pursuing certification through our program will work with students at both elementary and secondary levels.
Opportunities to student teach throughout New York State as well as out of state can be arranged. Because of the rigor of New York State certification requirements, teaching certification can be transferred easily to other states. Students interested in certifying in a state other than New York, or in multiple states, can meet with the art education program faculty to verify and plan additional or alternative requirements, such as required teacher examinations.
Service
Opportunities for service learning in art are available in local after school programs with K-8 children, children of refugees, and/or students at risk, and in museum education. Students who wish to include service learning in art in their program should work with faculty to research the opportunities at least one semester in advance.
Study Abroad
The Center for Art and Design encourages global study through study abroad experiences. Students interested in pursuing study abroad opportunities may enroll in Studio or Art History Special Topics courses, participate in a faculty-led program, attend Studio Art Centers International (SACI) or explore international study programs offered through the College’s Center for International Programs. The Center for Art and Design faculty-led programs provide offerings annually and have traveled to: China, Spain, England, Italy, France and Ecuador.
Culminating Academic Experiences:
Required Courses
Professional Accreditation:
National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)
The Center for Art and Design at The College of Saint Rose is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, a specialized accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. http://nasad.arts-accredit.org/
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Programs offered by The College of Saint Rose for the preparation of all school professionals, leading to initial and advanced certifications, are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, a specialized accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. http://www.ncate.org/
New York State Education Department (NYSED)
The College of Saint Rose, sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet, Albany Province, is chartered by the Board of Regents of New York State. All of its degrees and programs are registered and its professional programs fully approved by the Board of Regents through the New York State Education Department.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
The College of Saint Rose is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267-284-5000) The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. http://www.msche.org/
Career Opportunities and Graduate Studies:
Preparing for Graduate Study
Graduates of our art education programs are highly sought after candidates for teaching positions, both statewide and nationally, including public, private, and charter schools in the Capital Region, Hudson Valley Region, Westchester, New York City, Long Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, Maine, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Virginia.
While a graduate degree is required for Professional Certification in New York State, you may begin teaching immediately after graduation in order to gain experience while pursuing a master’s degree. After earning your BFA in Art Education/Studio Art from Saint Rose, you will have a high-quality portfolio that will serve you well when applying to master’s programs in studio art or art education. Students with a BFA are also eligible to apply to MFA programs at the Graduate level.
Many of our art education graduates are enrolled at some of the top art or art education graduate programs, including those at:
- Alfred University
- Boston Museum School
- Cranbrook Academy of Art
- Kent State University
- New York University (NYU)
- Rhode Island School of Design
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- St. John's University
- State University of New York at New Paltz
- Syracuse University
- University at Albany
- University of the Arts (Philadelphia)
In addition, many students choose to pursue a master’s degree in art or art education right at Saint Rose. By enrolling in the Saint Rose Studio Art or Art Education Graduate Program, you will pursue advanced study under professors who are familiar with your work and have seen you progress from an undergraduate art student to a skilled teacher of art.
Minor(s):
Complete minors listing
Admissions and Financial Aid Information:
The Undergraduate Admissions Office begins review of Freshman applications each fall in late September for the following Fall. Students are encouraged to submit a complete an application as early as November. The Admissions Team will return a decision on complete applications within just three weeks. The College awards academic scholarships at the same time.
What Makes an Application Complete
- Online or Paper application (fee waived for online applicants!)
- Official High School Transcripts
- Official Transcripts for any College Level Courses
- SAT or ACT scores (See Test Optional FAQ's)
- Letter of Recommendation from a Counselor or Teacher
- Essay or Graded Paper
- Applicants may also apply via the Common Application Online.
- Art applicants are required to complete a portfolio review.
Admissions contact information (telephone number, admissions web pages)
Scholarships and Financial Aid
See Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid section for more information.
The Bottom Line
The total cost of The College of Saint Rose (including tuition, fees, room and board) is one of the lowest of any private college in the Northeast, and we award more than $25 million in Saint Rose scholarships, grants and financial aid.
Take a look at our bottom line, and view a cost comparison with a four-year public institution.
More about Financial Aid
Financial Aid is defined as any grant, scholarship, loan, or employment opportunity given with the express purpose of assisting you with education-related expenses to make your education affordable. Financial Aid is awarded on the basis of student need and the availability of funds.
The Admission and Financial Aid teams have designed a Guide to Scholarships and Financial Aid to help prospective students and families get to the bottom line and find that The College of Saint Rose is one of the lowest of any private college in the Northeast--while maintaining powerful academic opportunities.
Additional Art Admissions Information:
Portfolio Preparation Guidelines
In addition to The College of Saint Rose academic admissions requirements, all applicants to programs offered by The Center for Art and Design are required to submit a portfolio as part of the admission materials. All art applicants (Studio Art, Graphic Design or Art Education) should follow the same format when preparing their portfolio.
The Center for Art and Design prefers to review the actual art, but digital portfolio submissions are also acceptable. Three-dimensional work may be presented digitally, however, more than one view is desired.
Applicant portfolios containing images in jpg format (between 150-350 dpi) may be submitted through the Art and Design Slide Room account at strose.slideroom.com. The portfolio may also be submitted to the Art and Design Admissions Liaison for review. Images on CDs, websites or flash drives are acceptable. Submissions in any of these formats must be accompanied by a separate numerical inventory that lists the size, medium and date completed for each of the works.
The applicant’s portfolio should consist of 15 – 20 examples of artwork. Work produced within the past two years is preferred, as it will best reflect technical ability and interests.
- 50% Drawing: Fifty percent of the portfolio should be drawing and approximately half of these drawings should reflect work from direct observation, not from photographs. Examples could include still–life, interior space, landscape and figure drawing.
- Concerning media and style: A variety of media may be represented. Be sure to include finished drawings in your portfolio. This means work that demonstrates refinement, development of detail and time invested. However, including a few examples of more quickly produced work, such as contour or gesture drawings, is helpful in assessing efficiency when working within a time limitation.
- 50% Personal strength: This component of the portfolio is your chance to showcase your personal style and creativity. You may choose to present a series of works in a single discipline or explore a variety of techniques, media and concepts. This is your opportunity to showcase your unique vision.
- Independent or Experimental work: Consider including examples of working outside of your comfort zone as an opportunity to discuss ideas and creative goals.
- Sketchbook or Journal: A sketchbook is an important addition to your portfolio. The sketchbook demonstrates your creative process and information gathering methods, as well as providing insight into your visual editing skills and intuitive approach to art making.
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