An M.A.T. in Art Education can turn your skills and passion for art into a teaching career. The program supplements your background in art with coursework in educational disciplines required for teaching licensure. Students will have the chance to work in Western Carolina University’s state-of-the-art studio spaces while learning from our accomplished faculty. The M.A.T. in Art Eduction program requires applicants to provide a letter of intent accompanied by a portfolio that demonstrates their level and areas of skill.
The M.A.T. in Art Education is is a 39-semester hour program that will develop your skills as a teacher and increase your understanding of art. Students will take courses like Foundations of Teacher Leadership in a Diverse Society; Child and Adolescent Development; Methods of Teaching Elementary School Art; and Contemporary Art. The program also includes practical experience during an semester-long internship paired with a seminar course. Successful completion of the program leads to recommendation of licensure from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
WCU’s M.A.T. graduates will be eligible to teach art in grades K-12. The National Education Association states the average salary for North Carolina public school teachers is $47,783 for the 2014-15 school year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting a 6% increase in high school teacher hirings by 2022. There are also a number of opportunities across the nation and internationally for primary and secondary teachers.