Location:

Chicago, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Education Leadership & Administration

Program Overview

Program Description:

Columbia College Chicago offers a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Art Education (K-12) prepares candidates to teach the visual arts at the elementary, middle-school, and secondary levels. The program trains teachers to be both artists and scientists, able to skillfully blend content and creative pedagogy in the dynamic art of teaching. With courses offered in the early evenings, the two-year program is ideal for both aspiring educators who wish to make a meaningful career change and those already committed to the field who wish to obtain new tools and formalized credentials. The primary goal of the program is to create leaders who foster collaboration, critical thinking and reflection, consciousness of self and of cultural diversity in the classroom. Columbia has a commitment to support the ongoing development of teachers who are entrusted with the education of urban communities. Through both theoretical and practical learning experiences, the programs address the needs of the modern urban classroom and prepare teachers who act as agents of change in schools—knowing not only what to teach and how to teach, but also how to make a difference in the lives of students. Columbia students are prepared to meet State of Illinois teacher certification standards and to enter the profession with a strong academic base and extensive classroom experience. In addition, their readiness to become successful teachers is enhanced by a capstone project which integrates Illinois Professional Teaching Standards with pedagogical processes and artifacts to depict the knowledge, experiences, and growth of the teacher candidate. The portfolio also contains a demonstration of the student's ability to conduct systematic inquiry into the effectiveness of his or her teaching, a concept referred to as "action-research." This thoughtful compilation reinforces the student's graduate experience and serves as a continual resource throughout their teaching career.