Art Education – Bachelor's Degree Program (BA)

Study Art Education at the University of Montana

Prepare for a career as an art teacher in Montana and across the nation. Our bachelor’s degree in art with an art education concentration emphasizes an understanding of arts and visual culture in a global, culturally diverse, and technological society.

In the art education major, you’ll gain real-world teaching experience working with children in P-12 classrooms. You’ll also learn to create an engaging curriculum that is research-based, interdisciplinary, and collaborative.

Our faculty are nationally recognized artists and award-winning teachers and include recipients of prestigious grants including Fulbright Fellowships and the United States Artist Award. When you graduate, you can look forward with confidence: 96% of our art education majors find employment as art teachers.

What can you do with an art education degree?

The degree in art education is primarily designed to prepare you for art teacher jobs in P-12 classrooms — in Montana and throughout the United States. But there’s more you can do with this degree than teaching in traditional classrooms. As an art education major, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of teaching art, as well as creative problem-solving and critical-thinking skills that you can apply to a number of different careers.

Art education jobs

Here is a selection of jobs and careers you might pursue with a bachelor’s degree in art education from the University of Montana:

• Preschool teacher
• K-12 art teacher
• School arts program administrator
• Museum educator
• Community arts organizer
• Art therapist

Art teacher salaries

How much can you earn as an art teacher? Here’s a breakdown of average teacher salaries in Montana based on recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Elementary school teacher: $52,160
• Middle school teacher: $58,710
• High school teacher: $52,360

Experiential learning in the art education degree at UM

The degree in art education offers meaningful opportunities for teaching and learning, working in K-12 school classrooms guided by experienced teachers and professional mentors. You’ll learn to teach art as part of a community, with peers and faculty who will support, challenge, and inspire you. Student teaching opportunities are available throughout Montana and out of state.

Career development in the art education major

The bachelor’s in art education at the University of Montana offers numerous opportunities to build your professional network and connect with potential careers in your field — from student teaching experiences to trips to national conferences to networking events through student organizations here on campus. Our track record at preparing students speaks for itself: 96% of our bachelor’s in art education degree graduates find jobs as art teachers.

Art scholarships

Get help paying for your bachelor’s degree in art. We offer a number of scholarships specifically designed for art majors, ranging from $500 to $5,000. Learn more about art scholarship opportunities at the University of Montana.

Explore classes in the art education major at UM

Our interdisciplinary curriculum in the art education program instills an understanding of arts and prepares students to work with children in P-12 art classrooms.

View all classes for the bachelor’s degree in art education.