Overview of Summer MA in Art Education (MAAE)
Maryland Institute College of Art
The low-residency Master of Arts in art education program is designed for experienced art educators who are ready to pursue their development as artists, teachers, reflective practitioners, and leaders in the field of art education. The program invites art teachers to reconnect with their studio practice while simultaneously developing new teaching strategies and skills associated with conducting qualitative classroom research. Closely mentored by MICA’s nationally recognized art educators and artists, students conduct qualitative case studies on student learning in art and create a body of personal studio work. This 33 credit program consists of two six-week summer residencies, course work conducted on-line during the fall and spring semesters, and winter seminars conducted on MICA’s campus over a long weekend in January.
During the first summer residency, students explore holistic, integrative, problem-centered and studio-based teaching strategies that can be implemented in K-12 classroom settings. Additionally, students are introduced to contemporary issues in art and art education that will inform their instructional practice and studio production. Midway through the summer session, students segue to the development of a personal body of art work in their studios, mentored by studio faculty. At the same time, the MA students begin learning how to conduct qualitative case studies in MICA’s “Young People’s Studio” classes. With this grounding, students develop a research topic and design an individual or collaborative case study to undertake in their own classroom settings during the fall and spring semesters.
During the fall and spring semesters, students participate in on-line courses with MICA art education faculty and fellow students using discussion board formats. Classroom case studies are implemented, data are gathered and analyzed, and readings in the literature develop theoretical contexts to inform the inquiries. Students return for the second summer, ready to refine their case study findings, make final revisions on case study reports, develop proposals for presentation at state and national conferences, and draft an article for publication. A final professional development seminar examines multiple paths that can lead to leadership positions within the field of art education. The summer concludes with an exhibition of studio artwork and research studies. Final presentations at the graduation ceremony reveal how students have integrated their growth as artists, teachers, and qualitative researchers Students emerge with renewed confidence in themselves as artists and teachers and are prepared to pursue leadership opportunities in the field of art education.
Recent alumni of the program have already pursued a range of leadership roles in art education including publication of research in peer-juried art education journals; educational consulting at major art museums; administrative roles at public and private schools; presentations of research at National and State Art Education Conferences; leading in-service workshops for art educator colleagues in their home school districts; and pursuing doctoral study.
Students enrolled in the MA program have come from all over the United States (such as Arizona, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Tennessee) and abroad, including New Delhi, India, and St. Croix, Virgin Islands.
Designated group studio space for the program is provided along with seminar style settings for research meetings. At the end of the second summer, exhibition space is provided for the cumulative body of studio work produced in the program. Advisement begins with the admission process and continues throughout the program to completion. The program director, and other faculty as needed, guides the research efforts of individuals and small groups.
All grades are on a letter-grade basis. Students must maintain a grade of “B” or above in all courses to maintain enrollment in the program Candidates must be present for the full six-week summer residency for the two summer sessions, complete required course work in the fall and spring, and return for the winter seminar. In addition, candidates must submit work by agreed upon dates to instructors. Because of the sequential nature of the coursework, completion of the MA program must occur within the two summer, one academic year calendar. Exceptions to this policy would occur only under unusual circumstances. It is the responsibility of the program director to determine if and when the work fulfills the expectation of the MA. Program completion is based upon satisfactory completion of all credit requirements, submission of research documentation, and studio work. The program director must approve any changes in the program plan, including requests for a leave of absence. The faculty reserves the right to counsel students out of the program who do not demonstrate attitudes and behaviors or performance consistent with the goals of the MA in Art Education program.