Art Education

Because of the Art and Design Department’s excellent reputation and national accreditation, school districts across the country eagerly hire our graduates. Recent graduates have been hired by schools in Upstate New York and New York City, as well as districts in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

Students majoring in art education at Buffalo State understand that art is about visually representing ideas. Being able to interpret visual culture makes them critical thinkers in a greatly changing world. The art education program prepares students for a wide range of professional positions, some of which require graduate education. 

• Art administrator
• Art therapist
• Artist
• College professor
• Curator
• Designer
• Gallery manager
• Museum educator
• Nonprofit organization administrator

All Buffalo State students are afforded many professional opportunities beyond the classroom. Those of particular interest to art education majors include:    

Art Education Association Student Chapter: This nationally affiliated group initiates numerous professional development activities that help students polish leadership skills, meet and work with seasoned teachers, and socialize with their peers.

Art Partners: This is a collaborative fieldwork program that enables Buffalo State students to teach and engage urban students attending Buffalo Public Schools who have special learning needs and/or experience high levels of poverty.

Anne Frank Project: Inspired by the wisdom of Holocaust victim Anne Frank, AFP is a social justice festival that uses storytelling, performance, and art exhibits as a vehicle for community-building, conflict resolution, and identity exploration. Students are encouraged to participate.

Creative Expressions Learning Community: Visual arts, design, and theater students are encouraged to use their imaginations and explore new visual environments in a living community.

Student Art Sale: Every year, students within the visual arts can enter artwork in this campus sale. Students keep 75 percent of their sale proceeds and also receive plenty of exposure.

Visual Arts Board: A student organization dedicated to uniting Buffalo State’s visual arts community is open to all interested students.

Coalition for Ceramic Designers: This student club invites nationally known ceramic artists as guest speakers, hosts kiln firing events, and collaboratively presents work in local galleries.

Professional conferences: Students are encouraged to attend and present at local, state, and national conferences for art educators.

Art education students can participate in undergraduate research, a student-faculty collaboration to examine, create, and share knowledge or works in ways commensurate with practices in the discipline.

Our students have opportunities to conduct undergraduate research both during the academic year and in the summer. They can gain additional exposure to art education best practices by studying abroad, such as in the Siena Program in Siena, Italy, and the Anne Frank Program in Rwanda. In addition, art education students have found research and intern opportunities through organizations including:

• Burchfield Penney Art Center: Opened in 1967 as part of Buffalo State, this museum features the works of regional artists, including famed watercolorist Charles E. Burchfield. Located on campus, it has docent positions open to students.
   
• Buffalo State’s Community Academic Center: The CAC provides programming for families on the city’s West Side. Art education students have the opportunity to lead children in art-based enrichment activities after school and in the summers.
   
• Young Artists of Western New York: This workshop-based nonprofit organization has invited art education students to participate in some of its public art and other projects.