Art Education K-12 Certification
The Post-Baccalaureate Art Education Program at MECA is an accredited, state-approved full-time, ten-month program, which blends the worlds of artist, educator and scholar. Students will gain an in-depth, comprehensive understanding of how artistic and educational skills intersect through the exploration of theories of artistic development and engagement in educational practices. Our courses reflect the most progressive approaches in the field related to teaching art.

Here at MECA we respect and value educators; we offer you the opportunity to work collaboratively with artists, community leaders, and museum and art educators to develop a uniquely personal philosophy and practice of teaching, one which will involve you in service learning, community art and teaching in public, private and alternative schools. The program prepares the artist to teach in elementary  middle and high schools with a critical focus on contemporary visual culture, traditional arts and multicultural education. Preparing students to become effective artist-teacher-scholars is the aim of MECA’s Art Education program.

Upon successfully completing the program and passing the Praxis exams, students will be eligible to be certified art educators in Maine, and all fifty states. Individual states have different requirements and students must apply for certification through each state’s teacher certification governing board.

Collaborative
Mission: to offer students the opportunity to work collaboratively with artists, community leaders, and museum and art educators to develop a uniquely personal philosophy and practice of teaching, one in which each student is involved in service learning, community art, and teaching in public, private, and alternative schools.

Experiential
The Art Education program at MECA emphasizes experiential learning. Our connections with the Greater Portland community of public and private schools, galleries, professional artists, school administrators, and K -12 art educators, coupled with MECA’s own resources--a vibrant visiting artist’s program, the Joanne Waxman Library, and the Institute of Contemporary Art--make our program an exceptional pathway to a teaching career in the arts.

Intimate
Our small class size and dedicated faculty form a close-knit community where students receive individualized attention and peer support to pursue their professional goals in personally meaningful, creative, engaging, and self-directed study.

Rigorous
The demanding schedule encompasses varied teaching opportunities to explore, experiment and develop an understanding of the best contemporary practices in art education. Students work collaboratively with faculty to develop art experiences for diverse populations.