B.A. In Art Education

The art education program at Moravian University places child-centered teaching and learning theories into practice. As children and adolescents create works of art about big ideas that matter to themselves and others, they are problem-solving and problem-seeking. As they create works of art based on ideas shaped through dialogue with their peers and teachers, they are constructing new knowledge about their experiences in and through the world. They do so in an atmosphere that emphasizes cooperative, student-directed, and peer-group teaching and learning strategies. The primary outcome of this approach is that through the creation and sharing of personal meaning-making, students foster a greater understanding of themselves and others and awaken to alternative possibilities in the world. Art education provides an opportunity for children to respond to the question, “must things be as they are?” In doing so, they cultivate a more peaceful and socially just world and education becomes transformative.

Child-centered lesson units based on this philosophy and written by our pre-service art educators vigorously meet the Pennsylvania Department of Education Academic Standards for the Visual Arts and Common Core Standards. Moreover, because it is child-centered, this philosophy supports educators in teaching students with diverse needs, such as students who are learning the English language and those with disabilities. To carry out the ambitious goals set forth within this mission of art education, pre-service art educators at Moravian University develop and sustain their own studio art practice and use it to tell their pedagogy. In doing so, art educators come to understand their studio practice as research, as the place where they are constructing new knowledge. Through the mastery of art processes and techniques, the understanding of materials, and their potential for shaping ideas, the pre-service educator calls on these experiences as he or she writes curricula that support and challenge the artistic, cognitive, and social development and learning styles of all children.

Internships

Students complete field experiences at various levels throughout their program, building toward the ultimate internship—student teaching—in the spring of the senior year.

Why Moravian?

It's all about the experience! The opportunities here are life-changing. Here’s a preview of what you’ll experience as a Moravian University student:

• A tech-friendly campus : Every student receives a MacBook Pro and an iPad as soon as they deposit
• Personalized learning : We have an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 16 students
• Classic college town : Moravian is located in historic downtown Bethlehem, PA
• Lifetime support : Say hello to the Center for Career and Civic Engagement!
• Global education : Choose from more than 20 study abroad programs
• Opportunities beyond the classroom : Participate in research, civic engagement, scholarship programs, internships, and more.
• A vast and active network : There are more than 20,000 Moravian alumni across the world, ready to help you get a job

Moravian University has deep roots and a record of success longer than that of our nation. The iconic Moravian star is engraved in our history and is present everywhere you turn. Moravian’s feel is entwined with that of Bethlehem’s, carrying both the resilience of its steel town lore and the lightness of the window candles that glow each night in Moravian tradition.

Bethlehem is so regarded for its history that it’s been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site shortlist, hoping to join such historic sites as Independence Hall, the Statue of Liberty, and the pyramids of Egypt.

Undergraduate Academics

For a small school, the Moravian experience has a broad reach. You can choose from more than 70 areas of study or even design your own major. Plus, the graduate program provides more than 45 doctorate and master’s degrees and certification options. But you don’t have to decide anything right now. At Moravian, we want you to take the time to explore all of your academic interests and then focus on your chosen path.

View all undergraduate programs.

Additionally, you can participate in our Honors Program, SOAR research, local internships, student clubs, study abroad, and more.

Our average class size is 16 students, with an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio. That means your professors know you by first name and care about your success! You’ll be given a Macbook Pro and an iPad to use during all four years of school, and you can even keep them once you graduate.

Graduate Academics

Moravian Graduate offers more than 50 graduate and certificate programs in behavioral health, business, education, fine arts, nursing, rehabilitation sciences, and theological studies.

Moravian's graduate and certificate programs are designed to prepare top-notch graduates to meet the needs of growing industries—and they're also designed to fit into your life, not uproot it. That’s why graduate courses are offered in traditional, accelerated, blended, and online formats. You’ll also have the best of Moravian University's resources at your fingertips, and our faculty, staff, and Student Experience Mentors are committed to your success.

View all graduate programs.

Location

Located along the east coast of the United States, Moravian calls Bethlehem, Pennsylvania home. In this bustling small town you’ll find yourself just a short drive away from major cities, like Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C. Just imagine all the weekend trips and new adventures! But don’t worry, there’s plenty to do right in the Lehigh Valley too. Whether you’re attending one of the best music festivals in North America (Musikfest) or enjoying a baseball game at Coca Cola Stadium, there’s never a dull moment in Bethlehem, PA.

The Bethlehem community is always very welcoming of Moravian students and often partners with the University to offer internships, hands-on learning opportunities, and free events.

Weather

Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley experiences all four seasons to the fullest. Fall brings crisp sweater-weather and colorful leaves. Winter coats our campus with snow. Spring offers rain showers and blooming flowers. And summer is sunny and warm. Every season brings a little something different to Bethlehem and we love it!