Accelerated M.Ed. in Arts, Community, and Education 36 credits
For Lesley Center for the Adult Learner (LCAL) Bachelor's Degree Students
This accelerated M.Ed. in Arts, Community, and Education program provides a foundation in community arts work, including arts-based work, grant writing, arts administration, networking, fundraising, curriculum planning, assessment, and advocacy. In addition, the program requires students to pursue more in-depth knowledge in one of five specializations. Research and field experiences that expose students to the power of community arts as an instrument for social change are integral to the program.
Open to LCAL students enrolled in any Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science program, candidates must apply with no fewer than 6 credits left to complete their bachelor's degree. After completing a minimum of 100 credits toward their bachelor's degree, students will consult with an academic advisor and register for 6 graduate credits. Official admission to the master's degree program is contingent upon conferral of the bachelor's degree. Successful applicants will have 30 out of 36 credits remaining for the master's degree.
Program Specializations:
Arts in Health
This specialization is ideal for students who want to incorporate the arts into services and programs that promote health for individuals within various communities and care settings, including, but not limited to, veterans, families, and older adults.
Integrated Arts
Students interested in exploring multiple arts modalities, including art, drama, music, poetry, and storytelling, will learn to facilitate an integrated arts approach for school curriculum, community organizations, and other environments.
Equity, Access, and Inclusion
An ideal choice for those who want a better understanding of diversity in social contexts and for work in community settings. Themes explored in related courses include social and personal identity; socio-political context; multiple perspectives; and power and privilege in social context.
Theater Studies
Participants get an opportunity to develop artistic skills necessary to facilitate a drama-based approach for school curriculum, community organizations, and other environments. Students work with practicing drama educators and directors.
Visual Art
Appropriate for current teachers, artists, or other professionals who want to develop the artistic skills to facilitate a visual arts-based approach for school curriculum, community organizations, and other environments. Students work with practicing artists and art educators to understand the ways in which communities are vital in our framing and teaching of visual art.
Program of Study
In consultation with advisor, LCAL students will take two of the courses below at the undergraduate level for a total of six credits.
Required Core Courses (9 credits):
| EARTS 6001 | Collaborative Symposium: Power of the Arts in Communities and Schools | 3 |
| EARED 6117 | Theory and Practice in Community Arts: Ideas Into Action | 3 |
| EARED 7106 | Multiple Literacies: Social and Political Investigation | 3 |
Required Inquiry and Practice Courses (9 credits):
Program Specializations (18 credits):
Each student will choose, in consultation with advisor, one of the specializations below for the duration of his or her program and will take the 3-credit courses designated for each specialization.
Arts in Health Specialization
| GEXTH 5045 | Arts and Healing | 3 |
| GEXTH 6028 | The Arts in Health: Cultural Context and Meaning | 3 |
| GEXTH 5010 | Principles and Practices of Expressive Arts Therapy | 3 |
| GEXTH/GCREA | Expressive Therapies/Creativity, Leadership and Social Change: Two courses chosen in consultation with advisor | 6 |
| EARED/EARTS | Arts Foundation and Interdisciplinary Arts Courses: One course chosen in consultation with Community Arts and Arts in Health faculty advisors | 3 |
Integrated Arts Specialization
| EARED 6100 | Arts Integration, Literacy, and Common Core | 3 |
| EARTS 6105 | Multiple Perspectives Through Music | 3 |
| EARED/EARTS | Arts Foundation and Interdisciplinary Arts Courses: Four courses chosen in consultation with advisor | 12 |
Equity, Access, and Inclusion Specialization
| EARED 6003 | Equity, Access, and Inclusion through Arts Based Inquiry | 3 |
| EARTS 6101 | Art and Culture in Community | 3 |
| EARED/EARTS | Arts Foundation and Interdisciplinary Arts Courses: Four courses chosen in consultation with advisor | 12 |
Theater Studies Specialization
| EARED 5009 | Drama and Critical Literacy | 3 |
| EARED 6091 | Transformational Leadership Through Drama | 3 |
| EARED/EARTS | Arts Foundation and Interdisciplinary Arts Courses: Four courses chosen in consultation with advisor | 12 |
Visual Art Specialization
| EARTS 6103 | Literacy and the Arts: Vision and Voice | 3 |
| EARTS 6006 | Power of the Image: Media Literacy | 3 |
| EARED/EARTS | Arts Foundation and Interdisciplinary Arts Courses: Four courses chosen in consultation with advisor | 12 |