The BFA in Art Education program provides the requirements for Illinois State teacher licensure and the experiences needed for students to become art teachers in Chicago’s diverse public schools and communities. The program cultivates the study and making of art in a variety of ways that are rooted in local cultures and histories of activism and democratic participation in the public sphere. BFA in Art Education students will develop their own artistic practice and learn how a rigorous process of art making can be shared with their students. <br><br>The BFA in Art Education curriculum is grounded in the understanding that an engaged and engaging art education links students' life experiences to traditional and contemporary art, media, and cultural forms. In addition to taking courses in studio art, students will complete coursework in art education to foster an awareness of collaborative strategies of teaching, learning, and art making. Student teachers gain rich experience and mentorship working with licensed art teachers in Chicago Public Schools. <br><br>As the only public university in the city of Chicago offering a dedicated pathway into art teaching, UIC's BFA in Art Education program is committed to creating models of art education curricula that address inequality and open pathways for students to analyze and create contemporary culture.