Featured News | September 21, 2016
The current Art Education undergraduate program at the University of Wyoming offers a concurrent major in both art education through the College of Education and art through the Art Department. In recent news, the University of Wyoming is considering the elimination of 16 programs, one of which is the art education program as it currently exists. According to the full recommendation from the Dean of Education, this cut would eliminate the Bachelor’s of Art in Art Education as it currently exists housed within the College of Education. The art department in the College of Arts & Sciences would then work to offer a concurrent major in conjunction with the College of Education with the Visual Art Department teaching the art education methods courses within their own unit similar to the current model for Music Education.
When reviewing the data over a five year period, the current structure of the art education program has resulted in 32 graduates from 2010-2015. The number is significantly lower than the average bachelor of arts degree from the art department, which is approximately 35 per year.
This proposed scenario would still maintain the connection between the art education program and the College of Education, while also providing an opportunity for a stronger connection between the art education, visual art and art history degree programs. The music education model for the University of Wyoming is strong and is providing a great service to the state. Although the devils are always in the details, using this same model that the music educators use could be a positive development for Visual Arts Education for the state of Wyoming. We will keep you informed of any developments and possible opportunities to help the university strengthen visual arts education moving forward.
Please feel free to contact our Arts Education Specialist, Tara Pappas, if you have any questions or comments (tara.pappas@wyo.gov; 307-777-7109).
The Wyoming Arts Council believes that experiencing the arts should be accessible for all, including people with mental and/or physical disabilities, older adults, military/veterans, people living in institutions and those who lack access to the arts due to geographic isolation, cultural difference and economic hardship.
