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Main Office
Art Building, Room 224

Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #305100
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-4777

E-mail: aeah@unt.edu
Web site: www.art.unt.edu

Denise Baxter, Interim Chair

Faculty 

Generally speaking, the discipline of art education concerns itself with the theory and practice of teaching art to others. At the undergraduate level, a degree in visual arts studies prepares one for a career as an elementary, middle and/or high school art teacher and for careers in community art programs and other educational facilities. A master’s degree in art education allows students to further their knowledge of art education practice and research and to focus on a specific type of art education (such as art museum education). Students pursue a doctorate in art education to research and develop new theories of art teaching and learning and to prepare themselves to be researchers and professors at colleges and universities.

Art historians research and publish to enhance understanding of art and its place within society. Studying the art and architecture of diverse world cultures and periods, art historians examine the historical, social and cultural significance of art works for their creators and users. As an interdisciplinary, liberal arts major, a degree in art history prepares students for varied careers in the art world and beyond. Holding an advanced degree allows students to pursue careers in museums, galleries and university teaching.

Research

The Department of Art Education and Art History is staffed by 13 full-time faculty who pursue a broad array of research questions using diverse methods of data collection and analysis. Faculty work closely with students on research projects and publications, providing valuable experience for developing scholars. Additionally, there is an active visiting artists/scholars program that exposes students to scholars from around the globe.

In art education, faculty research focuses on art museum education, art teacher preparation and placement, and arts leadership. Recent projects include studies of the legal issues affecting art teachers, pre-service teacher mentoring, the use of technology in the art classroom, training leaders in the arts, and art museum educators and social justice. The graduate art education program works closely with the North Texas Institute for Educators on the Visual Arts (NTIEVA), one of the six regional centers for excellence in visual arts education.

The research agendas of the art history faculty span the globe and address a broad chronology. Faculty research examines Jain cave temples in India, Spanish and French Romanesque architecture, 18th-century French fashion plates, British art in the late 20th century, modern art in the Arab world, art history pedagogy, and printmaking in colonial Mexico. Several art history faculty members participate in the women’s studies, studies in sexualities, and international studies programs. Teaching students how to become active researchers is a crucial component within the art history program and students are encouraged to work independently and to collaborate with faculty.

Degree Programs

The department offers graduate programs leading to the following degrees:

• Master of Arts with a major in art education 
• Master of Arts with a major in art history 
• Doctor of Philosophy with a major in art education 

The department offers graduate academic certificates in art museum education  and arts leadership .

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet requirements for admission to the Toulouse Graduate School. Applicants to the MA programs in art history and art education must submit a recent term paper or a sample of professional writing. Applicants to the PhD program in art education must submit at least two samples of academic or professional writing, or one sample of academic or professional writing and a slide portfolio of approximately 20 appropriately labeled slides or CD of recent artwork. All applicants should submit a statement of objectives, a minimum of two letters of recommendation (three letters of recommendation for the PhD program) and Graduate Record Examination scores.

Prospective applicants for graduate degree programs must obtain admission forms from the UNT graduate dean and information from the College of Visual Arts and Design at www.art.unt.edu. Admission deadlines are as follows:

• Fall term/semester: February 1
• Spring term/semester: October 1

Funding

Each term/semester the department is able to provide a limited number of area assistant/teaching assistant/teaching fellow positions for graduate students. If interested, the student should fill out an application and turn it in by the deadline listed on the college web site.

The Department of Art Education and Art History has a limited number of scholarships of up to $1,000 each. Students interested in applying should consult the college web site.

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