Art is a great teacher—revealing patterns in life, providing a medium of self-discovery, communicating through color, texture, and visual poetry. The teaching of art is also an art form—a creative process where the tools of knowledge and experience are used to shape connections between teacher and student.

Nazareth College is one the top-ranked schools in New York State for Art Education. Our future teachers are taught to present the study and creation of art in exciting and meaningful ways while continuing its lifelong development in their own lives. Our approach to teaching art is not simply to have students follow an assignment or perfect a technique, but to find a reason to make art that is meaningful to them.

As required by NYS, our Art Education students put in 100 field hours of observation & teaching in practicums and local schools. As graduates, they have taught in school systems locally and around the country. All are gifted artists and teachers who use their own talents to inspire others.

Program Highlights

• The NYS Initial Certification program (Pre-k through 12th) prepares artists to become teachers through fieldwork in surrounding area school districts.
• Involvement in many community service projects including the installation of murals in several schools and local libraries.
• Fieldwork in the Saturday Art for Children program on campus; a community art program taught by students and supervised by faculty.
• High placement rate; many regional art teachers are Nazareth grads.