The purpose of the undergraduate art education program is to develop preservice art teachers who are artistically competent and pedagogically sound. The art education program is methodically structured to encourage and assist student in developing broad based artistic capabilities and a repertoire of instructional competencies. Emphasis is placed on: in-depth knowledge and proficiency in the content of art; awareness of art history and appreciation for the arts; understanding of contemporary and historical philosophies in art education; comprehension of instructional strategies; development of effective communication skills; competence in instructional technology; exposure to ethical standards and professionalism; approaches to classroom management; knowledge of growth and stages of artistic development in children; sensitivity to diversity and its ramification for learning; commitment to scholarship and professional development; curricular paradigms that are reflective of goals and purposes of art education, the school, the community and the broader society.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in studio art is a liberal arts degree that offers the student a breadth of experience in the visual arts. Students enrolled in this major will gain a range of experience in the traditional tools, techniques and modes of artistic expression as well as new media and design concepts. The student will also develop an understanding and appreciation of the history of art as well as critical thinking about art and how it relates to the world. The curriculum is structured so that the student begins with foundation level courses in studio arts, moves on to beginning courses in several disciplines, including drawing, painting, printmaking, digital media, ceramics and sculpture, and then moves on to gain intermediate and advanced experience in one or more disciplines. The concentration on one discipline within a liberal arts degree allows the student to go beyond beginning level skill tests and exercises in order to provide the student with experience in more advanced creative development.