Art Education Degree

Are you passionate about creating art? Earn your degree in art education at Hardin-Simmons University and learn to share that passion with students and inspire them to become life-long artists.

HSU’s bachelor’s in art education offers opportunities to present your work in exhibitions and local businesses while you improve your craft and learn to work with new media. Through a balanced combination of art history, studio art courses, and teaching courses, you’ll be well-prepared to teach K-12 students, work as a museum educator, continue your education in an MFA program, or pursue a wide range of other art education jobs.

Our program is nationally recognized for its excellence by both the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and Texas Education Agency (TEA) Office of Accountability.

Experiential Learning in Our Art Education Degree

A key part of the degree in art education at HSU is our commitment to hands-on learning and service to the community. As an art education major, you’ll have many opportunities for art-based internships around the city, working in museums or galleries.

Gain unique experience as a volunteer teaching art and organizing events around Abilene, including Abilene’s Children’s Art and Literacy Festival. You’ll also benefit from chances to exhibit your work locally through juried exhibitions with other local universities, at businesses, and coffee shops, as well as at the Ira M. Taylor Memorial gallery at HSU.

Program Contact

Caleb Dulock

Art Department Head

Request Information

Majors

Art EC-12 (B.A.)

Minors

Why Earn Your Art Education Degree at Hardin-Simmons?

HSU professor and student interacting in art class

Attentive and Caring Faculty

We offer small class sizes, which means that you’ll get more opportunities to connect and collaborate with your peers, as well as to receive the academic support you need from art education degree faculty. Our highly experienced instructors work across many disciplines, including photography, film, graphic design, drawing, painting, and more.

State-of-the-Art Studios and Classrooms

As an art education major, you’ll have access to large, dedicated art studios, a design and digital media computer lab, and a new design and fabrication studio with 3D printers and CNC machines. Whatever your artistic medium of choice, our studios will provide you with the tools and spaces you need to see your ideas come to life.

Exhibition at Ira M. Taylor Memorial gallery at HSU

Career Preparation

Thanks to our focus on practical classroom experience and teaching preparation, 95% of art education degree program graduates pass the State Education Certification, and 100% find art education jobs after graduation.

What Can You Do With a Degree in Art Education?

Art educators work in many different settings: public and private schools, museums, galleries, and nonprofits. Outside of art education jobs, graduates can also find rewarding careers in graphic design, arts administration, and curation, among many other professional paths.

In addition to the personal and professional fulfillment you’ll get from sharing your passion for art, you’ll also benefit from a stable job outlook. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment for kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers is projected to grow 7 percent over the next decade, with up to about 124,000 job openings each year. Employment for high school teachers is slightly better, with 8% of growth over the decade.

Jobs for Art Education Degree Graduates

Art teacher
Arts administrator
Illustrator
Photographer
Curator

Program Details

The bachelor’s in art education program at Hardin-Simmons University offers more than just an extraordinary educational experience. We offer community.

As an art education major, you’ll have access to a wide variety of student honor societies and organizations to build lasting relationships and professional connections. HSU is part of the Kappa Pi art honors society network, which will provide you with scholarship and exhibition opportunities, as well as chances to participate in campus-wide art events.

Candidates for our Teacher Preparation Programs must meet certain requirements outlined in our Admission Requirements document.

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and Texas Education Agency (TEA) Office of Accountability has awarded Hardin-Simmons University Teacher Education Program a rating of “Accredited” under the Accountability System for Educator Preparation authorized by Texas Education Code 21.045 every year since the rating of teacher preparation entities has been awarded. Educator preparation programs are held accountable for the performance of their graduates on the state credentialing examinations required for certification. Programs must achieve a minimum pass rate on the tests by disaggregated subgroups (All, Male, Female, White, Hispanic, African American, Other) to receive a rating of “Accredited.”

TEA Complaint Process

Title II Data

We are committed to offering an affordable and accessible educational experience to art education majors. That’s why you’ll have exclusive access to several renewable scholarships through the art education program. You may also be eligible for general fine arts scholarships through HSU.

Learn more about scholarships at Hardin-Simmons University.

If you’re considering a bachelor’s degree in art education, you may also be interested in learning more about these programs at Hardin-Simmons University:

Theatre Education Degree (B.A, B.F.A.)

Music Education Degree (B.M)

Art Program