2024-2025 Graduate Academic Catalog

Accelerated M.Ed. in Arts, Community, and Education 36 credits

For Adult Learner 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 adult learner 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 6001Collaborative Symposium: Power of the Arts in Communities and Schools

3

EARED 6117Theory and Practice in Community Arts: Ideas Into Action

3

EARED 7106Multiple Literacies: Social and Political Investigation

3

Required Inquiry and Practice Courses (9 credits):

EARED 7100Arts Integrated Inquiry: Seminar and Thesis Project

3

EARED 7700Internship and Seminar in Community Arts

3

EARED 7102Arts-Based Research

3

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 5045Arts and Healing

3

GEXTH 6028The Arts in Health: Cultural Context and Meaning

3

GEXTH 5010Principles 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 6100Arts Integration, Literacy, and Common Core

3

EARTS 6105Multiple 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 6003Equity, Access, and Inclusion through Arts Based Inquiry

3

EARTS 6101Art 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 5009Drama and Critical Literacy

3

EARED 6091Transformational Leadership Through Drama

3

EARED/EARTS
Arts Foundation and Interdisciplinary Arts Courses: Four courses chosen in consultation with advisor

12

Visual Art Specialization

EARTS 6103Literacy and the Arts: Vision and Voice

3

EARTS 6006Power of the Image: Media Literacy

3

EARED/EARTS
Arts Foundation and Interdisciplinary Arts Courses: Four courses chosen in consultation with advisor

12