You’re a talented artist. You’re great with kids. You enjoy showing young people how to create things. Although teaching can be complex and demanding, your gifts are the right combination for a successful career in Art Education.
UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education is recognized nationally for the renowned art courses offered by its School of Art & Design. Art Education graduates have an excellent reputation as high-quality teaching professionals among school districts, and are highly sought after throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Program Overview
UW-Stout's Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education results in certification for K-12 and offers hands-on experience and great value:
- Four years to complete degree includes student teaching
- Mac laptop with design software included
- Nationally renowned art and design faculty
- First-year learning community
- Applied, authentic learning and leadership opportunities
help you stand out and step up
UW-Stout's School of Art and Design has received national and international acclaim. You will receive the best art instruction for state school tuition. The professor for art education courses has a Ph.D. in Art Education and more than 12 years of K-12 art teaching experience prior to leading the program.
100% of Our Graduates are Employed or Continuing Education
Prepared for a Career in Art Education
"I recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with my Bachelor of Science in Art Education and I can honestly say that I’m right where I’m supposed to be. I’m in the home stretch of completing my first year as an art educator. It seems like just yesterday I was learning about classroom management skills, writing my first lesson plan and completing my Educator Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA).
The Art Education Program at UW-Stout did a great job in offering me opportunities to prepare for my career after graduation. Their rigorous and informative courses such as Multiculturalism, Special Education, Educational Psychology and various studio art courses taught me about diversity, differentiated instruction for all learners and, gave me the opportunity to be in real-life K-12 art classrooms. Along with courses, they also have options for students to get involved in the local community by being part of the Arts Integration of Menomonie Program (AIM). AIM provides paid internships that allow you to teach your own lessons to students, work with other art educators and offers grants to attend conferences in and out of the state.
I was very involved throughout my college career with AIM and other clubs associated with the Art Education Program. I was able to be a part of the National Art Education Association, Children’s Art Club on campus, and had various internships at Menomonie schools. The most rewarding experiences I had during my time at UW-Stout were from the National Art Education Conferences in Seattle, WA and Boston, MA which I attended in 2018 and 2019. At these conferences, I discovered what it meant to be an art educator and I’ve never felt more in my element.
During my first year as an educator, there have been difficult obstacles and hoops to jump through, but I felt prepared and confident to conquer them. I look back at notes, lessons, and even create projects based off of work I completed in college. I’m truly grateful to have met and learned from so many amazing colleagues, artists and professors in my program. Every day I wake up excited, zealous and feel rewarded to know that I’m doing something I love."
-- Makaya Ruhe
B.S. Art Education
Compared to other universities, UW-Stout’s Art Education program explores more deeply into our content area — art! We know that you have to be a great artist in order to be a great art teacher. You'll “advance” in a medium of your choosing, and you present your own art exhibit during your final year.
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education.
Request Information
“Student Ambassador,” “Student of the Year” and “Scholar Athlete” are among the honors that Art Education students have earned. Many students find employment in art labs on campus. And we have a very active student organization. As an art teacher, you join the noblest of professions while sharing your passion for art with young people!
New First-Year Students
- There are no additional requirements for new first-year students.
Transfer Students
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher from the last institution attended.
Students who meet this requirement will be admitted to the university in their chosen Education major. Subsequent acceptance into a teacher education major and enrollment in professional education coursework will require successful completion of Benchmark I requirements. Additional information can be found at the School of Education website.
Students whose cumulative GPA is lower than the 2.75 will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis for admission consideration.
"UW-Stout is where to go if you want to be an art teacher. It has such a strong art program that I have thrived in. The university and city of Menomonie have been great communities."
-- Karli JoppB.S. Art Education
"We are helping students have an avenue to express themselves and create great artwork."
Dane Hodges
Art Education Student Teacher
"By far, the major highlights of my experience studying Art Education at UW-Stout were the many opportunities for hands-on experience and professional growth. From the very beginning of the program, there are so many community programs, student organizations, and exciting courses to choose from. I was building my leadership skills, my teaching pedagogy, and my understanding of student learning all before I even began student teaching! Now that I have graduated and have my very own teaching position in my own classroom, I fully believe that my teaching experiences at UW-Stout are what have prepared me to be where I am today and have helped me grow to become the art educator that I need to be for my students."
Amanda Kirkman
Art Teacher at Racine Unified School District
"I truly enjoyed my time as an Art Education major at UW-Stout. I feel that I graduated as an expert in my field due to excellent art and education courses and professors. There were numerous leadership opportunities and ways to get involved that allowed me to graduate feeling confident and prepared for my teaching career."
Rebecca Lindusky
Program Advisory Members
| Bob | Atwell | Professor | UW-Stout, Art and Art History |
| Daniel | Atyium | Assistant Professor | UW-Stout, Art and Art History |
| David | Beck | Associate Dean/Director | UW-Stout, SOAD |
| Cynthia | Bland | Professor | UW-Stout, Art and Art History |
| Lori | Brenner | Secondary (Middle School) Art Teacher | Menomonie School District |
| James | Bryan | Associate Professor | UW-Stout, Art and Art History |
| Tracy | DeRusha | Placement Coordinator | UW-Stout, SOE |
| Heather | Klanderman | Certification Officer | UW-Stout, SOE |
| Peggy | Larson | Elementary Art Teacher | Menomonie School District |
| Charles | Lume | Department Chair | UW-Stout, Art and Art History |
| Ann | Carlisle | Program Director, Art Education | UW-Stout, SOE |
| Bryan | Ritchie | Professor | UW-Stout, Art and Art History |
| Johna | Stern | Stout Alumni | Eau Claire School District |
| Tami Rae | Weiss | AIM Executive Director, Art Education | UW-Stout, School of Education(SOE) |
| Geof | Wheeler | Program Director, Studio Art | UW-Stout, Art and Art History |
| Gwen | Stein | NAEA President | Art Education student |
| Bailey | Iwen | CAC Coordinator | Art Education student |
| Amelia | Johnson | CAC Co-Coordinator | Art Education student |
This program is designed to meet educational requirements for licensure/certification in the state of Wisconsin. Professional licensure/certification prerequisites vary from state to state, and we are not able to determine whether our program meets prerequisites in other states. If you intend to work in another state, contact that state's regulatory authority to determine if our program will meet the licensure/certification requirements, and contact the UW-Stout Program Director for assistance. Please see the following website for additional information.
