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Bringing creativity to life

Your love of art draws you to teach and inspires you to share that passion with others. As a student enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Art and Design Teaching, you bring a fresh perspective to the teaching and learning process for your students to show their creative side. As a visual educator, you will immerse yourself in creative art making and acquire skills in the art of teaching.

This interdisciplinary degree integrates various fields, including drawing, painting, design, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, photography, computer imaging, art history, educational foundations, art teaching methods, and student teaching. The Art and Design Teaching major is part of a program which leads to a Wisconsin initial educator license to teach within grades K-12.

Locations
Madison, WI
Formats
On-campus
Number of Credits
120
Next Start Date
January 21, 2025

Careers within Art & Design Teaching

$61,620

1%

A bachelor’s degree in Art & Design Teaching prepares you for a variety of career paths. Careers with an asterisk (*) may require additional education.

  • Art Teacher
  • Artist
  • Community Arts
  • Designer
  • Photographer
  • Postsecondary Teacher*
  • Printmaker

Art & Design Teaching by the Numbers

13

40

Art & Design Teaching Student Spotlight

Ella Villagarcia

Ella Villagarcia ’24

“In the canvas of life, Edgewood provided the brushstrokes of guidance and inspiration that I needed. Through introspection and exploration, I discovered my true calling in Art Education, driven by the belief that ‘heart speaks to heart.”

Student Organizations

Aspiring Teachers Club

The Aspiring Teachers Club welcomes all students enrolled in, or preparing to study, in the Division of Education at Edgewood College. Their mission is to prepare students for careers in education by providing members with opportunities to enhance their understanding of the profession. They accomplish this by engaging members with opportunities to participate in professional development and community service activities, both on- and off-campus. Their commitment extends to fostering a warm, inclusive, and fun environment, creating a vibrant student community within the Division of Education.

LOST/FOUND

LOST/FOUND is a publication that is edited and designed that features artwork, fiction, and poetry of Edgewood College undergraduate students. Student editors from the English department and student designers from the art department select the best student creative work to be included each year. Submissions for LOST/FOUND occur from November – January each year and the annual issue is published at the end of April in both digital and printed editions. Explore the featured artwork showcased in the 2023 edition of LOST/FOUND.

Accreditation

The Teacher Education licensing programs are approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WDPI). Edgewood College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Art & Design Teaching Experiences

Madison and its neighboring communities offer a diverse array of practicum and student teaching placements, including private, parochial, and public schools in both urban and suburban areas. Having diverse options provides you with a broader range of experiences, which facilitates exploration to help you discover the best fit, enhancing both your skills and marketability.

Faculty Spotlights

Julie Luecke

Julie Luecke

Julie C. Luecke, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Education, received her BS in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, her M.Ed. in Curriculum from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was an elementary classroom teacher for nine years before moving into higher education. During her graduate studies, she took a year off to volunteer at Ongwediva College of Education in Namibia. Julie joined the Edgewood faculty in 2006, teaching undergraduate courses in educational foundations, courses in children’s literature for the undergraduate and graduate programs, and a course for the Edgewood College COR program, The Conception of Gender. This class emerged from Julie’s research interests in building support structures for gender expansive students and their peers, both through educational policy and practice and through children’s and young adult literature.

JLuecke@edgewood.edu

Sarah Stolte

Sarah Stolte, Ph.D.

SStolte@edgewood.edu

Gerado Mancilla

Gerardo Mancilla

Gerardo Mancilla is an Associate Professor of Education for both the undergraduate and graduate programs. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education, M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction, M.S. in Counseling Psychology, and Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction, all from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to working at Edgewood College, Gerardo was working for the Madison Metropolitan School District where he was a Dual Language Immersion teacher. Gerardo teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses at Edgewood College. Gerardo’s research interests include Critical Race Theory, LatCrit, the school-to-prison pipeline, bilingual education, and immigration. Gerardo has also been active in the Madison community for many years.

gmancilla@edgewood.edu

Heather O’Neil

Heather O’Neil

Heather O’Neil is an assistant program coordinator of Language and Literacy as well as an assistant professor. Heather has a BA in History and Secondary Education from St. Norbert College and an MA in Language and Literacy Development from Cardinal Stritch University. She is completing her Ph.D. in Language and Literacy at Concordia University-Chicago. Prior to Edgewood College, Heather was an assistant professor of undergraduate elementary education at Concordia University-Wisconsin for six years. She also worked as a district reading specialist, reading teacher, and literacy coach in various school districts in southeastern Wisconsin. Heather’s research interests include the identity formation of pre-service teachers, writing instruction, and culturally responsive instruction.

HONeil@edgewood.edu

Donna Vukelich Selva

Donna Vukelich-Selva

Donna Vukelich-Selva received her Ph.D. in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011. She also holds a Master of Arts in Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies from UW-Madison. Before coming to Edgewood College in 2008, she taught at a K-12 bilingual school in Managua, Nicaragua, where she also founded and ran a study abroad program for US college students. Vukelich-Selva teaches both undergraduate courses in the Division of Education, as well as bilingual and ESL education graduate courses in the Language and Literacy program. She also teaches in Edgewood’s COR program for first year students and piloted a course on the history of immigration in the United States that is cross-listed with Ethnic Studies. Among her college responsibilities, Donna serves on the advisory board for Edgewood’s Center for Multicultural Education. Donna’s research interests include critical race theory, education and immigration, bilingual education and restorative justice. She has been active in the Madison community for many years.

DVukelich-Selva@edgewood.edu
(608) 663-3235

Sheila Zenk

Sheila Zenk

SZenk@edgewood.edu

A Creative Haven for Students

The Stream is Edgewood College’s visual and theatre arts center. This dramatic industrial structure is home to the art and theatre art programs, Diane Ballweg Theatre, and Edgewood College Gallery. Within The Stream is a dedicated specialized laboratory-learning classroom for Art Education. Located on the southwest corner of campus, the building overlooks the surrounding woods and Lake Wingra.

The College received Gold LEED certification for the building, which makes it the second LEED-certified building on campus. Edgewood College became the first college or university in Wisconsin for exemplary environmental performance (2006).

Frequently Asked Questions About Art & Design Teaching

Are there opportunities for networking or connecting with professionals in the field?

Students are encouraged to belong to the National Art Education Association and the Wisconsin Art Education Association to broaden their visibility and experiences.

Where have Edgewood College art and design teaching alumni built successful careers?

Art and Design Teaching alumni are working in multiple school districts across the state including, Sauk-Prairie, Janesville, Wisconsin Dells, Madison Metropolitan, Sun Prairie, Oregon, Fond du Lac, Osseo-Fairchild, Baraboo, and the Edgewood Campus School.

Is this program transfer-friendly?

Yes, out Art and Design Teaching program readily accepts transfer credits for applicable coursework, while striving to offer a seamless transition for students.

Does Edgewood College have an articulation agreement with Madison College?

Yes, Edgewood College has a transfer agreement with Madison College. Students who complete the Education Pre-Major degree at Madison College will be guaranteed admission to Edgewood College (when students transfer directly from Madison College to Edgewood College within 5 years of completing their associate degree).