The Northwest Difference
The art education major is designed for students who want to teach in schools, museums or community centers.. This interdisciplinary program focuses on children’s artistic development, skills-based learning with two- and three-dimensional art, critical thinking regarding images in pop culture inclusing logos, advertisments, television shows and memes; and issues-based learning that promotes problem-solving.
Minor in Art Education
Elementary Art Education
A minor in elementary art education teaches students the principles of art education and the fundamentals of drawing, ceramics, design and painting. This minor is certifiable. After taking the required courses, students can customize their minor from a list of approved electives. For a list of required courses, visit the academic catalog. This minor requires the completion of 24 credit hours.
Secondary Art Education
A minor in secondary art education teaches students the principles of art education, the foundations of drawing, ceramics, design, photography and printing. After taking the required courses, students can customize their minor from a list of approved electives. For a list of required courses, visit the academic catalog. This minor requires the completion of 30 credit hours.
Career Opportunities
100%
placement rate
100% of students who graduate with a degree in art education find employment or continue their education within six months of graduation.
Profession-based experiences
Education majors get experience in the classroom during their freshman year. The Northwest education programs are dedicated to ensuring students are career-ready and prepared for the first day of school.
Freshman-year observation provides students an opportunity to observe a teacher for 30 hours during their first year. Students interact with professionals in the field and learn the operations of a classroom and good teaching practices.
During the sophomore year, students participate in a field experience that involves outlining a unit plan and teaching lessons in grades five through nine.
During the junior-year practicum experience, students spend 90 hours in the classroom, teaching lessons, integrating technology and literacy, engaging learning strategies and using assessment to guide education.
During the senior-year student teaching experience, students prepare lessons and teach in a classroom for 16 weeks.
Learning Resources
Upperclassmen are assigned individual art studios to work on projects during the school year. Studio assignments are based on needs of students.
The Olive DeLuce Art Gallery is housed in the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. The mission of the gallery is to showcase student, faculty and staff artwork; promote talented local, regional, national and international artists; and aid in the understanding of art by teaching people how to view it and understand the vision of its creators.
Study Abroad
Study Abroad is an opportunity for students to apply hands-on international experience to their academic development. Faculty members provide short-term study programs that prepare students before, during and after the program. Two types of study abroad programs are available: faculty-led and traditional study abroad.
The traditional program may be a semester, summer or year-long program and is taught by Northwest’s international partner institutions.
For more information about study abroad opportunities »
The Northwest Difference
Founded in 1905, Northwest is a traditional campus with more than 7,200 undergraduate and graduate students. Located in the middle of everywhere, Maryville is two hours from Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City, Missouri and
2 ½ hours from Des Moines, Iowa.
The textbooks and laptop rental programs save students nearly $7,300 over four years.
Ranked as the top moderately selective regional university in the "25 Best Colleges" by U.S. News and World Report.
The Bearcat Advantage provides out-of-state students the opportunity to earn in-state tuition rates that can save more than $6,000. With the average undergraduate financial aid award of $5,467 for in-state students and $8,286 for out-of-state students, Northwest offers a quality education at an affordable price.
Students organizations, internships and profession-based learning experiences ensure students are Career Ready, Day One.
