Bachelor of Fine Arts with Certification (B.F.A.+)
Ceramics, Intermedia, Graphic Design, Painting, Printmaking or Sculpture, with Teacher Certification, K-12
Teacher certification in Art, K-12, may be earned with any area of studio emphasis in the B.F.A. program. Through careful counseling, individual goals are established in keeping with the student's aims and talents. A minor in Art History can also be earned along with the B.F.A. or B.F.A. + Certification degree with an additional two courses or six hours.
Students wishing certification to teach K-12 in West Virginia and other reciprocal states must complete competency requirements established by the state in addition to Division of Art B.F.A. degree requirements. This unique program allows students to earn teacher certification while emphasizing a content area within the B.F.A. curriculum. Typically, the student's schedule is reviewed with an art advisor, the division Chairperson, or the art education coordinator.
Liberal Arts and Education Requirements
Liberal arts requirements are selected by the certifying agency of the State of West Virginia and WVU. Certification requirements are established and reviewed by state agencies. Undergraduate art students desiring certification should consult with the art education faculty to be certain of compliance with certification criteria.
Education Testing Requirements To Receive K-12 Certification In Art
To be accepted into the teacher education program and be allowed to student teach the following requirements must be fulfilled:
Grade Point Average: A minimum GPA (grade point average) of 2.5 must be maintained.
Pre-Professional Skills Tests: Students must pass all PPST (Pre-Professional Skills Tests) components in reading, writing, and math. Contact the Office of Educational Advising in Allen Hall for registration information as well as times and statewide locations for testing. Students in the B.F.A.+ Certification Program should complete the PPST before the spring semester of their sophomore year. All or parts of the PPST can be retaken. Study booklets and tutors are also available.
Exemption to the PPST: Students who have ACT scores of 26 or higher, or SAT scores totaling 1035 or more may be exempt from some or all of the PPST requirements. A copy of the scores must be submitted to Division of Art files and forwarded to HR&E.
Content Specialization Test: Students are required to successfully complete the Praxis content specialization test in the visual arts BEFORE student teaching.
Pedagogy Exam: Students are also required to pass a Content exam and a Pedagogy Exam before certification papers can move forward. Students may choose the exam focusing on elementary or secondary level education. This exam can be taken before students begin their semester of teaching or during their first semester in the field. The exam must be passed before certification is granted.
Some other Considerations: Any student teaching in the classrooms must have up-to-date TB results on file. Testing for TB must be updated every two years.
B.F.A. with Certification Curriculum
This variation of the regular B.F.A. program begins after the completion of the freshman year and requires careful selection of both studio and academic courses. With the additional liberal studies and education course requirements, the anticipated time frame to complete this program is five years.
