Transferring to a Better (Fine Arts) School?

College Majors Visual Arts and Film Majors
1

I just finished my freshman year at the University of Iowa. I had applied as a senior to a lot of different schools, although at the time I was convinced I was not going to study art–however once I registered for classes last summer at Iowa, I had decided to study art–so I guess I’m not ~too~ far behind on that front. If I were to stay at Iowa, I would be pursuing a BFA (applying for clearance at the end of first sem of my soph year) and the TEP Licensure (applying for the teacher’s education program in October of soph year, entering spring of soph year). I would also be able to get a minor in Art History and possible Educational Psychology as well before graduating in 2019.

I’m wondering if it’s worth it to transfer to a school with a better art department (it seems very disjointed and is not NASAD accredited… if that matters?) when I could stay at Iowa and do well academically and make it out with potentially more degrees that could enhance my employability. Especially considering that Iowa is only costing me a net $5k a year (even as an OOS student).

I’m interested in drawing, painting, and secondary education. I’d prefer to pursue teaching at the college level but I know that’s especially hard to do.

Current Stats:
GPA: 4.02 cumulative, 4.0 in my major (art)
Credits: 20 from AP, 36 completed freshman year, will complete an addition 36 during the entirety of sophomore year, hoping to transfer for my junior year onwards (or perhaps into spring of soph year, if available depending on the school)
ACT: 33
HS GPA: 4.42

The current schools I’m looking at are RISD, Pratt, MICA, VCUArts, and WashU (I got into WashU when applying as a senior, although I did not apply as an art student, and I didn’t receive enough aid to attend). I’m just unsure if it would be ultimately worth it to just stick it out at Iowa and aim higher for grad school (which I’ll have to wait for, probably, since high schools as i’ve been told rarely hire teachers with master’s degrees and no teaching experience), or to transfer now and perhaps add a year onto my studies for a more prestigious, rigorous, and ultimately more fulfilling environment?

EDIT: I’m taking three studios my first semester of sophomore year and will be using that as well to measure how I feel about Iowa’s art department, plus they’ll hopefully help expand my portfolio as a potential transfer applicant.

2

@nothnxplz For starters, if your ultimate goal is to be a teacher, you need to decide what level you wish to teach and when. If you want to teach K through 12 in most states, you will need to get certification in art education. The requirements will differ state to state. If you want to teach immediately upon college graduation, you will need an undergrad program that will provide that certification. In most cases, that means pursuing a degree in art education at the undergraduate level.

However, if you are able to hold off working right after college, you may be able to pursue your BFA in studio art and then get a master’s in art education. There are also some 5 year programs that give you a dual degree (BFA/ MA.)

Both of the above scenarios will set you up as a teacher grades K through 12. But that is entirely different from teaching art at a university.

In order to teach at a university level, you will need to get the terminal degree in the subject you wish to teach. In the case of studio art, that would be an MFA is studio art. A BA/ and or MA degree in art education will not provide that background. Most schools will also expect art professors to have a body of work that has been exhibited in galleries or museums. Most people pursue their MFA degree several years after getting their undergraduate degree so that they can build up a professional portfolio and have more exhibitions under their belt.

So if you are going to transfer, it is important to determine what your goal is.

My D attends NYU and just graduated with her BFA in studio art. She is starting NYU’s MA in Art Education program in September. This will allow her to teach K -12 in NY state. She plans to do that for several years while still working as an exhibiting artist. Down the road, she hopes to pursue an MFA degree in studio art with the intention of teaching at the university level.

Good luck!!

3

@uskoolfish Thank you for the reply! At my current school, the program I will be in (if I get accepted) is a combined BFA/ TEP program that will certify me to teach art at the high school level, which is what I’m interested in aside from teaching the college level. I’ve spoken with my high school art teachers and other teachers while volunteering in their classrooms, and all advised me against going for a graduate degree straight after graduation, as public high schools aren’t willing to risk hiring someone with an advanced degree (which often means they have to pay you more) that doesn’t have as much (or any) experience. But I’m not sure if they meant just progressing to an MFA, or if they meant an MA or MAT as well.

I guess another question I’d have is whether I would benefit from receiving an MFA or an MA first. If I were to pursue my MFA after a few years of teaching high school (and then after receiving the MFA, pursuing adjunct professor positions), would I ever need the MA?

I saw your post about your daughter in another thread! Which MA program at NYU is she doing? I think they have three listed on their website when I looked (an initial, professional, and one in art, education, and community practice). This is sort of unrelated but I assume being at NYU is invaluable for her in terms of exhibition opportunities; would you think that teaching in a big city would be more beneficial? I was planning on returning home (Chicago area) to teach in the suburbs, live with my parents perhaps to save on costs, and if necessary, attend grad school at SAIC if at all possible, since it would be just a train ride away.

At any rate, if I do decide to transfer, I’m definitely going to try and find a school that will allow me to double major in studio art and education as well, with the hope that my credits will transfer smoothly.

4

First off, although there may be a valid argument that a school district may not want to hire a new teacher at the master’s level, I would not make that be the deciding factor in what path you take.

I am a teacher myself and was hired for my first position with a masters. I don’t think it was an issue. Plus, I personally think it is important to truly know the subject you are teaching, so that having my D get her BFA and take a lot of art and art history classes as an undergrad was important to me. I did not want her to have a double major and not have her full focus be studio art (art ed as an undergrad is like double majoring in art and education.)

In terms of an MFA, most prestigious schools do not accept recent graduates.

D will be taking the initial certification tract at NYU, since she has not taken any ed classes. She is able to complete it in less than a year by going fall, January, spring and summer 1 sessions (September through June.)

Good luck to you!!