Frequently Asked Questions
 

You can now apply to the Art Education Program at the University of Houston online using the Apply Texas Application.  Application forms, including the Texas Common Application, are available here: http://www.uh.edu/enroll/admis/graduate/grad_applications.htm

What are the deadlines for applying for graduate study in Art Education?  When can I start attending classes once I've applied?

You can find deadlines for the College of Education here: http://www.coe.uh.edu/departments/gso_dates.cfm

The Art Education Program has a rolling admissions calendar, which means that you can start taking classes soon after you’ve been accepted into the program.  Depending on which application deadline you’ve met, you may be able to start your coursework in the Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters. 

If you would like to begin to take classes right away, you may register as a “PB” or post-baccalaureate student.  This allows you to take classes while your application is being processed.  If your application is approved and you are accepted to the program, you may then petition to have the PB hours counted towards your degree.

What courses do I need to have taken previously in order to apply?

There are no specific course requirements for application for graduate study in the Art Education program.  However, if your background does not include experience in education or the arts, you may find that you need to do some extra work on your own to “catch up.”

How is a degree in Art Education different from a degree in Studio Art or Art History?

The program of study in Art Education is just what it sounds like: it focuses on education in and through the fine arts, with a focus on visual arts. 

Most of the students in our program are involved in teaching K-12 art in public and private schools, others are involved in teaching art in higher education venues, and still others focus on art education in museums and community arts organizations.  Many are also practicing artists.

Students come to our program with a variety of backgrounds.  Many have bachelor’s degrees in Education, and many hold a BFA in studio art.  Others have come from fields such as English and Speech Pathology.  All share a passion for helping others learn about and through art.

What tests do I need to take to apply?

The College of Education accepts test scores from the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) for applicants to the M.Ed. and Ed.D. programs. 

What scores do I need to make on these tests?

M.Ed. applicants should have taken either the the GRE within five years of the date of application for admission.  The minimum GRE score is the 30^th percentile for both the Verbal and Quantitative sections and 3.5 on the Analytical Writing section.  If the GRE was taken prior to October 1, 2002, the minimum score is the 30^th percentile for  each of the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical sections of the test.

All applicants to the Ed.D. program are required to take the GRE within five years of the date of application to admission.  The minimum scores required for Ed.D. applicants are:  35^th percentile on both the Verbal and Quantitative sections and a score of 3.5 on the analytical writing section.  However, if the test was taken previous to October 1, 2002, the 35^th percentile on all three sections, the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical serves as the minimum score guideline.

What if my scores are too low?

If your scores fall below the minimum guidelines, please re-take the test.  If your scores are still too low, it is suggested that you contact the Program Area Coordinator, who will assess your situation and determine whether you have any need for special consideration.

What additional tests must international students take?

For admission to both the M.Ed. and Ed.D. programs, international students should have taken the TOEFL within the past two years.  The minimum required TOEFL scores are 550 on the paper-based exam, 213 on the computer based exam, or 79 on the Internet Based TOEFL (IBT) exam.

What is a degree plan?  Where do I get one?

Your degree plan is a list of all the courses you agree to complete in order to satisfy the requirements for your degree.  You can find degree plan forms in the Graduate Studies Office for the College of Education in Farish Hall.  There is also a sample degree plan in the Graduate Studies Handbook. 

Early into your career as a graduate student, you will want to fill in a sample degree plan in accordance with University requirements for your degree, which you should then bring to a meeting with your adviser.  At this point, your adviser will review your plan and help you make any needed changes to your plan. 

You must file your degree plan with the University in accordance with the University deadline, which is usually early in the last semester of your coursework.  Your degree plan must be on file in order for you to take Comprehensive Exams or receive approval to write a thesis or dissertation.

Can I apply courses I've already taken at another school to my degree?

If you have taken graduate courses at another university, it is possible that these might apply toward your degree here.  However, this can be evaluated only on a case-by-case basis.  To investigate this possibility, you will need to arrange a meeting with the Program Area Coordinator.  You should bring copies of your college/university transcripts to this meeting, as well as any syllabi from courses that you hope may apply to your degree.

How many hours must be taken outside the CUIN department for the M.Ed. degree?  What courses qualify for this?

To satisfy the M.Ed. degree requirements, you must take 9 hours (3 courses) outside the CUIN department.  These courses should be chosen along with your adviser in order to fulfill your own professional needs and interests.  Many students choose to take EPSY (Educational Psychology) or ARTH (Art History) courses; other students choose to pursue the certificate in Women’s Studies.

What are the Comprehensive Exams (or "Comps")?  When do I take them?

The Comprehensive exams (or “Comps”) are essay exams taken to show your mastery of the material you’ve studied while completing your degree. 

For M.Ed. students, the Comps are taken in lieu of writing a Master’s Thesis.  Most M.Ed. students take the Comps in the last semester before graduation.  M.Ed. student Comps consist of three questions written by two different full-time instructors in the College of Education.  Answers to these questions are written in a three-hour period on a date set by the Graduate Studies Office.

Ed.D. students take the Comps after completing at least 36 hours of coursework and advancing to candidacy.  Ed.D. student Comps consist of three examinations of three hours each.  The dates for taking Comps are set by the Graduate Studies Office.

You must be enrolled in classes in order to take the Comps.  Please see the University calendar for the dates for application to, and taking of, Comprehensive exams.

How long does it take to complete a graduate degree?

The time it takes to complete a degree depends on the time you have available to complete it.  If you are able to pursue your studies full-time (9 graduate hours per semester), you will probably be able to finish the M.Ed. in two years, and the Ed.D. in five years.  Most students, however, find themselves in situations where they need or want to work full-time while attending school part-time.  In these cases, as you might imagine, it takes longer to complete the program.

Additionally, if you are on a deficiency plan for certification, you will need to complete extra coursework above and beyond degree requirements, which will take more time.

I work during the day.  Are courses offered in the evenings?

Because many of our students are professionals who work in the schools, most graduate courses offered by the College of Education take place in the evenings.  Courses are usually offered in three-hour sessions once a week, starting at 4:00 or 4:30 and ending at 7:00 or 7:30.  There are also additional courses offered during the day in the summer.