Best Master's in Art Teacher Education Programs by Degrees Awarded

1. 1

   University of Florida

   Gainesville, FLPublicOnline available

   • 40Master's/yr
   • $56,430Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Art Education
   • Online
   About the program

   The University of Florida offers a Master of Arts in Art Education delivered fully online in eight-week mini-semesters, a rhythm that lets working art teachers move through the degree in focused bursts and finish in as few as two years. For students who want hands-on studio time, an optional on-campus Summer Studio rotates through practical courses such as sketchbook, ceramics, printmaking, and digital photography, adding a tactile dimension to an otherwise remote program. No GRE is required for applicants holding a U.S. degree, lowering the barrier to entry for practicing educators. The combination of a flexible online core and optional campus immersion reads as a program designed to reach art teachers wherever they are. It carries NASAD accreditation. As a master's degree in art teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Florida.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 40 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Gainesville, FL, where elementary teachers earn a median $56,430, roughly $58,336 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
2. 2

   Adelphi University

   Garden City, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 40Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Art Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Adelphi University offers a Master of Arts in Art Education that prepares students for New York State Visual Arts Pre-K-12 teaching certification through a largely asynchronous online format. Rather than fixed concentrations, the program leaves room for personalization, with four elective courses letting students steer the degree toward their own interests. The online coursework is grounded in real classrooms through 100 hours of fieldwork and a full-day student teaching placement, so certification rests on supervised practice rather than theory alone. An unusual study-abroad student teaching option lets candidates complete that culminating experience internationally, broadening how they think about arts classrooms. The blend of flexible online study and hands-on placement makes it a practical route to certification for aspiring art teachers who need scheduling latitude. Earning a master's degree in art teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's secondary school teachers.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 40 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
3. 3

   Georgia State University

   Atlanta, GAPublic

   • 33Master's/yr
   • Master of Arts in Teaching, Art Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Georgia State University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education, an initial-certification program on its Atlanta campus that leads to Georgia teaching certification in art. The 43-semester-hour curriculum embeds a six-credit practicum and student teaching component, and candidates work through a full sequence of Georgia's assessments, including the GACE Program Admission and Art Content assessments, the edTPA, and the state ethics exams. A special emphasis on teaching diverse learners in urban and metropolitan settings, paired with a portfolio requirement and background check, reads as preparation for the realities of city classrooms. With fall admission only, the program moves cohorts through a structured, single-entry pathway into the profession. Graduates emerge certified to teach art in Georgia schools. This master's-level art teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Georgia.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 33 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
4. 4

   Teachers College at Columbia University

   New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

   • 29Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Art and Art Education with Initial Teacher Certification (M.A. Init)
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Teachers College, Columbia University offers a Master of Arts in Art and Art Education with Initial Teacher Certification, the one degree in its art and art education suite that leads to a New York State teaching credential. Spanning two years and 40 points, the program is carefully mapped to state certification requirements, so candidates finish prepared to teach Visual Arts, PreK-12. Its certification focus distinguishes it from the college's general Master of Arts in Art and Art Education, which does not lead to licensure and instead offers focus areas in museum education, art pedagogy, creative technologies, and community arts. That contrast makes clear who this track is for, namely people who want to enter public school classrooms as licensed art teachers. Housed within a leading school of education, the degree pairs a strong teaching orientation with a serious grounding in artistic practice. As a master's degree in art teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in New York.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 29 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
5. 5

   Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

   Kutztown, PAPublicOnline available

   • 25Master's/yr
   • $79,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Education in Art Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Kutztown University offers a Master of Education in Art Education with unusual scheduling latitude, available online, face-to-face, or in a blended mix and completable over anywhere from two to six years. Most courses run in the evenings, on weekends, over summers, and online, a pattern plainly arranged around working teachers who cannot pause their careers. The thirty to thirty-three semester-hour program offers both thesis and non-thesis tracks and fifteen to eighteen elective credits chosen with an advisor, letting each student shape a focus and decide how research-heavy the degree should be. Optional summer studio institutes add hands-on making for those who want it. The M.Ed. does not by itself confer teacher certification, but it can be paired with Pennsylvania Level I art teaching certification through a companion post-baccalaureate program. The result fits practicing art educators seeking advanced study on a flexible timeline. A master's-level path in art teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Pennsylvania.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 25 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Reading, PA, where elementary teachers earn a median $79,860, roughly $82,279 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
6. 6

   CUNY Hunter College

   New York, NYPublic

   • 22Master's/yr
   • $96,900Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Visual Arts Education
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Hunter College offers a Master of Arts in Visual Arts Education that leads to New York State certification to teach visual arts from PreK through grade 12. The program is built with two credit pathways that recognize where a candidate is starting from, requiring 44 credits for those without prior New York State teacher certification and 30 credits for those already certified. That structure lets the degree serve both career changers entering art teaching for the first time and practicing teachers deepening their credentials without repeating groundwork they have already completed. Delivered on campus in Manhattan, it pairs studio practice with the pedagogy needed for licensure. The result reads as a flexible, certification-focused path into public school art teaching. Earning a master's degree in art teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's secondary school teachers.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 22 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
7. 7

   Boston University

   Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

   • 21Master's/yr
   • $98,060Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Art Education with Initial License
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Boston University offers a Master of Arts in Art Education with Initial License, a hybrid program organized around a single May cohort that moves together through a summer online or blended term and two subsequent campus terms. The tight cohort sequence, anchored by an eight-unit practicum and a pre-practicum seminar, signals a program built to carry candidates from studio training into supervised classroom teaching in one focused year-plus. Coursework aligns with the Massachusetts Professional Standards for Teachers and Curriculum Frameworks and prepares candidates for initial licensure in visual art. For those with different goals, BU also offers the MA without licensure, a fully online MA, and a combined BFA/MA (4+1) with Initial License. The program aligns with NASAD requirements, and the university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Earning a master's degree in art teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts's secondary school teachers.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
8. 8

   Maryland Institute College of Art

   Baltimore, MDPrivate nonprofit

   • 21Master's/yr
   • Master of Arts in Teaching
   • On-campus
   About the program

   The Maryland Institute College of Art offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in art education, a two-year, studio-based program that treats artmaking and teaching as inseparable parts of the same practice. Immersive fieldwork placements across the Baltimore region put candidates in PreK-12 classrooms early and often, while coursework anchors art pedagogy in a commitment to social justice. The structure suits emerging artist-educators who want their studio identity to inform how they teach, and MICA undergraduates can enter through an integrated five-year BFA/MAT track. Graduates earn Maryland state certification to teach art PreK-12, a credential the program notes carries reciprocity in nearly all fifty states. Approved by the Maryland State Department of Education, it reads as a route into the profession for people who see teaching as a form of creative and civic work. As a master's degree in art teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Maryland.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
9. 9

   Ohio State University-Main Campus

   Columbus, OHPublic

   • 18Master's/yr
   • Master of Arts in Art Education
   • Online
   About the program

   The Ohio State University offers an online Master of Arts in Art Education organized as a cohort, with core classes taken together so students move through the degree as a connected group. The thirty-credit program can be finished in three semesters of full-time study or six part-time, a structure that accommodates educators continuing to work while they study. Its electives reach into distinctive territory, including Native American Arts Education, digital texts and online learning, action research, research to advocacy, and intercultural exchange through COIL virtual collaboration. That range signals a program interested in culturally responsive teaching and critical inquiry rather than studio technique alone. A culminating reflective-practice portfolio ties the coursework back to each student's own teaching. The degree explicitly does not lead to a teaching license, so it fits practicing or aspiring educators seeking advanced perspective rather than certification. Graduates of this art teacher education program at the master's level often go on to work as secondary school teachers.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 18 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

   School site
10. 10

    CUNY Queens College

    Queens, NYPublic

    • 17Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education in Art Education (K-12)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Queens College offers a Master of Science in Education in Art Education for candidates who already hold New York State Initial Certification in Visual Arts and are pursuing Professional Certification for grades K through 12. The 33-credit program culminates in a written, research-based thesis, framing it as an advanced degree for teachers ready to study their own practice rather than an entry route into the field. Courses meet in late afternoon and evening, a scheduling choice that plainly accommodates full-time art teachers enrolling part-time. Taken together, the design reads as built for working educators moving toward permanent certification while staying in the classroom. It rewards candidates who want scholarly depth alongside continued teaching. This master's-level art teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 17 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
11. 11

    CUNY City College

    New York, NYPublic

    • 16Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Art Education, Master of Arts
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The City College of New York offers a Master of Arts in Art Education with a justice-oriented, community-facing curriculum that prepares graduates for schools, museums, community centers, and alternative learning sites. The 38-credit MA track is a non-certification degree aimed at teaching-artist and museum-education careers, while a separate 26-credit Advanced Certificate track, open to those who already hold an MFA or MA, leads to New York State Certification in Visual Arts Pre-K-12 and includes a semester of student teaching. That split lets students choose between broad community arts work and the classroom certification path. The program's civic commitment is concrete, anchored by City Art Lab, a free after-school program students help run. Together these features characterize a degree focused on art education as public and community practice as much as classroom teaching. This master's-level art teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
12. 12

    Rhode Island School of Design

    Providence, RIPrivate nonprofit

    • 13Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Rhode Island School of Design offers a Master of Arts in Teaching, a cohort-based, one-year intensive that runs from summer through spring and prepares candidates for PreK-12 art teacher certification. The heart of the program is a scaffolded practicum that places candidates in two different Rhode Island public or charter schools, moving them from participant-observer to full teaching responsibilities as their confidence grows. Approved by the state and carrying reciprocity in at least 44 other states, the recommendation for certification travels well beyond Rhode Island, though final licensure depends on each state's own tests. Alongside the MAT, RISD runs a parallel MA in Art and Design Education for community and museum-focused work that substitutes a thesis project for the classroom practicum. The MAT itself reads as an immersive, fast-paced route into the certified art classroom. A master's-level path in art teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Rhode Island.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
13. 13

    DePaul University

    Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 13Master's/yr
    • $78,390Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Visual Art Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    DePaul University offers a Master of Education in Visual Art Education built around a single PreK-12 track that leads to Illinois art teacher licensure. The program roots its coursework in the city itself, drawing on a partnership with the Chicago-based Stockyard Institute and the DePaul Art Museum's Learning Studio, and it holds an exclusive tie to the Chicago Teacher Residency program. That community-embedded design signals a program preparing teachers to work in urban schools rather than in the abstract. Across roughly 17 courses plus field experiences and student teaching, candidates can finish in about two years while building toward the State of Illinois PreK-12 Visual Art license. The combination of museum and residency connections gives students practical footing in the settings where they will eventually teach. A master's-level path in art teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 13 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, where elementary teachers earn a median $78,390, roughly $75,670 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
14. 14

    New York University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 12Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • MA, Teaching Art, Grades K-12, Initial Certification
    • Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    NYU Steinhardt offers a Master of Arts in Teaching Art for grades K through 12, accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council and designed to prepare candidates for New York State initial certification in visual art. The 30-credit program builds toward licensure through mentored field placements that begin with an initial learning-partner placement and culminate in student teaching, alongside the NYU Visionary Studio Saturday Workshop that keeps candidates engaged in studio practice. Certification requires passing the Educating All Students exam and the Visual Arts Content Specialty Test, and the mentored progression reads as a scaffolded route from observation to full classroom responsibility. As of the research date, the program is listed as not currently accepting applications. Prospective students should confirm availability with the school. This master's-level art teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
15. 15

    Florida International University

    Miami, FLPublic

    • 12Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Art Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Florida International University offers a Master of Science in Art Education built for educators who already hold or qualify for Florida teacher certification in art for K-12, positioning the degree as advanced preparation rather than an entry credential. Admission runs through a portfolio interview with the program director, where applicants present fifteen pieces of artwork including at least three drawings, underscoring how seriously the program weighs studio ability. The 36-credit curriculum, with an accelerated pathway open to qualified students, deliberately blends research and theory with studio experience in an urban, multicultural setting. That framing reads as a program preparing practicing art teachers to lead in diverse city schools. It carries NASAD accreditation, and the education unit is accredited by CAEP. A master's-level path in art teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Florida.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
16. 16

    Piedmont University

    Demorest, GAPrivate nonprofit

    • 12Master's/yr
    • $72,290State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Piedmont University offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education that leads to initial Georgia teaching certification for grades PK-12, with graduates also eligible for reciprocal certification under the Interstate Certification Compact. The 46-credit program blends online coursework with two immersive on-campus summer studio courses and requires two internships, with the later placements completed at Piedmont, a structure that keeps candidates tethered to close faculty supervision as they move into the classroom. Admission hinges on the art department chair's approval of a portfolio and a teaching philosophy, signaling that the program screens for both artistic readiness and reflective intent. Offered only on the Demorest, Georgia campus, it is approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, and candidates must pass the state's content-area certification assessment to be certified. Earning a master's degree in art teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Georgia's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Georgia statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $72,290, roughly $75,073 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
17. 17

    Rochester Institute of Technology

    Rochester, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 11Master's/yr
    • Master of Science for Teachers (MST) in Visual Arts–All Grades (Art Education)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    RIT offers a Master of Science for Teachers in Visual Arts for all grades, an art education degree that leads to Initial and Professional New York State certification for teaching visual arts from PK through grade 12. The program compresses pedagogical studies, studio inquiry, clinical fieldwork, and community partnerships into an accelerated one-year format, with an embedded student-teaching practicum that anchors the preparation in real classrooms. That intensive design reads as built for candidates ready to move quickly from graduate study into a teaching career. The program page reports a 97 percent pass rate on New York State certification exams among graduates and describes the degree as nationally accredited. Delivered on campus in Rochester, it emphasizes both artistic practice and classroom readiness. A master's-level path in art teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
18. 18

    School of Visual Arts

    New York, NYPrivate for-profit

    • 11Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    The School of Visual Arts offers a Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education that prepares artists to become certified PreK-12 visual arts teachers in a hybrid format. The 36-credit program can be taken as a one-year full-time intensive or stretched over two years part-time, a flexibility that lets candidates match the pace to their working lives. Fieldwork is substantial, with 100 hours of placement plus 18 weeks of student teaching in New York City public schools, so graduates enter the profession with deep urban classroom experience. The degree is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation, currently through the end of 2030, and it leads to Initial New York State Certification in PreK-12 Visual Arts. It sits alongside a separate, non-certification Master of Arts in Art Education for museum, nonprofit, and community-arts paths, which keeps this track firmly aimed at classroom teaching. Earning a master's degree in art teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of New York's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
19. 19

    Maine College of Art & Design

    Portland, MEPrivate nonprofit

    • 11Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Maine College of Art & Design offers a Master of Arts in Teaching that certifies art educators for classrooms in the State of Maine, with pathways for both PK-8 and high school settings. Run as a 10-month, full-time intensive, the program is demanding and immersive, folding in some 700 hours of field experience so candidates graduate having spent extensive time teaching. That concentrated timeline and heavy clinical load frame it for people ready to commit a focused year to entering the profession. Beyond K-12 schools, the preparation also readies graduates for museum education and community art educator roles. The college reports 100 percent job placement within three months of graduation across seven consecutive years, a track record that speaks to how employers regard its graduates. A master's-level path in art teacher education, it builds toward a career among secondary school teachers in Maine.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 11 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
20. 20

    School of the Art Institute of Chicago

    Chicago, ILPrivate nonprofit

    • 10Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The School of the Art Institute of Chicago offers a Master of Arts in Teaching that channels working artists into the classroom as licensed art educators. Structured as a full-time, four-semester program, it moves deliberately from preclinical study into roughly 550 hours of apprentice teaching placed in Chicago-area schools, so candidates spend real time in front of students before they graduate. That heavy clinical load, paired with the two-year pacing, marks this as a licensure track for those committed to teaching rather than a flexible add-on credential. Completion fulfills Illinois PK-12 Visual Arts teacher licensure requirements. SAIC keeps this pathway distinct from its non-licensure MA in Art Education, which serves museum and community educators, so applicants can match the degree to whether they intend to teach in schools. This master's-level art teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Illinois.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
21. 21

    Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus

    Gurabo, PRPrivate nonprofit

    • 10Master's/yr
    • Maestria en Educacion con especialidad en la Ensenanza de las Bellas Artes (Master's in Education, Fine Arts Teaching specialty)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Universidad Ana G. Mendez offers a Maestria en Educacion with a specialty in the teaching of fine arts, administered by the Division Academica de Artes Liberales at its Gurabo campus. Positioned squarely as professional development for teachers already working in the fine arts, the program lets candidates concentrate in one of four artistic disciplines, choosing among music, dance, visual arts, or theater. That range of tracks signals a program meant to meet practicing educators wherever their expertise lies rather than funnel everyone through a single art form. The Spanish-language, on-campus design fits teachers deepening the discipline they already teach. Earning a master's degree in art teacher education is a common route toward becoming one of Puerto Rico's secondary school teachers.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
22. 22

    The University of Texas at Austin

    Austin, TXPublic

    • 9Master's/yr
    • Master of Arts in Art Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    The University of Texas at Austin offers a Master of Arts in Art Education with four distinct options, Schools with Non-Certification, Schools Plus Certification, Museums, and Community-Based Programs, spanning the full range of settings where art education happens. The Schools Plus Certification option leads to Texas all-level P-12 art certification and carries the expected state certification exams, background check, and fingerprinting, while the other options prepare graduates for non-classroom and community roles. Every track requires at least one professional internship, keeping the degree grounded in hands-on practice across whichever setting a student chooses. The program culminates in a written thesis or an applied-project alternative on a topic in art education, giving graduates a substantial scholarly capstone. Prospective applicants should note that the program is not accepting new applicants for 2026-27. This master's-level art teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Texas.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
23. 23

    Florida State University

    Tallahassee, FLPublic

    • 9Master's/yr
    • Master of Science in Art Education
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Florida State University offers a Master of Science in Art Education flexible enough to serve two distinct audiences through separate tracks. A Teacher Certification track carries candidates toward teacher certification requirements, while a fully online Professional Development track serves working educators who want advanced study without certification, and a combined BA/BFA-to-MS pathway accelerates undergraduates into the degree. The 33-credit online option is organized around a social justice approach that runs through its theory, curriculum, and practice, giving the program a clear intellectual through-line. Its self-paced structure, typically completed in two to three years depending on enrollment, reads as built around teachers fitting graduate work between professional obligations. The program holds NASAD accreditation, and the university is institutionally accredited by SACSCOC. This master's-level art teacher education program prepares graduates for work as secondary school teachers in Florida.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
24. 24

    Virginia Commonwealth University

    Richmond, VAPublic

    • 9Master's/yr
    • Master of Art Education
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Virginia Commonwealth University offers a Master of Art Education whose two tracks let candidates either deepen expertise they already teach with or earn the master's and Virginia licensure at once. The straight M.A.E. is aimed at licensed teachers extending their command of art education, while the M.A.E. plus Licensure route carries bachelor's degree holders toward Virginia teaching licensure in art education alongside the graduate degree, satisfying the tests mandated by the state Department of Education. Students choose between a thesis or thesis project and a comprehensive exam supported by graduate seminar work, and a written candidacy exam falls between the ninth and eighteenth credit hours. The base degree runs a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours, with the licensure track expanding to 45 to 51. Accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education anchors the program in both arts and education standards. As a master's degree in art teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Virginia.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort.

    School site
25. 25

    University of the Cumberlands

    Williamsburg, KYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $60,610State teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Art (P-12) concentration
    • Online
    About the program

    The University of the Cumberlands offers a CAEP-accredited Master of Arts in Teaching with an Art (P-12) concentration delivered online, one of a broad slate of certification tracks that also spans elementary, secondary, special education, and other fields. Approved by Kentucky's Educational Professional Standards Board, the program leads to state teacher certification in Art. Its defining feature is the state's Option 6 alternative route, which lets fully admitted candidates serve as the teacher of record on a temporary license while finishing coursework, so aspiring art teachers can earn a salary and classroom experience at the same time. That work-while-you-learn design, combined with the online format, marks this as a pathway for people ready to move quickly into a paid teaching role. It suits career-changers who want to teach art in Kentucky schools without a traditional unpaid student-teaching year. As a master's degree in art teacher education, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as secondary school teachers in Kentucky.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kentucky statewide, where elementary teachers earn a median $60,610, roughly $67,226 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site

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