Art Education

About the art education major

Herron’s art education programs prepare you to teach art in public and private schools, grades K–12. In the diverse settings of Indianapolis schools and museums, you'll learn the reflective practice of teaching young people of all backgrounds to create and to respond to art in today’s world. You'll examine the visual development of young people and construct learning environments where social imagination and visual literacy skills flourish. This major combines classes from Herron and the School of Education.

Skills and abilities this major develops: teaching, curriculum, writing, fine art skills, and cultural competency (Herron School of Art and Design, 2017).

Engaged learning experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IU Indianapolis’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Student organizations

Students interested in education tend to be a passionate bunch. We're home to a number of student organizations dedicated to different facets of teaching and education.

Service learning

You can add to your built-in student teaching experience through community engagement. From service projects to conferences, you get a head start on lifelong learning.

Study abroad

Study abroad is much more than a trip—it’s an intellectual and cultural adventure that will change the way you see the world, other people, and yourself.

Opportunities after graduation

Employment of high school teachers is projected to grow 5% from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 77,900 openings for high school teachers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022).

According to the IU Indianapolis First Destination Survey in 2021, the average starting salary for graduates from the School of Education was $41,859, and the median was $42,830.

The national median annual salary for high school teachers was $61,820 in 2021 (Occupational Outlook Handbook).

(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)

Art education majors often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:

Arts administration
Higher education
Museum education/museum studies
School administration

Quick facts

Sample coursework

3D design
4D studio
Drawing
Field experience
Foundations of art education
Teaching students with special needs

Possible careers

Art educator (K–12)
Museum curator
Nonprofit program coordinator
Professor*
School administrator*
Studio artist

*These careers require additional training or education.

Where could I work?

Community art center
Education
Elementary and secondary schools
IU Indianapolis or Ivy Tech
Newfields
Nonprofits

Complementing interests

AArtistic

EEnterprising

SSocial

Get your interest code

Where to get more information

IU Herron School of Art and Design

National Art Education Association (NAEA)

Herron Career Services

Arts, Humanities, and Human Services Cluster

This major is part of the Arts, Humanities, and Human Services (AHHS) cluster. The AHHS cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in art and design, education, general studies, journalism, liberal arts, and social work. The AHHS cluster partners with students on their academic advising and career plans to guide them into their degree-granting schools.

Learn about the AHHS cluster

Learn about other clusters

Meet with an advisor or career consultant

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