Row of paint jars in red, yellow, orange, and blue on a splattered art table with paint-smeared brushes.

Art Education

B.S. Degree with a major in Art Education

Create. Teach. Inspire the Next Generation of Artists.

Combine your passion for art with the skills to become an inspiring educator. The University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) Art Education program prepares you to teach visual arts in K–12 schools through a blend of studio art, educational theory, classroom experience, and hands-on teaching. You’ll graduate ready to foster creativity, critical thinking, and artistic expression while making a lasting impact on students and communities.

What You’ll Learn

Your learning experience blends coursework with hands-on classroom practice from the start. You’ll work closely with experienced faculty and mentor teachers, gaining real-world experience through field placements, student teaching, and practicums in local schools. You’ll strengthen your artistic skills while learning how students develop creatively and how to design engaging, standards-based art instruction for learners of all ages.

You’ll have also have access to a wide range of minors and certifications to expand your expertise, both within and outside of education like Special Education, English Language Learning, coaching, psychology, and content-area specialties.

 

What Makes UMF’s Education Program Different

Student smiling sitting at table presentation on nature education

Quality and Affordability

Receive a high-quality education with strong support, practical experience, and a cost that keeps your future within reach.
Person pinning special education ceremony on a graduate

Experience and Network

Gain hands-on classroom experience early while building connections with mentors, peers, and local schools.
Black and white image from 1940 of a teacher reaching in front of children

Tradition and Excellence

For over 160 years we’ve built a long-standing reputation for preparing exceptional, career-ready teachers.
Front doors of the Spenciner center in the Education center

Extensive Resources

Early Childhood Learning School, Curriculum Lab, Assistive Technology Center, Everyone’s Resource Depot & more.
83%

Of respondents indicated being employed in the field of education

85%

Have been hired within a year of graduation

94.3%

Of students indicated they were Very Satisfied or Satisfied with their teacher education preparation at UMF.

Education News & Stories

Smiling girl in a classroom holding a back-to-school poster with her name on it (Ms. Smith).
Fallon Smith ’26: Ready for the Classroom
September 04, 2026
Fallon Smith ‘26 is ready to get to work. She started her first week of school as a Math and STEM teacher at T.W. Kelly Dirigo Middle School, where she is looking forward to putting her classroom experience and…
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Smiling woman standing in front of UMF Education Center
UMF announces retirement of Katherine Yardley, longtime dedicated faculty member, dean and co-provost of the UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation
September 02, 2026
FARMINGTON, ME  (September 2, 2026)—The University of Maine at Farmington has announced that Katherine Yardley, a longtime UMF College of Education, Health and Rehabilitation faculty member, dean and co-provost who has helped lead Farmington’s academic excellence in its teacher preparation…
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UMF in the News: Two UMF alumnae named as Maine County Teachers of the Year announced as semifinalists for 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year by Maine DOE
July 27, 2026
The Maine Dept. of Education has just announced that eight of the 16 Maine County Teachers of the Year have been named as semifinalists for the 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year. Two of those semifinalists are UMF…
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Rachel Norgang implements a place-based education approach as she shows students how to use a macroinvertebrate identification key during a ponding unit earlier this spring.
UMF alumnae honored as 2026 Maine County Teachers of the Year
June 04, 2026
Maine teachers have a deep community connection and that goes especially for the recently named 2026 Maine County Teachers of the Year. This year’s recipients, one from every Maine county, include two outstanding University of Maine at Farmington alumnae—Rachel…
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Experienced Educators

At UMF, you’ll learn from experienced faculty who have worked as teachers, leaders, and education specialists and understand what today’s classrooms demand. They support you throughout your journey, offering real-world insight, hands-on guidance, and encouragement as you build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in elementary education.

Contact Us to Get Started!

Office of Admissions
246 Main Street
Farmington, Maine USA 04938-1994
umfadmit@maine.edu
207.778.7050