Art and Education Degree

Short answer

• An art and education degree is a bachelor's degree that combines study in art with preparation to teach, but the phrase covers two different routes, and telling them apart matters before you apply. In the first and most common reading, it means an art education degree: a single undergraduate program that joins studio art and art history with teacher preparation, so that graduates are prepared to seek a license to teach art in schools. In the second reading, it means earning an art degree first and then adding education study, such as a teaching credential, a postbaccalaureate program, or a master's degree in teaching, in order to become eligible for licensure. Both routes can lead to the same classroom, but they differ in how the degree is structured, how long the path takes, and which grade levels and subjects a license covers. A degree alone does not make someone a licensed teacher: in public schools, a state issued license or certificate is also required, and the requirements for that license vary by state. This article explains both readings, the coursework each route typically involves, how student teaching and licensure work in general terms, and the careers this kind of degree can and cannot lead to, so you can compare programs on substance rather than on their titles alone.

Two Readings of the Same Phrase

Search results for “art and education degree” mix two kinds of program, and the confusion is understandable, because colleges use overlapping names for them. Some programs are called art education, art education major, or art with an art education concentration. Others are called a Bachelor of Arts in art, a Bachelor of Fine Arts, or a Bachelor of Science in education, with teacher preparation added either inside the degree or after it. A program title alone does not tell you whether its graduates leave ready to apply for licensure, or whether further study is still needed.

The dominant intent behind the phrase is the art teacher route. Most people searching for it want to know how to become qualified to teach art in a school, what degree to choose, and what the training involves. That is the main audience for this article, and the art teacher route is treated as the primary path throughout. The second reading matters too, because some readers already hold an art degree, or plan to study art first and decide about teaching later, and they need to know how the add on route works. Serving both readings explicitly, rather than pretending the phrase has one meaning, prevents the most common misunderstanding: enrolling in a studio art degree and assuming it automatically qualifies you to teach in a public school.

A useful first question, then, is not “which college has the best program” but “does this program, as designed, lead to licensure, and in which state and for which grade levels?” A program that is built around licensure will include education coursework, supervised classroom experience, and preparation for the state’s required assessments. A studio art program that is not built around licensure may be an excellent art education in its own right, but its graduates will still need a separate teacher preparation route before they can teach in a public school. Neither path is better in the abstract. They suit different starting points, and the right choice depends on where you are starting from and where you want to teach.

The Main Route: An Art Education Major

An art education major is designed from the start as a teaching degree. It weaves together three strands: making art, understanding art, and learning to teach it. Students build studio skills across media such as drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, and digital media, although the exact mix depends on the institution. They also study art history and visual culture, so they can place artworks in context and teach students to look at art critically, not only to produce it. Alongside that subject study, they take education courses in learning, child and adolescent development, classroom management, lesson planning, assessment, and teaching methods specific to art. Field experiences in schools, which may begin with observation and assisting and build toward full responsibility for lessons, are part of the design rather than an optional extra.

The degree letters attached to this major vary. Some institutions award a Bachelor of Arts, some a Bachelor of Science, and some a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an art education concentration. The letters alone do not settle the question of quality or licensure. What matters is the program’s content: whether it includes the education coursework and supervised teaching practice that the state requires, and whether the institution’s teacher preparation program is approved by the state where you intend to teach. Two programs with different degree letters can both lead to licensure, and two programs with the same letters can differ, because licensure rules are set by states, not by degree titles. Always check the program’s licensure statement and the state education agency’s list of approved programs, rather than assuming a title guarantees eligibility.

Art education majors are usually aimed at a broad grade range, often kindergarten through grade 12, but that range also varies by state and program. Some licenses cover all school grades, while others are split between elementary and secondary levels. If you know you want to teach only younger children or only high school students, confirm which grade span the program’s license covers. It is also worth asking how the program handles art for students with different needs, including students with disabilities and students learning English, because art teachers work with the full range of learners in a school, not only with students who already love art.

For readers weighing this route against a general teaching degree, our guide to how do you become a teacher sets out the wider steps toward licensure, and our guide to how to become an art teacher explains the art specific version of that path in more detail.

The Second Route: An Art Degree Plus Teaching Preparation

The second route separates the two halves of the preparation. A student first earns a degree in art, such as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art, art history, or a related field, and then completes teacher preparation afterward. That preparation may take the form of a postbaccalaureate credential program, a master’s degree in teaching or in art education, or an alternative route to certification offered in the state where the graduate wants to teach. This route is common for people who discover an interest in teaching after starting or finishing an art degree, and for career changers who already hold a degree and want to move into teaching.

The advantage of this route is flexibility. A student who is unsure about teaching can study art deeply without committing to a teaching program, and can decide later. The disadvantage is time and cost: the teaching preparation is additional study on top of the art degree, and the total path may take longer than a single integrated art education major. It is also possible to complete an art degree and find that some of its courses do not count toward licensure requirements, which can extend the preparation further. Anyone considering this route should ask, before enrolling in the art degree, whether the institution offers a clear bridge into teacher preparation, and what that bridge would require.

Alternative routes deserve a note of their own, because they are often described in shorthand that makes them sound faster or easier than they are. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that all states offer an alternative route to certification for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree but lack the education courses required for certification, and that some such programs allow candidates to begin teaching under supervision while completing their preparation, while others require education coursework before teaching begins. Either way, the route still involves coursework, supervised practice, and assessments. It is an alternative sequence, not an exemption from preparation. Details, including which subjects and grade levels an alternative route covers, are set by each state, so a route that exists in one state may not exist in the same form in another.

A related option is a graduate degree in art education or teaching, taken after a bachelor’s degree in art or another subject. A Master of Arts in Teaching or a Master of Education with an art education focus can combine advanced study with licensure preparation, and some teachers pursue a master’s degree later in their careers for professional growth or to meet a state requirement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that some states require high school teachers to earn a master’s degree after certification and employment, which is a further reason to check the rules of the state where you plan to teach rather than assuming a bachelor’s degree is the end of formal study. For a general explanation of graduate degree titles, see our article on what an MA degree is.

Degree Types Compared

The labels BA, BS, and BFA describe different emphases, and understanding them helps you read program descriptions without being misled by the letters.

A Bachelor of Arts in art or art education typically balances studio work with a broader liberal arts education, including general education in subjects such as English, mathematics, science, and the social sciences. Students who value breadth, who may want to combine art with another interest, or who may later move into a field outside teaching often find this structure appealing. A Bachelor of Science in education with an art education focus typically gives more weight to education coursework and professional preparation, and may sit inside a college of education rather than a college of art. A Bachelor of Fine Arts typically gives the greatest weight to studio practice, with intensive work in chosen media and a substantial portfolio, and an art education concentration within a BFA adds the teaching strand to that studio heavy program.

None of these labels, on its own, guarantees licensure, and none of them bars a graduate from teaching. A BFA graduate can become a licensed teacher by completing the required teacher preparation, just as a BA graduate can. The practical difference is the balance of the degree: how much time goes to studio work, how much to art history, and how much to education. If you want to teach, the education strand and the supervised classroom experience are the parts that matter most for licensure, and they should be visible in the program’s published curriculum, not promised only in conversation.

Program length also needs a plain statement. A bachelor’s degree in the United States commonly requires at least 120 semester credits, and a full time student typically takes about four years, but art education programs sometimes require more credits than a standard degree because they must fit both art and education requirements into one program. Part time study, transferred credits, and additional requirements can all change the timeline. For general questions about what college study involves, see what classes are required in college.

Typical Coursework in General Terms

No two art education programs have identical curricula, and this section describes the pattern in general terms only. Treat any program that departs sharply from this pattern as a prompt for questions, not as proof of a defect: some programs organize the same learning under different course titles, and some emphasize particular media or approaches.

Studio courses form the first block. Students typically work in two dimensional and three dimensional media, develop drawing as a foundation skill, and build a portfolio that shows range as well as depth. Digital media, photography, and design courses appear in many programs, reflecting the range of art taught in schools today. The point of studio study for a future teacher is not only personal artistic growth, although that matters, but also the ability to teach processes safely, to demonstrate techniques, to manage materials and equipment, and to judge student work fairly across media the teacher may not personally prefer.

Art history and visual culture form the second block. Future art teachers need to talk about artworks from different periods and cultures, to connect art with history and society, and to help students interpret images critically. This block also supports the teacher’s work in designing a curriculum that goes beyond a single tradition, and in choosing examples that reflect the students in the classroom.

Education and pedagogy form the third block. This typically includes how children and adolescents learn and develop, how to plan a sequence of lessons rather than a single activity, how to manage a classroom where materials, tools, and movement all need organization, how to assess creative work in ways that are fair and useful, and how to adapt lessons for students with different needs and backgrounds. Art specific methods courses translate general teaching principles into the art room: sequencing skills across grades, teaching visual literacy, handling safety with tools and materials, and organizing exhibitions of student work.

General education and electives form the fourth block. These courses sit outside the major and give breadth, and they also matter for licensure, because some states require particular general coursework or a minimum grade point average across the degree. Transfer students should pay special attention here: a course that counted as general education at one institution may count differently at another, so a written transfer evaluation is worth obtaining before enrolling.

Student Teaching and Licensure

Student teaching is the supervised classroom placement that sits near the end of most teacher preparation programs, and it is often the part of the degree that students remember most clearly. During student teaching, a candidate works in a real school classroom under a mentor teacher, gradually taking responsibility for planning, teaching, and assessing lessons, and receiving feedback on that teaching. The placement is usually full time for a term, which makes it hard to combine with other full time work, and that practical point deserves a place in any honest discussion of the degree. Some programs spread classroom experience across several terms, beginning with observation and short teaching episodes and building toward the full placement. Either structure serves the same purpose: proving, under supervision, that the candidate can run a classroom, not only pass examinations about teaching.

Licensure, by contrast, is not awarded by the college. It is awarded by the state, and the college’s role is to prepare candidates to meet the state’s requirements. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states the general position plainly: public school teachers must have a state issued certification or license, and certification requirements vary by state but generally involve a bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average, completion of a student teaching program, a background check, and passing a general teaching certification test as well as a test of knowledge in the subject to be taught. For art teachers, the subject test concerns art content and, in some states, art teaching methods.

Several consequences follow from that state by state structure. First, a license earned in one state does not automatically transfer to another, although many states have reciprocity arrangements or review processes for out of state license holders, and the receiving state may still require additional coursework or tests. Second, private schools are not bound by the same state requirements: the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that teachers in private schools typically are not required to be licensed, although private schools usually seek teachers with a bachelor’s degree and subject knowledge. Third, a license usually has a grade span and a subject endorsement, so an art license is not a general license to teach any subject, and an elementary art license may not cover high school teaching without additional endorsement. Checking the exact endorsement, grade span, and renewal requirements, including any continuing professional development, is part of choosing a program, not an afterthought.

Candidates should also ask how a program supports them through the licensure assessments, what its candidates’ pass rates look like over several years rather than a single year, and what happens if a candidate does not pass an assessment on the first attempt. Programs differ in the support they offer, and those differences matter more than marketing claims about outcomes. No program can guarantee that a graduate will be licensed or employed, because licensure depends on the candidate meeting state requirements and employment depends on district hiring decisions.

Careers This Degree Can Lead To

The most direct career is teaching art in a public or private school, from elementary through high school depending on the license. Art teachers plan and deliver lessons, manage art rooms and materials, assess student work, exhibit student art, and often contribute to school culture through displays, performances, and cross curricular projects. Within teaching, there are variations worth knowing about: some art teachers work in a single school, others travel between schools in a district, and some combine art teaching with related duties such as advising a club or coordinating an exhibition program. Elementary art teachers generally teach a broad range of media to younger students, while secondary art teachers often teach more specialized courses such as ceramics, photography, or advanced studio classes.

Teaching is not the only path, and overstating the degree as a teaching only credential would mislead readers. Graduates with strong studio skills and teaching experience also work in community art centers, museums, and galleries, where they design and deliver education programs, workshops, and outreach activities. Some work as teaching artists, leading sessions in schools or community settings without holding a classroom teaching post. Others move into roles that draw on visual and instructional skills, such as instructional design, educational publishing, or arts administration, although these roles usually require additional experience or study beyond the bachelor’s degree, and they should not be presented as automatic outcomes of the degree.

Further study is another direction. Some graduates pursue a master’s degree in art education, teaching, fine arts, or a related field, whether to deepen studio practice, to move into curriculum leadership, or to meet a state requirement. Others add endorsements, such as special education or English as a second language, which can broaden the teaching roles open to them. Each of these steps involves its own requirements, and none of them should be promised as a guaranteed next step at the point of choosing an undergraduate program.

For readers still deciding whether classroom teaching itself is the right goal, our guide to qualities of a good teacher describes the personal qualities the work rewards, and our guide to how to become an elementary school teacher covers the elementary route in detail.

Careers It Does Not Guarantee

Honesty requires the other side of the list. An art and education degree does not guarantee a teaching job, a particular salary, or a license in a particular state. Hiring depends on district vacancies, budgets, and enrollment, and art posts in particular can be affected by school funding decisions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects little or no change in employment for kindergarten and elementary school teachers and for high school teachers from 2025 to 2035, while still projecting large numbers of annual openings, about 99,400 a year for kindergarten and elementary teachers and about 63,500 a year for high school teachers, mostly to replace workers who leave the occupation. Those national figures describe teaching overall, not art teaching specifically, and local conditions can differ sharply from the national picture. They should be read as context, not as a promise about art posts in any particular district.

The degree also does not guarantee a career as a professional exhibiting artist, an art director, or a museum curator. Those careers are real, and the studio training in an art education degree contributes to them, but they have their own entry requirements. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that art directors typically need at least a bachelor’s degree in an art or design subject plus five or more years of work experience in a related occupation, and that craft and fine artists commonly hold a bachelor’s degree but build careers through practice, reputation, and sales or commissions rather than through licensure. A graduate who wants one of those careers should plan additional experience, a portfolio, and professional connections beyond the teaching degree, rather than assuming the degree alone opens those doors.

Pay deserves the same caution. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of 63,820 dollars in May 2025 for kindergarten and elementary school teachers, with 63,970 dollars for elementary school teachers except special education and 62,680 dollars for kindergarten teachers except special education, and 72,040 dollars in May 2025 for high school teachers. These are national medians for teaching overall, not figures for art teachers, and actual pay varies by state, district, experience, education level, and whether the post is full time. A median is the point at which half of workers earned more and half earned less, so it should never be quoted as the salary a graduate will receive. For a sense of what college costs can look like alongside these figures, see our guide to how much is the average college tuition for 4 years.

Choosing a Program: Questions Worth Asking

Program choice is where general advice meets individual circumstances, and the questions below are designed to turn a brochure into evidence. They are not admissions advice for any individual reader, and answers will differ by institution and state.

First, ask whether the program leads to licensure, in which state, and for which grade levels and subject endorsement. Ask for that answer in writing, and check it against the state education agency’s approved program list. Second, ask how much supervised classroom experience the program includes, when it begins, and how placements are arranged. Third, ask what the program’s recent licensure examination results look like, and what support is available for candidates who need a second attempt. Fourth, ask about total credits and expected time to completion, including whether the program typically requires more than 120 credits, and what that means for cost and for financial aid. Fifth, ask about transfer credit in writing, if you bring prior college work, and about the cost of the full program rather than a single year’s figure. Sixth, ask about studio facilities, safety training, and portfolio expectations, because an art teacher needs to manage a working art room, not only to discuss art.

Two further checks are practical rather than academic. One is location: because licensure is state specific, studying in the state where you intend to teach usually simplifies the path, although it is not always required. The other is fit: visit studios and classrooms if you can, talk to current students and recent graduates, and look at student teaching placements, because the day to day experience of the program matters as much as its published curriculum. A program that looks strong on paper but offers thin classroom support may serve you worse than a less famous program with strong mentoring.

Cost and funding should be discussed in the same conversation. Tuition, fees, materials, and the unpaid or low paid period of student teaching all affect the real cost of the degree. Some students work during their degree, but full time student teaching limits that option in the final term, so financial planning should cover that term explicitly. No article can state what a particular program will cost a particular student, and any program that quotes a single total without explaining what it includes should be asked to break the figure down.

Who This Degree Suits, and Who Should Think Twice

This degree suits people who want both halves of the preparation: people who enjoy making art and who also enjoy teaching it, who are patient with beginners, who can organize materials and time, and who are interested in how children and young people learn. It suits people who are comfortable with the reality that school art teaching involves planning, assessment, communication with parents and colleagues, and administrative work alongside creative work. It also suits people who are willing to accept state requirements, examinations, and continuing professional development as part of a regulated profession.

It is a weaker fit for people who want only to make art and have no interest in teaching, because a substantial part of the degree is education study and supervised classroom practice that would feel like a detour. It is also a weaker fit for people who want a teaching license in a different subject, because an art endorsement does not qualify its holder to teach mathematics, science, or English. And it is a weaker fit for anyone who needs a guaranteed job or income on graduation, because no degree can offer that guarantee, and art teaching posts depend on local hiring. None of these points is a judgment on the reader. They are prompts to match the degree to the goal before enrolling, when changing direction is still cheap.

FAQ

What is an art and education degree? It is a bachelor’s degree that combines art study with teacher preparation. Most often it means an art education major designed to lead toward licensure to teach art in schools. It can also mean an art degree followed by separate teacher preparation, such as a credential program or a master’s degree in teaching.

Is an art education degree the same as an art degree? No. An art degree focuses mainly on studio practice, art history, and creative development. An art education degree adds education coursework, teaching methods for art, and supervised classroom experience, with the aim of preparing graduates for licensure. The distinction matters for public school teaching, where a license is required in addition to a degree.

What degree do you need to become an art teacher? For public schools, you typically need at least a bachelor’s degree and a state issued license or certificate. The bachelor’s degree may be an art education major or an art degree plus teacher preparation, depending on the route you choose and the rules of the state where you want to teach. Private schools typically are not required to follow the same state licensure rules, but they usually seek teachers with a bachelor’s degree and subject knowledge.

How long does an art education degree take? A full time bachelor’s degree commonly takes about four years, but art education programs sometimes require more than 120 credits because they combine art and education requirements, which can extend the timeline. Part time study, transferred credits, and additional licensure requirements can also change how long the path takes. Check the total credits and expected timeline for the specific program rather than assuming four years.

Can I teach art with an art degree but no teaching license? In a public school, generally no: public school teachers must hold a state issued license or certificate. With an art degree alone, you would still need to complete a teacher preparation route, such as a credential program, a master’s degree in teaching, or an alternative certification route in your state. In private schools, museums, community centers, and other settings, the requirements differ, and teaching art outside the public school system may not require a state license.

Does an art and education degree guarantee a teaching job? No. A degree and a license make you eligible to apply for teaching posts, but employment depends on district vacancies, budgets, and enrollment. National projections for teaching overall show little or no employment change from 2025 to 2035 alongside large numbers of annual openings from replacement needs, but those figures describe teaching overall, not art teaching specifically, and local conditions vary.

What can I do with an art and education degree besides classroom teaching? Graduates may work in museum or community art education, as teaching artists, or in roles that draw on visual and instructional skills, such as arts administration or educational publishing, although those roles usually require additional experience or study. Further study, such as a master’s degree or an added teaching endorsement, can also broaden the options available.

Should I choose a BA, a BS, or a BFA in art education? Choose on the program’s content, not on the letters alone. Check whether the program leads to licensure in your state, how much supervised classroom experience it includes, and how it balances studio work, art history, and education coursework. The letters describe emphasis, but licensure depends on the program meeting state requirements.

Sources & references

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, "Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers" (figures cited are for May 2025; page opened 4 November 2026).
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, "High School Teachers" (figures cited are for May 2025; page opened 4 November 2026).
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, "Art Directors" (figures cited are for May 2025; page opened 4 November 2026).
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, "Craft and Fine Artists" (figures cited are for May 2025; page opened 4 November 2026).