Teaching art has real impacts on student’s lives, including increased compassion, improved writing skills, reductions in disciplinary action, and more engagement with school. If you love art and education, you may be the perfect candidate for a master’s in art education online program that allows you to gather advanced skills in both art and teaching that can make a huge difference in the world, either in schools, museums, or community settings. Whether you are an artist, an educator, or already an arts educator, check out our list of the best online art education master’s programs that offer you the chance to keep your day job while delving deeper into the beauty and life-changing world of teaching art to others.
What is an Online Art Education Master’s Like?
A master's in art education combines study in learning theories, art practice, and classroom applications. The best online art education mater’s programs have classes in curriculum planning, teaching art, art history and appreciation, research methods, and studio practice elements that include multiple possible art mediums. When you enroll in a master’s in art education online, you can expect mostly online classes with the possibility of some on-campus studio practice intensives. Most schools offer asynchronous online classes, meaning that you can watch videos, complete assignments, and participate in chat forums at whatever time of day or night is convenient to your schedule. Some synchronous class meetings, group work sessions, or meetings with faculty may be required, but the flexibility to schedule these around other commitments makes it easy to squeeze study into a busy life.
Students who choose to take a master’s art education online degree program may already be art teachers or museum educators, they might be artists who would like to teach, or they may be teachers in another subject area who want to switch to teaching art in a K-12 setting. The geographic and experiential diversity of students in an online art education master’s program makes for lively class chats, multiple perspectives on art and education, and a rich experience for all students. The age range of students can vary, with some just out of their undergraduate schooling and others looking to deepen their work in art education after working in another aspect of art or education for decades. You are never too old to get a degree that can bring you such satisfaction.
Master’s in Art Education: Degree Types
There are different degree types among the best online art education master’s programs, with some offering the Master of Arts (MA) and others conferring the Master of Education (MEd). More rare programs may have Master of Science (MS) programs in this specialty, but the vast majority are MA or MEd programs. Though called different names, the classwork remains much the same in both popular types of programs. An MEd may have more emphasis on pedagogy and theories of teaching, while the MA may focus a bit more on the art knowledge and practice. Each program has slightly different required and elective courses, so finding a program that suits your interests requires reading a bit further into the curriculum while exploring your own preferences and passions.
One major difference between programs is in whether or not they include the courses leading to teaching certification. Some master’s in art education online degrees are designed for teachers who already have their state teaching certification or license, and therefore do not offer the courses needed for certification. Some programs have optional extra classes that can lead to certification for those who do not have a teaching certificate, or who are certified in a different subject area. Whether you are coming from a strong arts background and just want the certificate to allow you to teach or are already practicing as an art teacher, you need to choose the right program to fit your career goals. Getting an art education degree online accredited and appropriate for your needs is possible, but you must consider what your state’s requirements are for teaching. If your goal is working in museum or community education programs, the certification may not be necessary, but it is for most PreK-12 teaching positions.
What Can I Do with a Master’s in Art Education?
The meaningful careers that graduates of a master’s art education online aspire to can vary, but most are interested in teaching art in one of the following settings: PreK-12 public school classrooms, private schools, community colleges, museum education programs, community arts organizations, or arts advocacy positions. Although they don’t separate out art teachers from others, the median salary for kindergarten and elementary school teachers is $60,660, while that for middle school teachers is $60,810 and for high school teachers it is $62, 870. Postsecondary school art teachers who work in junior colleges make a median of $90,980. Museum educators make between $23-43k according to Payscale.com. Community arts workers have average annual earnings of $40,674. Job growth in most of these areas is about average as compared to other career choices.
More far-flung job possibilities include working as an art director for film or magazine shoots, curating exhibits for museums and galleries, archiving artworks in a museum, or managing a gallery. Some graduates choose to take their skills in teaching and art to different job types, yet teaching positions have much appeal for those want to see art become an integral part of our educational and cultural norms. The best online art education master’s programs incorporate some skills that allow graduates to go beyond the defined areas of education in schools or museums and allow students to pursue their passions in different directions.
10 Best Online Art Education Masters’ Programs
Below you’ll find the most affordable master’s in art education online programs. Each of these online degrees are available at least 80% online, most 100% online.
Eastern Illinois University
Degree: Master of Arts in Art Education
Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $10,633The master’s in art education online from Eastern Illinois University is a part time program designed for practicing art teachers. The 32-33 credit program includes online courses during the year, and then eight-day summer intensives for the two years of the program. Courses in the program include Artistic Development & Learning: Contemporary Perspectives on Artistic Learning from Preschool Through Adulthood, Assessment & Curriculum Design in Art Education, Creative Technology in Art Education, and Navigating the Virtual Museum. The summer intensives are hands-on practice and students have a choice of concentrations that include printmaking, clay, digital media, water media, casting, and fiber. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree and at least a 2.75 GPA and current teaching licensure in art education. Tuition is the same low price for in state and out-of-state students. The EIU program combines convenient online courses with face-to-face studio time during the summer, making this one of best colleges for art education with an affordable option for art teachers to get their master’s degree.
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Master of Arts in Art EducationUniversity of Central Florida
Degree: Master of Arts in Teaching / Art Education
Total Cost (In-State): $12,111
Total Cost (Out-of-State): $25,708University of Central Florida offers an online art education degree that leads to certification for those who either have a non-education bachelor’s degree, or are certified teachers in another subject. Available as a fully online degree with most options available online, there are start dates in spring and summer semesters. Distance learners from anywhere pay the same low tuition as in-state residents, and the program requires a minimum of 37 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Courses include Principles of Instruction and Classroom Management, Teaching Art K-12, Art for Exceptionalities, and Teaching Art Appreciation with Interdisciplinary Strategies. The program includes creation of an extensive online portfolio of reflective practice and artifacts demonstrating professional development. Applicants need to have either a passing score on the Florida Teacher Certification/General Knowledge exam or acceptable GRE scores. The program is available in all US states and territories, and international students are welcome. For an affordable and completely online art education degree, the UCF program is perfect for students near campus or around the world.
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Master of Arts in Teaching / Art EducationUniversity of Nebraska at Kearney
Degree: Master of Arts in Education / Art Education
Total Cost (In-State): $12,769
Total Cost (Out-of-State): $17,197The online MA Ed in Art Education from University of Nebraska at Kearney offers two options: classroom education or museum education emphasis. The classroom emphasis track is designed for current K-12 art teachers, as this master of arts in art education does not lead to teacher certification. The museum track is for anyone pursuing work in museum education. Courses in the 36-credit program include Curriculum Development & Assessment in PK-12 Classrooms, Art Education Research Methods, and Art for Students with Diverse Needs. There are electives offered such as Women in Art, Painting, and Intercultural Aesthetics and Pedagogical Practice. Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in art education or visual arts, and an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75. The tuition for this fully only program is very affordable for all students, and an especially great deal for Nebraska residents. UNK offers high-quality distance education with lots of interaction with faculty and peers, while still having the flexibility of asynchronous study, making this one of the best online art education master’s programs.
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Master of Arts in Education / Art EducationConverse College
Degree: Master of Education in Art Education
Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $15,346
Converse College’s master’s in art education is a two-year program that has online courses during the year and two-week on-campus residencies during the summer. The online courses are interactive and collaborative, and include Multicultural Art Education, History and Philosophy of Art Education, Research in Art Education, and Administration and Supervision in Art Education. The 36-credit program requires applicants to have a degree in art or art education, a certification in art education (plus Praxis II scores), and a 2.75 GPA is required for non-provisional admission. For those who have not completed their art education certification, Converse offers a hybrid alternative certification program with all the credits counting towards the MEd Art Education degree. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and will complete their NBPTS portfolio during the second year of the program. The tuition is very affordable, and Converse is one of the best online art education master’s programs for those who have not completed their certification and want to include that as part of their master’s degree.
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Master of Education in Art EducationUniversity of Northern Iowa
Degree: Master of Arts in Art Education
Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $15,650The University of Northern Iowa’s online art education master’s works on the cohort model, where students progress through the coursework with the same group of peers. Classes meet on Wednesday nights over Zoom in addition to online asynchronous classwork, and students also meet individually with instructors. The first-year classes are eight weeks long, while the second year has 16-week courses. The program starts in the fall and takes five semesters of work including one summer session. Classes include Holistic Approaches for Art Education, Research Methods in Art Education, Seminar in Teaching Art, and Studies in Applied Project. The 30-credit program enrolls students who have a BA in art education, or those who have an art history or studio art bachelor’s plus the teaching certificate. Applicants should have a 3.0 GPA for full admission, although those with above a 2.75 will be considered for provisional admission. No GRE is required for applicants. The UNI master’s in art education online is great for those who seek a fully online program but also like the peer interaction of the cohort model of education.
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Master of Arts in Art EducationPennsylvania Western University
Degree: Master of Arts in Art Education
Total Cost (In-State): $18,768
Total Cost (Out-of-State): $21,903The Master of Arts in Art Education from Pennsylvania Western University is a 30-credit program designed for those with an undergraduate degree in art or art education and a teaching certification. There are also options for art majors who want to earn the certification, but that will require extra classes. Maximum flexibility is a feature of this program, with 100% online courses and the ability to take more or fewer classes at a time to fit your work and personal schedule. Classes include Strategies for Art Teachers, Aesthetics and Art Criticism for Art Education, Therapeutic Art Education, and Research in Education. Applicants need a 2.8 undergraduate GPA, or they will need to submit MAT or GRE scores along with their application. Employer education benefits and veteran’s education benefits can apply to this program. Pennsylvania Western University’s program is a great choice for those who seek an art education degree online accredited by the CAEP at an affordable price.
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Master of Arts in Art EducationAzusa Pacific University
Degree: Master of Arts in Art Education
Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $19,430
The Azusa Pacific University online art education degree allows students five different start dates per year, and offers two convenient 8-week class sessions each fall and spring semester. Students can take just one class at a time during the year, and then attend the one-week on-campus intensives in July to complete the degree in two years. Classes in the program include Contemporary Issues in Art Education, Artistic Growth and Human Development, Methods in Art Education Research, and Studio Art Exploration and Application II. Applicants just need to have a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA, and applications are processed on a rolling basis. Azusa Pacific is a Yellow Ribbon and military friendly school, plus it is a Christian school with a mission of turning out graduates who make a difference in the world. With affordable tuition, Azusa Pacific University is one of the best online art education master’s programs, and it is especially attractive to students who seek a Christian perspective.
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Master of Arts in Art EducationWestern Michigan University
Degree: Master of Arts in Art Education
Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $19,747
The master’s in art education online from Western Michigan University is a 30-credit program that is part of the extended university programs. While the program is designed for K-12 art educators, it doesn’t require an undergraduate degree in art education or a teaching certification to apply. All that is required for application is an undergraduate degree in art, a slide portfolio, a statement of intent, and three letters of recommendation. Classes in the degree include Art Education Theory, Graduate Topics in Art History, Research in Art Education, and Advanced Studio. The program includes 16 credits in art education, six credits in art history, and eight credits in studio classes, which can include drawing and painting, photography, ceramics, digital imaging, sculpture, printmaking, and jewelry/metalsmithing. With low tuition for residents and only a slightly higher cost for out-of-state students, the WMU degree is a solid affordable option for 100% online art education master’s.
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Could not look up degree for "Western Michigan University" using "274444"!University of Florida
Degree: Master of Arts in Art Education
Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $22,887University of Florida’s master’s art education online program features completely online courses during the year, and the option of on-campus or online studio intensives during the summer. The fall and spring semesters each have two 8-week courses, allowing you to concentrate on one class at a time, and the summer intensives are typically one week in length. The 36-credit program takes two years to complete if taken on the recommended schedule. Courses include Curriculum in Teaching Art, Art & Global Diversity, Independent Study, and Capstone Project. Electives include Art Education Beyond School Walls and Perspectives on Art Education, while studio options include photography, monotype, installation, narrative, painting, and ceramics. The University of Florida program offers a robust online community, affordable tuition, the choice of in-person or online studio experiences, and a holistic admissions process with no GRE required.
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Master of Arts in Art EducationAdelphi University
Degree: Master of Arts in Art Education
Total Cost (In-State & Out-of-State): $23,960
The art education degree offered online from Adelphi University is a two-year program that enhances the online classwork with in-person fieldwork in school classrooms. The hybrid format has placement options in the NYC area and can also accommodate fieldwork placements outside the area or internationally. Core courses in this comprehensive program include Digital Literacies and 21st Century Skills, Artistic Development and Creative Growth, and Dignity for All Students Training. The electives are very diverse, and include options such as Online Learning, Exploring the Arts: Museums and Performance Spaces, Writing Lives in a Networked Age, and Waldorf Education for the Public School Teacher. Application requires a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA, a portfolio, and scores from either the GRE or MAT. With a robust online and in-class curriculum, unique course offerings, and dedicated faculty make this a stand-out art education program for those in NY State and beyond.
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Master of Arts in Art Education
Start Today!
With some of the best colleges for art education making a master’s in art education online affordable, there is no reason to delay your study. It is easy to study online around your current job as a teacher or an artist, with little or no requirement for time spent on campus while you work towards your degree.