For a little over a decade, the College of the Arts has offered a Master of Arts in Art Education, a 36-hour program that allows students to earn a Master’s degree through online courses.
One unique option available to all students pursuing this degree is a low-residency Summer Studios program that includes intense, one-week summer studio courses offered in a condensed and accelerated schedule.
Dr. Craig Roland, professor and director of online graduate studies in art education, oversees this annual summer program.
“We have students from all over the country in the Master of Arts in Art Education program, many of which attend Summer Studios,” Roland said. “A lot our online students have careers and obligations that would make taking residential classes during the regular academic year very difficult, so this offers a flexible alternative to them.”
According to Roland, the summer studio courses are very intense, and students do a lot of work both before and after attending the classes offered during the second and third weeks of July
Though Roland oversees the Summer Studios program, he credits many other members of the faculty and staff for ensuring its success.
“A number of people in the School of Art + Art History make sure that it all comes together,” he said. “I’m very thankful for the faculty who teach the courses, the graduate teaching students who assist, the staff who help out, and, of course, the students who attend.”
Students themselves have also emerged from the Summer Studios feeling very satisfied and fulfilled with the experience.
“The experience in UF’s Master of Arts in Art Education program has been one that I will never forget,” said Bryce Appleton, a recent attendee of Summer Studios. “I know that I have improved so much as an art educator, and my students are reaping the benefits of what this program has done for me. I can only imagine where I’ll be when I am finished next August."
You can read more student testimonials here, and view photos from the 2017 Summer Studios here.
