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OBU—Oklahoma Baptist University

Art Education

A degree in OBU’s P-12 art education program is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to ignite the imagination and creativity of young minds. You can play a key role in helping to shape and develop a student’s lifelong love for art.

Whether you aspire to become an elementary art teacher that fosters creativity in young children, a middle school instructor guiding students through artistic exploration, or a high school educator nurturing the talents of budding artists, OBU can prepare you to make a meaningful impact in the lives of students at every stage of their educational journey.

Benefits of an OBU Art Education Degree

Faculty Mentors

In our art education program, you will engage with professors who are experienced educators, practicing artists, and dedicated professionals. Because of our small class sizes, you will enjoy ongoing and direct interaction with faculty members who get to know you individually and invest in your academic and personal success. You will benefit from their guidance as they prepare you to work with students and parents from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and regions.

Broad Learning Experiences

As a student in art education, you will gain a solid foundation of academic excellence through OBU’s liberal arts core classes. In addition to these academic courses, you will receive valuable instruction and training through the McCabe Family School of Education and through our Division of Art and Design.

In the area of art courses, you will be exposed to instructional lab experiences highlighting the study of color, drawing techniques, design basics, illustration, ceramics, painting, printmaking and much more. Our professors are working artists who bring a vast amount of expertise to the classroom and offer you relevant instruction and real-world knowledge.

As you continue with your courses in the education field, you will be exposed to a variety of teaching methods and fundamental principles. The courses focus on learning the content, knowledge, and dispositions of an effective educator. Modern classrooms, hands-on experiences and enriching field experiences prepare you to enter the classroom equipped and ready to shape the future of the next generation of artists and creators.

Integration of Faith

OBU’s art education courses are taught from a Christian worldview with professors who serve as personal mentors, supporting both your intellectual and spiritual development. Our faculty instill a solid foundation of faith and biblical perspective through their instruction and their personal lives. Our mission is to invest in you as a future educator who will exemplify Christian principles, and practices with the students, families and communities you serve.

Incredible Education, Affordable Cost.

OBU provides a minimum $10,000 per year scholarship to every incoming first-time freshman and $8,000 to every incoming transfer student. And you could qualify for even more financial aid! Many of our students also receive money through federal Pell grants and OBU Bison Grants.

To get an estimate of what your cost to attend OBU might be, please check out our Net Price Calculator. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how affordable an OBU education really is. Especially considering the incredible academic quality, personal mentor relationships with faculty and staff, and strong Christian commitment you will experience at OBU. You won’t find an experience like this anywhere else!

Program Information

Nationally Accredited

The School of Education is nationally accredited through CAEP, the Council for Accreditation of Education Preparation. In addition, each licensure area is accredited through the state of Oklahoma. Graduates from our program are eligible to teach locally, nationally, and internationally.

Field Experiences

One of the many noted strengths of the OBU education program is the amount of field experience/practicum time that is provided across the four years of the degree program. You will be asked to complete between 85–120 hours of observation and practicum experiences in local schools prior to student teaching. Through field experiences you will tutor children, teach small groups and whole classes, practicing differentiation and classroom management.

Research

Through coursework, you will be exposed to the latest research-based practices in education. Additionally, all education majors have the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive investigation of a research topic of their own interest. You will present about your topic to your peers and may even have the opportunity to present your research to practicing teachers at educational conferences.

Labs and Equipment

OBU teacher education supports preservice teachers in understanding and utilizing latest educational technology such as Smartboards, iPads, learning management systems, and assistive technology. Art education students will participate in a variety of studio settings which include hands-on work in drawing, illustration, painting, and ceramics.

Student Networking Opportunities

As a student, you will be invited to participate in professional teacher education organizations, such as the Student Council for Exceptional Children (SCEC) and Student Professional Oklahoma Educators (SPOE), which enables you to network with other preservice and in-service educators across the state and nation. You also will be invited to travel to state and national conferences which offer professional development related to innovative, researched-based practices within the field of education.

Through the art program you will have the opportunity to participate in a biennial trip to New York City for a study tour. The trip includes visits to museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. These experiences offer you a broader vision and understanding of the art world. We regularly host events for art students including excursions to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, movie nights, and paint nights on campus.

Job Opportunities

Most of our graduates teach in public schools in the Oklahoma and Texas areas. However, we have graduates teaching in almost all 50 states and around the globe in Russia, China, Hong Kong, Africa, and Mexico, to name a few. Some graduates use their degree as the stepping-stone to graduate school, seminary or mission work. With experience, many become nationally board-certified teachers, school administrators, and a few have even become education professors. With your OBU art education degree, you'll have the flexibility to pursue professional teaching certification for public schools or teach in charter, classical, or Christian schools.

Begin your journey with OBU today and help brighten and color the world for future artists.

Program Options

Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE)

World-Class Faculty

OBU faculty are experts in their fields and will be with you every step of the way.

Dr. Elizabeth Justice

Dr. Elizabeth Justice

Chair, School of Education
Lawrence C. and Marion Harris Chair of Education
Associate Professor of Education
Co-Director, Master of Arts in Teaching and ACCESS Programs

Dr. Jeanne Akin

Dr. Jeanne Akin

Mary A. White Professor of Education

Annie Keehn

Annie Keehn

Assistant Professor of Education
Co-Director, Master of Arts in Teaching and ACCESS Programs

Corey Fuller

Corey Fuller

Ruth Jay Odom Professor of Fine Arts
Professor of Graphic Design

Benjamin Baxter

Benjamin Baxter

Chair, Division of Art and Design
Chair, Division of Communication Arts
Associate Professor of Animation and Media Production

Joshua S. Brunet

Joshua S. Brunet

Associate Professor of Art

Henry F. McCabe Family School of Education