Doctor of Philosophy (PhD ) in Art Education

University of North Texas

Students pursuing a doctorate in Art Education research and develop new theories of art teaching and learning and prepare themselves to be researchers and professors of Art Education at colleges and universities. The Ph.D. is the terminal degree in art education and the University of North Texas is the only university in the state of Texas to offer it.

Doctoral Degree

The Ph.D. and master's degree programs in Art Education promote and facilitate philosophical, theoretical, socio-political, and methodological inquiry in the field. We are interested in the development of radical inquiry, meaning inquiry into commonly held assumptions about education, art and design, art institutions, and society. To do so, we offer a variety of courses that are located at the intersection of perennial questions in art education and contemporary problems facing art educators through the lenses of the following.

• feminist, queer, and postcolonial theories
• curriculum studies
• critical race perspectives
• contemporary art theory
• visual culture studies
• museum education
• anti-methods
• qualitative and post-qualitative inquiry
• philosophical methods
• arts-based research
• anti-oppressive pedagogies, and
• phenomenological methods

The program is highly individualized, enabling students to explore in-depth their areas of research in relation to the field and faculty expertise. We also encourage students to explore the broader intellectual resources available at UNT and the surrounding cultural institutions. The program offers financial support through competitive scholarships and teaching assistantships and fellowships.

Through their course of study, students work closely with faculty and advisors to design innovative and original research projects that make significant contributions to the theory and practice of art education. Our graduates further their careers by becoming researchers and leaders in higher education, and educators in schools, communities, and museums.