Application deadline: January 15, 2016
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
Office of Admissions
Sullivan Center
36 S. Wabash Ave., Suite 1201
Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago offers two graduate programs, a Master of Arts in Art Education and Master of Arts in Teaching, that prepare individuals to empower the next generation of artists and designers.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) Master of Arts (MA) in Education program educates exceptional artists, designers, teachers, curators, educators, and activists while contributing to the creation of a culture that values diversity, creativity, and social justice.
At the intersection of research, theory, and practice, the graduate program is an individualized, 36-credit-hour program of courses that engages social theory for artists, museum curriculum, ethical and pedagogical issues, and art history. Degree candidates supplement their research-based practices with electives in areas such as studio arts, design, exhibition studies, arts administration, art/design education, art history, writing, visual and critical studies, and professional experience in fieldwork and internships.
The program provides a foundation in educational theory and practice necessary for teaching and interpreting art and design in museums and community-based settings.
SAIC’s MA in Art Education also serves licensed art teachers seeking master’s study for professional growth, further art and design specialization, or redirective career advancement.
Students self-design a curriculum, with the assistance of the program director, that pertains to their area of emphasis. The program is divided into two main cores: educational and professional, including fieldwork and/or an internship that directly links to thesis research and project development, usually associated with one of the many distinguished cultural institutions or community-based organizations in the greater Chicago area.
SAIC’s Master of Arts (MA) in Teaching program nurtures a unique kind of art educator who is both professionally grounded in practice and engaged in the larger discourse around contemporary visual culture, social justice, and community-based change.
The MA in Teaching program offers candidates a direct view of contemporary public education, along with providing them the experience to interpret and teach art and visual culture in a classroom setting. The 48-credit graduate program prepares candidates to become informed, reflective instructors of contemporary art and culture while fulfilling the State of Illinois requirements for K–12 Visual Arts licensure.
Academic training includes more than 550 hours of hands-on experience in Chicago classrooms. Pre-clinical fieldwork begins with an observation practice that focuses on classroom management, teacher feedback, curriculum development, and diversity issues.
Faculty supervisors work closely with MA in Teaching candidates during their teaching apprenticeships by visiting their schools and offering extensive evaluations and one-on-one mentorship.
MA in Teaching candidates enrich and deepen their academic and clinical practices by attending or participating in public educational events, including a yearly Teachers for Social Justice Curriculum Fair, Chicago School Board meetings, community activist events, exhibitions, readings, and film screenings.
Apply by January 15. Contact the Admissions office at [email protected] with any questions. For application requirements and to apply online, visit saic.edu/gradapp.
About the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
For 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers, and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program ranked number two by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design, as well as access to world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum, on-campus galleries, and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman. Learn more at saic.edu.
