Which would you choose for Art Education?

AustenNut
Mon, 17 Jan 2022 02:38:59 +0000

I can’t help about the particular universities and their arts programs. But I would think about some of these questions:

How much more expensive is Tennessee than her other options? Has she received any merit/financial aid to reduce the cost? Will she be required to take on any debt for any of these options? If so, I would eliminate those immediately.

Where does your daughter want to live after graduation? Although there is a big need for teachers now and in the coming years, the number of positions for art teachers are much rarer. I have a strong suspicion that arts programs have been cut more deeply in Tennessee than in Virginia, as well. But if she’s wanting to live in Tennessee, then going to UTK might help build some connections there.

Has she visited all the campuses? Has she mapped out a semester-by-semester course plan to see how much more flexibility Tennessee really offers, or whether any of her other options compare? Are her particular art interests better suited to one university’s art program or another? Or perhaps another factor, like study abroad, or the number of hours of observations or practicums included as part of her education degree?

Are the class sizes going to be similar, or will one of the universities provide a significantly higher percentage of smaller classes? Does she get priority for art classes? Are sufficient classes offered so that students can take the classes they need and graduate in 4 years, or are people having a hard time because the university is offering too few sections for the number of interested students?