Art Education Certificate

The Watson College of Education (WCE) has introduced a new graduate certificate in Art Education for individuals seeking to become licensed art teachers in North Carolina public schools. The program is designed for residency teachers, certified teaching assistants and career changers with a bachelor’s degree in art or a related field who want to earn their teaching license.

“The Art Education MAT program is a respected and successful program providing opportunities for students looking into a teaching career and current teachers to advanced their practice in art education,” said Christine Liao, coordinator of WCE’s new post-baccalaureate certificate in Art Education. “Our flexible program allows a fast-track option to obtain a license as quickly as possible and gain the foundational knowledge of Art Education. For people interested in continuing their education in the future and obtaining a master’s degree, all the courses taken in this program will apply to our Art Education MAT program.”

The Art Education Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is an 18-credit-hour program that can be completed in just over one year, 1.5 years or two years, depending on the starting semester and chosen pace. Courses are offered entirely online, providing flexibility for students to balance coursework with professional and personal commitments.

Classroom experiences are aligned with each candidate’s licensure pathway, offering additional flexibility. Residency teachers generally complete field placements in their own classrooms, while the Watson College’s Office of Professional Experiences works with teacher assistants and other candidates to arrange convenient placements with their local school districts.

Courses are taught by experienced art education faculty with extensive K–12 classroom expertise who provide personalized instruction and mentorship. Students also receive individualized advising, and edTPA support is embedded throughout the program to help make the licensure process smoother. Successful completion of the certificate leads to K–12 art teacher licensure.

The graduate certificate is a stand-alone licensure pathway rather than a degree program. However, all certificate coursework may be applied toward the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Art Education, providing a seamless path for candidates who choose to continue their graduate studies.

UNCW’s Graduate School is now accepting applications for the first cohort, which begins in Spring 2027.

For more information, contact Dr. Christine Liao at liaoc@uncw.edu or visit the Art Education Post-Baccalaureate Certificate webpage (coming soon).

For information about WCE’s residency programs, visit the Residency Licensure webpage.