This program is designed for students already holding a bachelor’s degree who seek certification to teach art in public schools. Students may apply for Connecticut state teaching certificates after completing the program in good standing and meeting all other mandates. Applicants must receive admission to the College of Education. Information on how to apply and answers to frequently asked questions are listed below.
Apply to the Program
Students applying to an initial educator certificate in Connecticut must meet six academic and non-academic requirements established by the College of Education, which are consistent with certification requirements of the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE). They include the following:
- Have a minimum of 39 semester hours of credit in general academic courses in five of the following six areas, including a survey course in United States history that is at least three semester hours of credit (all programs except Comprehensive Special Education). These six areas include Natural Sciences, Social Studies, Fine Art, English, Mathematics, and Foreign Language.
- Take the Praxis Core, SAT or ACT (Math, Writing, Reading) to satisfy the State Board of Education competency examination requirement. Scores must be within the last five years. Candidates who do not achieve a satisfactory score will be required to participate in remediation that conforms to forthcoming guidelines.
- Have a minimum 2.7 cumulative GPA for all undergraduate courses taken at the time of application. An official transcript must be submitted from every college/university attended by the applicant, excluding SCSU.
- Submit an admission essay demonstrating proficiency in English and following the prompt.
- Art and Design department Interview. The Art and Design department will contact you for an interview after all your materials have been submitted. At the time of the interview, we will require you to send the contact information of two references. For those two references, please prepare to share the name, professional title, institution affiliation, email address, and phone number of two individuals who can speak to your potential to become an effective art teacher and your demonstration of responsibility in the community.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the course requirements for the B.S. in Art Education?
The course requirements for the undergraduate program in Art Education can be found here.
What are the coursework requirements for the Post-Bac Program?
37 Credits Required
GPA 2.7 Required for admittance
Maintain 3.0 in all coursework
Introductory Courses:
ART 270 - Introduction to Art Education
EDU 200 - Teachers, Schools, and Society
SHE 203 - School Health
Intermediate Courses:
ART 370 - Strategies and Methods for Teaching Art
EDU 316 - Child Development and Psychology for Educators
ART 414 - Socially-Engaged Art Education
Advanced Courses:
ART 371 - Curriculum Development in Art Education
EDU 471 - Supporting English Learners for School Success
RDG 470 - Literacy in Content Areas
Pick one of these:
SED 481 - Teaching Exceptional Students in Elementary Education Classroom
OR
SED 482 - Teaching Exceptional Students in the Secondary Classroom
Student Teaching Courses:
ART 412 - Professional Topics in Art Education
ART 335 - Student Teaching I
ART 435 - Student Teaching II
How is the program designed?
The program is designed to give teacher candidates a broad overview of education, in general, as well as a deeper understanding of art education pedagogy more specifically. Teacher candidates will apply their knowledge of artistic techniques and processes to build skills in planning, teaching, and assessment. Teacher candidates will become familiarized with concepts in artistic development, differentiated instruction, and culturally sustainable teaching practice. Teacher candidates are expected to engage in a self-reflective practice that will fuel their passions to grow and strengthen their abilities as an art teacher.
Are scholarships available?
Check out the scholarship information at https://www.southernscholarship.org/
or https://www.southernct.edu/education/scholarships
[Note: As a Post-Bac you are an undergraduate student.]
How do I start my application to the Post-Bac program?
You can start your application at https://www.southernct.edu/admissions. You will be applying for the Post-Baccalaureate program.
What do I need to know before I apply?
The following State and University requirements must be fulfilled before starting the Post-Bac program. You must have:
- Obtained an undergraduate or master’s degree in art or 30 credits in studio art plus 9 credits in art related courses, such as art history or cultural studies.
- Completed 39 General Education credits in 5 out of 6 of the following areas: Natural Sciences, Fine Arts, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Social Studies, and English
- Taken the Praxis Core in Writing, Reading, and Math
- Earned cumulative G.P.A. of 2.7
What does the application require?
Review the requirements for admissions on the College of Education’s website: https://www.southernct.edu/education/certification-programs
- Admissions Essay explaining the candidate’s goals and interests in the program. See prompt here: https://www2.southernct.edu/academics/schools/education/SoEAdmissionEssay2018.pdf
- College transcripts
- Praxis Core scores
- Department Interview. We will contact you once all your materials have been submitted. At the time of the interview, we will require you to send the contact information of two references. For those two references, please prepare to share the name, professional title, institution affiliation, email address, and phone number of two individuals who can speak to your potential to become an effective art teacher and your demonstration of responsibility in the community.
What are the application deadlines?
May 1 for Fall acceptance
November 1 for Spring acceptance
How long is the Post-Bac program?
The certification program will take you about two years to complete. Keep in mind that during your student teaching, you will need to be enrolled full-time. Most courses are offered at night. Some classes are offered during winter and summer sessions.
Will there be field experience requirements?
Throughout the program, students will be expected to take part in field experiences that will enrich their understanding of teaching and support concepts learned in the course work. Fieldwork hours vary between 20-40 hours depending on the course. Field experiences will be divided between suburban and urban classrooms in elementary, middle and high schools. In the final semester, teacher candidates will partake in a full-time student teaching experience totaling 16 weeks.
Are there other requirements?
Toward the end of the program teacher candidates must complete two exams: the Praxis II Art Content exam (5135) and edTPA.
What if I’m still trying to decide?
You are welcome to try out the program before you apply by signing up for a course as a visiting student. Start with ART 270 or EDU 200. Note: Students seeking admission to any professional teacher education program may take no more than two professional education courses before they are accepted. To register for courses visit https://inside.southernct.edu/onestop/visitingstudents
What if I already hold a certification in another subject area?
See information about cross-endorsement from the State at https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/Certification/Bureau-of-Certification/Cross-Endorsements
Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. Patty Bode, Art Education Coordinator and Assistant Professor in Art Education at bodem2@southernct.edu