Art and Design Education

The Artists Community Teaching Program is now the Art and Design Education Minor

The Art and Design Education minor prepares students for a range of professional practices as socially engaged artists, designers and educators in diverse communities and contexts including K-12 schools, museum education departments, community art centers, correctional facilities, therapeutic arts programs, public art, design companies that focus on educational materials, and the use of art and design as an agent for positive social change.

The field of Arts Education is growing and there is currently a teacher shortage. Read about What Prop. 28 funding will mean for arts education in California. Read Thanks to Prop 28 School Districts Need Art Teachers. 

California AB 130 now expands the ways pre-service educators can prove Subject Matter Competency to include earning a degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the subject they want to teach. Therefore, BFA and MFA Fine Arts majors automatically satisfy the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing's Subject Matter in Art Domains and qualify for a CSET (California Subject Exam for Teachers) waiver - one step in earning a Single Subject Teaching Credential. With tthis CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing approved Subject Matter in Art Program Otis College is able to evaluate transcripts and portfolios to verify Subject Matter Competency, therefore other majors who want to waive the CSET can take additional studio courses as advised by the ADEd Minor Area Head. A fifth year of study or a two year school district internship at a CTC Approved Educator Preparation Program is required to complete the remaining CA Single Subject Teaching Credential requirements.

Eligibility

This minor is open to all BFA majors. Students must be on track in their major and in good academic standing, with no more than 6 credits behind and a cumulative GPA of 2.0.
MFA students are welcome to take Art and Design Education classes as electives with approval from their Department Chair/Advisor.

Required Courses

* Students will choose Art and Design Education Electives from the Minors Course Lists, selected by the Interdisciplinary Studies Director in collaboration with each Academic Department. Examples include: ACTS300/ADED300 Special Topics, CAIL300 Creative Action Studio (if taken a second time), SSCI211 Child Psychology, and studio classes outside of their major or area of emphasis that expand their art and design making skills.

Course Descriptions are listed in the Interdisciplinary Studies and Liberal Arts and Sciences sections of the Course Catalogand the Academic Advising Nest.

Download one of the following PDFs to see how the new Art and Design Education Minor fits into your chosen major:

For students who entered Otis College as Foundation students in 2022-23 (class of 2026):
Art and Design Education Minor Info Sheet 2022-23 (see Degree Works for Academic Plan)

For students who entered Otis College as Foundation students in 2023-24 (class of 2027):
Art and Design Education Minor Info Sheet 2023-24 (see Degree Works for Academic Plan)

For students who entered Otis College as Foundation students in 2024-25 (class of 2028):
Art and Design Education Minor Info Sheet 2024-25 (see Degree Works for Academic Plan)

 

Download one of the following PDFs to see how the original Teacher Credential Preparation minor fits into your chosen major:
For students who entered Otis College as Foundation students in 2021-22 (class of 2025):
Teacher Credential Preparation Minor Academic Plan 21-22

Learn more about Interdisciplinary Studies, eligibility requirements, and the application process.

Subject Matter in Art Competency Evaluations / CSET Waivers

Proving Art Subject Matter Competency is just one step in earning a CA Teaching Credential (see all steps to earning at CA Teaching Credential here). California AB 130 now expands the ways pre-service educators can prove Subject Matter Competency to include earning a degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the subject they want to teach. Those who wish to waive the CSET in Art but did not complete a BA, BFA or MFA degree with a major in Art from a regionally accredited university can apply for a Subject Matter Competency Evaluation to determine eligibility for a CSET waiver. Evaluation of Subject Matter in Art Competency takes 6-8 weeks to complete and there is no guarantee of CSET Waiver approval. Applicants are encouraged to review the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing's Subject Matter in Art Domains before applying.

Applicants will be granted a CSET Waiver only if they have successfully completed courses for college credit that cover all the Subject Matter in Art Domains listed on the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing's Subject Matter in Art Domains. If it is found that certain Subject Matter in Art Domains are missing, applicants can choose to take the CSET or to reapply for a Waiver after completing recommended college level courses covering the missing Domains at any accredited college or university of their choice.

How to Apply for a Subject Matter in Art Competency Evaluation/CSET Waiver:

1. Complete the online SMArtCE Application Form.
2. Attach or send official transcripts (from each college/university you attended) at the bottom of this form.
3. Attach course descriptions (PDFs from course catalog with School name and logo) of all courses to be evaluated at the bottom of this form.
4. Upload your portfolio with 10-20 images of work and/or 5-10 min. of video that represents the breadth of required art coursework.
5. Pay the $100.00 fee (Applicant will be directed to payment screen once the Application Form is submitted).

Evaluation will not be conducted unless payment is made. Otis Alumni should inquire about evaluation fee waiver via email.

Ways to Get Involved

The Art and Design Education minor (formerly known as the Artists Community Teaching Program) partners with local schools, teachers, museum education departments, community arts organizations, and socially engaged artists and designers in order to provide positive learning experiences for students who are invested in working with diverse communities using their art and design skills. The best partnerships are mutually beneficial – the partner gains needed assistance while the students gain hands-on experience in the field, and in many cases either college credit or hourly wages.

Host a classroom observation or site visit: Several ADEd classes include field trips to local arts organizations, museums, K-12 classrooms, public art sites and the studios of socially engaged artists and designers. Contact the ADEd Minor Area Head if you would like to host a small group of ADEd students.

Mentor an ADEd student as your assistant: During the required internship/early field experience seniors are assistants in K-12 public and private schools, museum education departments, and community arts organizations. The student interns a minimum of 5-6 hours a week for ten weeks while earning three credits. It is a mutually beneficial partnership in which the mentoring artist/designer/educator has the eager assistance of the intern in their classroom or studio, while the internship provides an invaluable opportunity for students to map theoretical learning of their coursework with the realities of art and design education and socially engaged art practices in schools and community settings. Contact the ADEd Minor Area Head if you would like to mentor an intern.

Have an ADEd student teach at your school, museum, or community organization:

Students enrolled in the Teaching for Learning II course are required to teach their own art/design lessons in a school or community setting of their choice. Students who have already completed their internship/early field experience can also apply for the ADEd Assistantship Awards, which places top students or recent alumni as paid assistants in a school or community setting of their choice. These are opportunities for ADEd students to hone their teaching skills while providing meaningful art experiences to K-12 students and community members in often underserved parts of Los Angeles county. Contact the ADEd Minor Area Head if you would like to host a visiting ADEd student teacher.

Community Work-study Partners: Several local non-profit organizations have partnered with Otis to offer paid Teaching Assistant and Program Assistant positions, funded by the Federal Work-study Program. The ADEd Program and the Office of Financial Aid collaborate to allocate funds to partner sites at the start of each fiscal year, after which the work-study jobs are posted on the Otis Job Board, hosted by Career Services. Students can apply for these positions at the start of fall semester, and typically work for the same organization for a full school year, with the possibility of continuing during summer (depending on available funds, Federal Work-study eligibility, and schedule coordination). Current Community Work-Study partners are Angels Gate Cultural Center, Armory Center for the Arts, artworxLA, The Getty Museum's Education Department, LACMA's Education Department, Kentwood Elementary School, reDiscover Center, Side Street Projects, and Venice Arts.

Hire an art/design educator from our qualified pool of students and alumni: Paid positions and for-credit internships can be posted on the Otis Job Board. Contact the ADEd Minor Area Head or Career Services if you are interested in hiring an ADEd student or alumni to teach at your school or organization.

For more info about the Art and Design Education Minor contact Minor Area Head, Patricia Kovic