Philadelphia, PA—Moore College of Art & Design has announced the launch of a new online iteration of its highly successful 12-year-old Art Education graduate studies program, starting in the 2022–2023 academic calendar year. The new track comes after learnings and observations during the COVID-19 pandemic, when program faculty and College administrators collaborated on a necessary pivot to full remote instruction.
The program, which awards each of its graduates a Master of Arts degree in Art Education with an Emphasis in Inclusive Practices, has traditionally been a hybrid program with students attending on-campus classes over the summer and learning remotely during the fall and spring semesters. In addition, within the hybrid format, students have the option to seek certification, with a curriculum that integrates MA classes with traditional on-campus post-baccalaureate courses leading to certification. The additional track, for which all classes are online and asynchronous, offers a new opportunity for working professionals and art educators from Philadelphia and beyond who already have their certification to take part in the program and advance their careers.
“The pandemic taught us many things, and one of those learnings was that geography should no longer be a limitation to learning,” said Cecelia Fitzgibbon, president of Moore College of Art & Design. “We have a special program that prepares art teachers and community activists to work with people of all backgrounds and abilities in the art classroom. We’re excited about the possibility of offering the program to people who live outside of the immediate region.”
Moore’s Art Education graduate program, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2019, is one of a kind among other similar graduate programs throughout the country, thanks to its focus on inclusive practices. The curriculum, originally rooted in disability studies, has expanded organically throughout the years around evolving student interests and issues of concern in the larger field. Students who enroll in the program receive in-depth experience working in field settings with a range of populations—students who identify within the disabled community, with LGBTQ+ identities, gifted students, English language learners, and more—which prepares them to teach in any and all types of classrooms, using tested methodologies and best practices they learn through the program. Every year, 100 percent of graduates from the previous year are either already employed or enrolled in a doctoral program.
The new online track, which makes its debut in 2022, will offer aspiring and working art educators from around the country a chance to participate in the prestigious, award-winning program and be a part of its ongoing success.
“We are excited to offer this new fully online and asynchronous scheduling option, so that we can provide opportunities for working professionals seeking to advance their existing careers, or transition to new careers in K-12, community and museum art education,” said Lauren Stichter, Director of Art Education at Moore. “Graduates of our program go on to receive regional and national awards for their work, present at international conferences, become leaders in their place of employment and advance the field of art education through their research. ”
For those interested learning more about the program, Moore’s website offers more information about the new online track, as well as student, alumni and faculty success stories. Applications to the program, both online and hybrid tracks, will be accepted now through spring 2022. Email gradstudies@moore.edu for more information.
For press inquiries:
Nicole Steinberg, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
nsteinberg@moore.edu | 215.965.8651
