Art Education, Track 2 is a Master Degree program (Hybrid) offered by Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. The program takes 36 units to complete, with a total tuition of $55,836.
Program Overview
Track 2: for graduates without a BFA in Art Education
The Art Education Master of Arts in Teaching program will prepare you for a career as a successful and innovative art teacher in K-12 classrooms. This program meets both national and California art education standards, and includes one semester of student teaching in a public school classroom, supervised by a Cooperating Mentor Teacher. Once you have completed all coursework, student teaching requirements, and passed both cycles of California Teacher Performance Assessment testing, you will be recommended for a California Single-Subject Credential in Art. The culmination of your degree program is a capstone project bringing together your knowledge, skills, and experience to produce an advocacy campaign that uses art education to address real problems in your community and raise awareness for the value of teaching and learning art.
Our students don’t just learn to instruct, they innovate, expanding the possibilities of where and how art is shared. From classrooms to museums, community hubs to entrepreneurial ventures, we map four dynamic paths: school-based teaching, museum education, community practice, and teaching-as-business. These tracks are introduced in the first semester (ARE 105 and 601) and threaded throughout the curriculum, conceptually and practically.
For those pursuing the California Teaching Credential, our MAT and Credential programs meet state accreditation requirements and offer a pathway to paid teaching positions even before graduation.
What sets this Program apart
Inspire a new generation of artists. In our School of Art Education, you’ll tap into unparalleled creative resources while joining a global community of educators. All of your education courses are designed specifically for teaching art, while cross-university access allows you to deepen your practice through art and design classes in related fields.
Our curriculum emphasizes essential teaching strategies while being innovative, individualized, and built for real classrooms. Fieldwork is integral to our program. From school observations, student interviews, and practice teaching to internships and capstone projects, you’ll apply what you learn in live teaching environments. Technology is embedded throughout—established and emerging digital tools become part of your creative and instructional process. You’ll graduate with the tools, experience, and portfolio to guide others toward artistic fulfillment—and to define your place in the future of art education.
Online Learning Program. [img data-src="https://bpiqpjsgebtv-u1573.pressidiumcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Art-Ed-Online-Learning-scaled.jpg"]
Admission Requirements and Process
The Academy requires graduate applicants to demonstrate their ability and intent to complete a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or Master of Architecture program (M. Arch.). After submitting the application form and application fee, graduate applicants must submit a statement of intent, a résumé, college transcripts showing completion of at least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent, and a portfolio/reel. Upon receiving all application requirements, the department will review and will recommend that the student be accepted, not accepted or allowed to enroll in Graduate Preparatory Coursework.
This track has its own entry requirements, published on the program page:
- Minimum 2.5 GPA in an earned Bachelor’s Degree
- Demonstrate Subject Matter Competency
- TB Health Certificate
- CTC Clearance
- CPR & First Aid Workshop Certificate
- Constitution Requirement
- Resume
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
State authorization for online education.
Online education providers are required to seek authorization by many U.S. states and territories to enroll their residents and those physically located in their jurisdictions. Academy of Art University restricts enrollment for applicants in and from areas where online programs are not approved. Current and prospective students are encouraged to consult the university’s State Authorization for Distance Education Status Table to determine whether the Academy is authorized to offer their degree programs in the state where they will be located while taking online courses.
General Requirements
- Minimum 2.5 GPAMinimum 2.5 GPA in an earned Bachelor’s Degree.
- Subject Matter CompetencyDemonstrate Subject Matter Competency.
- TB Health CertificateProvide a TB Health Certificate.
- CTC ClearanceObtain a Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) Certificate of Clearance.
- CPR & First AidProvide a CPR & First Aid Workshop Certificate.
- Constitution RequirementMeet the Constitution Requirement.
- Résumé and recommendationsSubmit a résumé and 2 letters of recommendation.
Application Process
- 1Meet with an Admissions SpecialistSchedule a meeting with one of our admissions specialists. They’ll guide you to the school and program that best fits your goals and help you navigate the application process.
- 2Apply for admissionSubmit the graduate application form and the $50 non-refundable application fee.
- 3Send your supporting documentsSubmit your Statement of Intent, résumé and college transcripts showing completion of at least a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
- 4Submit your portfolio/reelSubmit a body of work representing your chosen discipline; registration for the appropriate classes is based on the skills demonstrated in the portfolio/reel.
- 5Department reviewThe department reviews your application and recommends that you be accepted, not accepted or allowed to enroll in Graduate Preparatory Coursework.
- 6File the FAFSAComplete the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov and use Academy of Art University’s Federal School ID Number: 007531.FAFSA Code for San Francisco Campus: 007531
Program Schedule
Start dates. Spring 2027 semester starts 2/3/2027 (application deadline 1/25/2027); Summer 2027 starts 6/21/2027 (deadline 6/14/2027); Fall 2027 starts 9/8/2027 (deadline 8/30/2027).
Graduate students must carry a minimum study load of 9 units to be considered as full-time students. Students are expected to attend summer semesters to meet their scheduled completion date.
Our online programs offer immersive classroom experiences both in real time and on demand.
The program includes one semester of student teaching in a public school classroom, supervised by a Cooperating Mentor Teacher.
- February 03rd, 2027
- June 21st, 2027
- September 08th, 2027
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Tuition. Graduate & Art Teaching Credential tuition for Fall 2026–Summer 2027 is $1,551 per unit for domestic students ($1,857 per unit for international students); tuition is the same for both on-campus and online classes. This 36-unit program’s tuition is $55,836 for domestic students.
Fees.
- Application Fee: $50 (one-time, nonrefundable)
- Registration Fee: $50 per semester (nonrefundable after the cancellation period)
- Enrollment Fee: $95 for first-term domestic students, charged in lieu of the $50 registration fee ($100 for international students)
- Student Activity Fee: $30 per semester, on-site only; waived for students taking all courses online
- Student Tuition Recovery Fund: $0
- Course fees vary by course; fees may be different for on-campus sections and online sections
- Materials/Supplies: $545 average per semester
Estimated total program cost for a full-time, onsite, domestic student (effective fall semester 2026): application fee $50, enrollment fee $95, registration fees $200, student activity fees $150, estimated course fees $1,285–$3,093, for an estimated $57,616–$59,424 due for the entire program.
Payment options. Academy of Art offers many different ways to help you structure your payments, including interest-free installment plans and pre-payment options. The installment plan enables students to pay their tuition in four separate payments during Fall and Spring and two separate payments for Summer.
Financial aid. Federal aid available to Academy of Art University graduate students includes Federal Work Study, Direct Stafford (unsubsidized) Loans and Direct Graduate PLUS Loans. Complete the FAFSA using Academy of Art University’s Federal School ID Number: 007531.
Military and veterans. The Academy processes the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), the Yellow Ribbon Program, Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31), DEA (Chapter 35), Military Tuition Assistance and MyCAA.
Net Price Calculator. Estimate your cost with the Academy of Art University Net Price Calculator: https://npc.collegeboard.org/student/app/academyart
Living expenses. The cost of attendance budget includes the costs of tuition and fees, books, supplies, monthly allowances for room and board, transportation to and from school, and personal expenses such as clothes. Estimates of (Monthly) Living Expenses, 2026-2027:
- Food & Housing: $1,393 (student living with parents); $2,729 (student not living with parents); $4,133 (student living on campus, avg.)
- Personal Expenses: $507; $634; $441
- Transportation: $134; $184; $154
Federal student loan debt. From the program’s School Performance Fact Sheet:
- Most recent three year cohort default rate, as reported by the United States Department of Education: 2023: 0%; 2024: 0%.
- The percentage of enrolled students in 2023/2024 receiving federal student loans to pay for this program: 2023: 67%; 2024: 71%.
- The percentage of graduates in 2023/2024 who took out federal student loans to pay for this program: 2023: 50%; 2024: 100%.
- The average amount of federal student loan debt of 2023/2024 graduates who took out federal student loans at this institution: 2023: $14,395; 2024: $14,864.
Curriculum
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Degree & Credential Program Track 2 – Major Classes.
This program is available online.
Unit Requirements.
- Major Coursework: 30 units
- Directed Study: 6 units
- Total: 36 units
MAT Degree & Credential Program Requirements.
- Successful completion of Capstone Project
- Minimum grade of C in all required 36 units
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and the following Academic Study Requirement:
- 1 Cross Cultural Understanding course
Program Learning Outcomes.
Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
Teaching Skills
- Utilize developmentally appropriate instructional strategies and scaffolding to make subject matter comprehensible to students
- Evaluate student learning using a variety of formative and summative assessment strategies
- Engage and support students in learning through rigorous projects, tasks, and student interest
- Develop various lesson and curriculum plans to meet the diverse needs of students including English Learners and students with IEPs, based on the California Visual Art Standards
- Create and maintain a classroom environment with expectations that are conducive to learning
Professional Readiness
- Create a professional portfolio of artwork and curriculum suitable for seeking employment as a credentialed art educator in the state of California
- Inform current and future educational practice by demonstrating reflective teaching and application
Art Education Advocacy
- Produce a comprehensive, evidence-supported, and compelling video presentation that advocates for an Art Education problem or topic and calls on viewers to take specific action
- Identify and research an existing problem or topic related to Art Education, describing the relevant history, any associated harms, and potential impact
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Career Outcomes
Students in the Art Education program gain meaningful, real-world experiences that shape them into confident emerging educators. Their preparation includes:
- comprehensive exploration of the art education field
- complete fieldwork, capstone projects, and internships to put theory into practice
- produce curriculum to use in their teaching
- develop a professional online teaching portfolio and digital media to promote themselves and their work
- explore various career paths within the field, including schools, museums, community education, and entrepreneurship
Program performance. From the program’s School Performance Fact Sheet filed with the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (calendar years 2023 & 2024, revised November 25, 2025):
- On-Time Completion Rate: 2023: 17% (1 of 6 students available for graduation); 2024: 0% (0 of 0 students available for graduation).
- Placement Rate % Employed in the Field: 2023: 0% (0 of 2 graduates available for employment); 2024: 0% (0 of 1 graduates available for employment).
- License Examination Passage Rates: Not Applicable.
Graduation and retention rates (university-wide).
- Graduate Students (Full-time): % of all incoming full-time students (503) in Fall 2019 graduated in 5 years: 75%.
- Retention Rates – 2024 Cohort: All incoming full-time graduate students (199) in Fall 2024 re-enrolled in Fall 2025: 81%.
Professional licensure.
Academy of Art University’s Art Teaching Credential programs are accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and prepare students for a California K-12 Art Teaching Credential. Our Art Teaching Credential and the Master of Arts in Teaching (California Single Subject Credential in Art AND master’s degree) do not meet the educational requirements for other U.S. states and jurisdictions and include observing and teaching art to students in-person in California public schools.
What to expect as a Academy of Art University student
Even if you are taking all of your Art Education classes online, your experience doesn’t have to stay virtual. You can live and study in our San Francisco dorms, taking courses across other art and design schools at the university, accessing professional studio spaces, and working with the same high-end technology used in the field.
Campus Address
Why Accreditation Is Important
Academy of Art University is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), currently on warning; its accredited status continues during the Warning period.
The Single Subject Art Teaching Credential Program is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
Approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).
- A reliable indicator of quality
- Approved program of study
- Qualified instructors
- Recognition by employers nationwide
Accreditations
Student Demographics
These are demographics for all students at the San Francisco Campus (IPEDS, 2024).
Percentages are of total fall enrollment. 910 students whose race or ethnicity was not reported are included in that total but shown as no category, so the figures above come to 83.4% rather than 100%.
Testimonials
Images
