Our faculty, staff and students are committed to the belief that visual culture matters in society and we value the importance of making, displaying, critiquing, and contextualizing the visual arts as academic activities in a university setting. To that end, our faculty teach the perceptual, practical, and critical skill necessary for the creation and understanding of art and design in a variety of media and contexts.

Through intensive studio experiences, firsthand teaching opportunities and engaging course work, students receive thorough preparation for a teaching career in art.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Art Education provides multi-age licensure (prekindergarten through grade 12) from the Department of Art and Design in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Art Education program empowers pre-service educators to find their voices as artists and educators through studio engagement, intensive coursework, and community based teaching opportunities. As practicing artists, pre-service educators invest in building their portfolio, developing their craft, and clarifying their artistic vision. Coursework provides a solid foundation for teachers through a comprehensive, social justice art education lens. At every stage of their coursework, students in the Art Education program celebrate the Marianist focus on community and service by moving outside the walls of the classroom to engage in experiential learning in local school and community based settings. 

The College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education and Health Sciences combine resources to develop students’ knowledge and skills. As part of the teacher education training, students learn teaching methodology, safety procedures, organization of materials and curriculum planning. Artistic talents are put use with participation in hands-on teaching experiences during all four years. By graduation, the student will be prepared to teach art in various school settings, and will understand the relationship between visual art and a pluralistic culture in a global society.

The University of Dayton is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).