Community Arts Option
Program Mission: The Master of Arts in Art, Community Arts Option is an online program designed to strengthen the development of non-certified and non-certification seeking professionals who work or desire to work with the arts in educational settings outside of the public school system. This option does not lead to certification.
Accreditation: The Art Department of Eastern Illinois University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Admission requirements: To be eligible for degree candidacy for the degree program and option, applicants must meet all of the requirements for admission to the Graduate School (see "Admission to Degree and Certificate Programs"). In addition to the published university graduate degree status requirements the Art Education department requires the following:
Candidates seeking the Master of Arts in Art, Community Arts Option must submit three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant's performance as a professional. In addition, applicants without bachelor degree in Art should have 18 semester hours of undergraduate work in art or be willing to make up deficiencies without credit toward their graduate degree. Candidates should also submit a resume, a letter of intent stating their goals for seeking this degree, a copy of a current transcript of their undergraduate degree, and a professional or scholarly writing sample. For international students, an acceptable English proficiency as established by the university.
Degree Audit: The graduate plan of study is the EIU Degree Audit, which is generated automatically at the time of degree or certificate candidacy. Modifications of the standard EIU Degree Audit are submitted by the graduate coordinator to the certification officer in the Graduate School at the time modifications are approved. The Degree Audit serves as an unofficial summary of requirements for the program. Degree and certificate candidates are advised to review the comprehensive summary of the Degree Audit process specified on the "Requirements for All Degree and Certificate Candidates" section of the Graduate Catalog. Individual programs may require candidates to submit plans of study in addition to the Degree Audit, candidates should consult with the program coordinator.
Degree Requirements
Degree requirements: Degree requirements for all candidates include those outlined for the master's degree by the Graduate School (see "Requirements for the Master's Degree").
All candidates for the online degree program must complete a minimum of 32 semester hours.
All candidates in the community arts option are required to complete a master's research project. Students will enroll in ART 5800, Research Methods in Art Education, and ART 5970, Independent Study in Art Education to complete an independent research project that documents a substantial application of art education theory and practice. The research project may involve historical, philosophical, empirical, or curricular topics. All candidates are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination of the completed research project in the final term.
Art Education Coursework Online
9 semester hours of required Art Education coursework:
11-12 semester hours of Art Education coursework from the following:
Art History Coursework Online
6 semester hours of art history coursework from the following:
Studio Coursework on Campus
6 semester hours of art studio coursework
Information sourced from the 2022-2023 EIU Graduate Catalog.