Art Education
Overview & Course Content
The Master of Philosophy in Art Education programme was established in 1991 purposely to upgrade the pedagogical skills and professional competence of Art Teachers academic staff in the then College of Art (now Faculty of Art) in KNUST to attain higher degrees by research while also engaged in active teaching of their specialised areas of Painting, Sculpture, Textiles, Ceramics, Graphic design, Metal Products design, etc. The opportunity was later extended to professional teachers in Secondary Schools, Teacher Training Colleges, and the Polytechnics who had the KNUST Postgraduate Diploma in Art Education qualification.
The Master of Philosophy in Art Education programme was one of the programmes accessed to upgrade Art Lecturers from the then University College of Education, Winneba (UCEW) as part of its upgrading to full university status.
The Master of Philosophy in Art Education programme is aimed at training professional art educators who are well-versed in the specialized disciplines in Visual Art to serve as art instructors from the basic to the tertiary educational institutions. This is important to fill the increasing gaps in high-quality professionals in the Visual Art discipline to teach specific subjects and courses in the Visual Arts curriculum in the various Ghanaian basic and tertiary educational landscapes for national development. Moreover, the Master of Philosophy in Art Education Programme is designed to train Art Critics, Aestheticians and Art Education administrators who will be able to provide relevant services in galleries, museums, arts/cultural institutions to ensure national and global development. This overarching aim of the programme fits into the national human resource development agenda of Ghana.
The principal objectives of the Master of Philosophy in Art Education programme are to:
- Equip students with the theoretical and practical knowledge and expertise to be able to function as professional art educators to be able to teach the Visual Art disciplines at the various basic to tertiary education institutions for national and global development.
- Offer skills set in art-based methodologies, techniques and technologies for classroom practice in the delivery of the Visual Art disciplines at the various basic to tertiary education institutions for national and global development.
- Demonstrate competencies in arts administration, art appreciation and aesthetics, aesthetic theories and their application to be able to function as arts administrators, aestheticians, and art critics in arts/cultural/educational institutions within and outside Ghana.
Admission Requirements for Admission of Students
The criteria for admission to the programme are:
- A good BA, BFA or BEd. (1st or 2nd Class) in any Visual Arts discipline.
- A good pass (60% or above) in Research Methodology and Thesis Writing at the undergraduate level.
- Submission of a research proposal on an appropriate topic that is relevant to teaching, learning, and administration of the Arts, Vocational or General Education.
- A good pass (65% or above) at an entrance examination and interview that is determined by the Departmental Board.
- At least One year classroom teaching or school administration experience.
Progression
Progression from Year One to Year Two of the programme depends on:
- Full participation and completion of all requirements of taught courses in Year One with a minimum pass mark of 50% in each course;
- 12 weeks of supervised Professional Attachment for practice teaching in a Senior High School, College of Education, Polytechnic, or University in Semester One of Year Two to satisfy recognition and certification requirements stipulated by the Ghana Education Service for professional teachers;
- Completing a written thesis or research project with its report at the end of Year Two.
Students who are unable to complete the thesis or project requirement apply to the School of Graduate Studies (on recommendation by Supervisor and Head of Department) for extension of their registration by Six months to enable them fulfill this requirement.
They are allowed a final extension of six months to complete the write-up and submit the thesis (certified by Supervisor, Internal Examiner and Head of Department) for onward submission to the School of Graduate Studies.
A final extension of thesis is allowed to ensure students complete the requirements for graduation. Abandonment of programme is therefore very rare among our students.
CORE COURSES
YEAR ONE SEMESTER ONE
- Arts Administration
- Principles of Education I
- Educational Technology
- Educational Research
- Aesthetics and Criticism
ELECTIVE COURSES
Students should select one elective course
- Painting and Sculpture Workshop I
- Ceramics Studio Practice I
- Interdisciplinary Communication Design I
- Advanced Fabric Studies
- Fashion Design Practice I
- Jewellery Studio I
- Metalsmithing Studio I
- Leather Technology
- Fibre and Yarn Technology
- Textile Design Practice I
CORE COURSES
YEAR ONE SEMESTER TWO
- Evaluation, Test and Measurement
- Principles of Education II (Practicum)
- Curriculum Development
- Psychology of Art Education
- Educational Research /Advanced Statistics
ELECTIVES COURSES
Students should select one elective course
- Painting and Sculpture Workshop II
- Ceramics Studio Practice II
- Interdisciplinary Communication Design II
- Fashion Materials and Structure
- Fashion Design Practice II
- Jewellery Studio II
- Metalsmithing II
- Integrated Leather Technology
- Colouration and Finishing Technology
- Textile Design Practice II
YEAR TWO
- Thesis/Research Project I
- Thesis Seminar I
- Teaching Practice
- Thesis/Research Project II
- Thesis Seminar II
Employment Prospects of Graduates
a. The Ghana Education Service recognizes our niche in KNUST as a teacher preparation programme and employs our graduates as professional Teachers of Visual Arts, Supervisors, and Administrators in Junior/Senior High Schools, Vocational/Technical Schools, and Colleges of Education.
- The Polytechnics/Technical Universities employ our graduates as Lecturers and administrators.
- The Universities employ them as Lecturers, Researchers and Registrars.
- The West African Examinations Council offers employment as Examiners and Administrators.
- Research institutions, the Banking industry, and Non-Governmental Organizations offer employment opportunities as Researchers and Administrators.
- The Centres of National Culture, Museums, Art Galleries, the Ghana Tourist Board and allied institutions employ our graduates as Researchers and Administrators.
- The Prisons and Police Services offer employment as Vocational Instructors, Researchers and Administrators.
- Private Schools, Colleges and Universities offer employment as Teachers, Administrators and Researchers.
- Entrepreneurship in the educational economy.