Students in art class

Art Education

If you have a passion for both creativity and teaching, 天涯社区官网鈥檚 Art Education program offers the ideal starting point. This pathway provides students with the essential building blocks for a successful future in the classroom and studio alike.

Through this degree, students will develop foundational skills in visual art, art history, and educational theory, preparing them to inspire and educate future generations. Whether you're drawing, painting, sculpting, or studying major art movements and techniques, you鈥檒l be gaining a deeper understanding of the role of art in society鈥攁nd how to teach it effectively.

天涯社区官网 Benefits

At 天涯社区官网, our areas of study are designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking necessary to thrive in today鈥檚 world. Whether you're just beginning your educational journey or advancing your career, we offer flexible and rigorous programs that support your goals.听

Why 天涯社区官网?
  • Strong Transfer Pathway
    Complete your general education and art foundations, preparing to transfer to a four-year degree in Art Education.
  • Affordable Tuition
    Get a high-quality education at a lower cost than many four-year institutions.
  • Flexible Course Options
    Take classes online or in-person, depending on your schedule and learning style.
  • Personalized Instruction
    Small class sizes ensure one-on-one attention and mentoring from experienced faculty.
  • Hands-On Learning
    Build skills in drawing, painting, design, and art history through engaging studio courses.
  • Integrated Teaching Preparation
    Begin exploring educational theory and pedagogy to develop a foundation in teaching methods.
  • Supportive Environment
    Learn in a creative, encouraging setting that helps you grow as both an artist and a future educator.
Career Pathways

A foundation in Art Education opens doors to a wide range of careers that combine creativity with teaching. Whether in schools, community programs, or private settings, graduates can inspire others through the arts.

Possible career paths include:

  • K鈥12 Art Teacher
    Teach visual arts in elementary, middle, or high schools within public or private education systems.

  • After-School Program Instructor
    Lead creative activities in programs run by community centers, nonprofits, or private organizations.

  • Art Camp Director/Instructor
    Organize and teach seasonal art camps for children and teens during school breaks or summer months.

  • Education Outreach Coordinator
    Design and implement community-based art programs for museums, galleries, or cultural organizations.

  • Art Gallery Educator
    Conduct workshops and exhibit tours to help visitors engage with art in a meaningful way.

  • Youth Arts Program Administrator
    Manage arts programming in youth centers or community development settings, supporting creative growth in underserved populations.

  • Private Art Tutor
    Offer personalized, one-on-one instruction outside of traditional classroom settings.

Whether your passion lies in teaching, outreach, or community engagement, a degree in Art Education from 天涯社区官网 provides the foundation to educate, inspire, and lead through the arts.

Pathway to a Four-Year Degree

This associate-level program is designed to transfer smoothly to a four-year college or university, where students can complete a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Art Education or a related field. 天涯社区官网鈥檚 curriculum supports a strong academic transition, helping students meet general education and foundational requirements for teacher preparation programs.

Whether you plan to teach art in elementary schools, high schools, or community programs, 天涯社区官网 gives you the tools to grow as both an artist and an educator.

Become a Cougar听


Complete the Admissions checklist of requirements to become a Cougar today.

天涯社区官网 classes are affordable and accessible, with sessions starting throughout the year.听

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Financial Aid

You have many options to help you accomplish yours goals and we're here to help!

Creative Spaces Built for Artists

At 天涯社区官网, students in the Visual Arts program benefit from state-of-the-art facilities that foster creativity, exploration, and hands-on learning across traditional and digital mediums.

Ceramics Studio

Our state-of-the-art ceramics facility is fully equipped to support all levels of clay work. Students have access to:

  • Multiple pottery wheels, including a wheelchair-accessible option
  • Electric and gas kilns, plus a Raku kiln
  • Slab roller for advanced clay work

Painting & Drawing Studio

Our updated studio space provides a professional, inspiring environment for 2D art exploration. Students work with professional-grade art supplies and equipment, supporting skill development in drawing, painting, and mixed media.

Modern Digital Media Lab

The Modern听Digital Media Lab features cutting-edge technology for students pursuing graphic design, digital photography, and media production. Resources include:

  • High-performance computers for photo, video, and graphic design
  • Professional cameras, lenses, and studio lighting

These resources provide the tools students need to create, explore, and grow as artists.

Degree Maps
Degree Maps

Associate in Arts Degree

View the听听of听Curriculum Guides (applicable for students admitted prior to Fall 2024) and Degree Maps (applicable for students admitted Fall 2024 and after).

Instruction
Instruction

Learn from Professional Artists

At 天涯社区官网, art students don't just study technique鈥攖hey gain insight into what it truly means to be a听working artist. Our faculty bring decades of听professional, real-world experience听into the classroom, helping students bridge the gap between artistic passion and professional practice.

  • Mark Freeman听(3D Art) and听Philip Jacobson听(2D Art) offer over听30 years of combined professional experience, helping students not only refine their craft but also understand the听practical aspects of building a career in the arts.

The Art Department also collaborates with the听Shafer Art Gallery听and visiting artists to offer:

  • Lectures
  • In-class demonstrations
  • Community workshops

These experiences give students direct exposure to the art world, enriching their education with听hands-on learning and professional insights.


Art Instructor - Mark Freeman

Mark Freeman
freemanm@bartonccc.edu

MFA Ceramics
BFA听Ceramics
BS Education

Classes: Ceramics, Design, Art Appreciation, Art History

Mark FreemanMark is a lifelong Kansas resident with deep ties to the local art community. He graduated from 天涯社区官网 in 2006. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Fort Hays State University in 2011.

From there, he and his wife Bambi took on an artist apprenticeship with Carol Long Pottery in St. John Kansas. While working with Carol Long, they built their own studio and business, Freeman Pottery. They continued to make their living as artists attending national-level art festivals and shows until their son Henley started preschool. Mark has always been passionate about teaching and sharing knowledge with others. While working as a professional artist, he and his wife Bambi would often teach workshops at high schools, community colleges, and art centers.

In 2019, Mark went on to accept the art instructor position at Pratt Community College in Pratt, Kansas.听Following the completion of a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics at Fort Hays State University, 听 Mark has now joined the faculty of the Fine Arts Program at 天涯社区官网 teaching ceramics, design, and art history.

鈥淚 am very passionate about ceramics and its historical role in human civilization,鈥 says Mark. 鈥淚 started out making strictly functional pottery and have since transcended to ceramic sculpture. Understanding the materials and processes is the key to spreading the knowledge for creating well-made art. Nothing is more satisfying than the AH HA! moment of creative inspiration.鈥


Art Instructor - Phil Jacobson

Philip Jacobson
jacobsonp@bartonccc.edu

Fine Arts Instructor
MFA Painting & Printmaking
MA Painting & Sculpture
BS Studio Arts, Culture Anthropology, & Comparative Religion
Apprentice to Ernst Fuchs

Classes: Drawing I & II, Painting I & II, Historical Painting Techniques for Contemporary Practice and Independent Studies

Phil JacobsonProfessor Phil is an Artist, Author and Teacher and hails from upstate New York. He holds an MA in Painting and Sculpture from Northern Arizona University and an听MFA in Painting & Printmaking from the University of Denver, and a BS in Studio Art and Cultural Anthropology from Empire State University. A high point on his journey in Education and the Arts came when he was 19 and turned down ivy-league scholarships to study painting and printmaking in Vienna, Austria under the renowned artist, Ernst Fuchs.听 After this, Jacobson traveled extensively, and visiting other cultures and places has become a deep passion for him. The professor founded and directed the School of Extended Studies at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado where he served as the Dean for seven years.听 In 1997 Ernst Fuchs requested that Prof. Phil formally carry on his teachings, and he has been holding his international painting seminars ever since. In 2012, his partner, Mantra Cora (Magdalene Jacobson), joined him in organizing and teaching in the seminars. Ms. Jacobson also offers several courses at 天涯社区官网, including Portrait Drawing, Watercolor and Independent Studies.听 Phillip has participated in more than 100 exhibitions and his writings have been read worldwide. Considered a central figure in the genre of听Fantastic Realism and Visionary Art, he is the author of the now classic; DRINKING LIGHTNING - Art, Creativity, and Transformation from Shambhala Publications and PROMETHEAN FLAMES- Rekindling and Re-visioning the Creative Fire, both of which include Introductions and Forewords by Ken Wilber, Ernst Fuchs and, Prof. Michael Schwartz.. The professor joined the faculty at 天涯社区官网 in 2019 teaching Drawing. Painting and Historical Techniques for contemporary expression. He will soon be adding Printmaking to that list.


Adjunct Faculty

Aimee Hanson
Adjunct Faculty: Art History I and II

Magdelene Jacobson (Mantra Cora)
Adjunct Faculty: Portrait Drawing, Watercolor I & II and Independent Studies

Magdalene was born in Gdansk, Poland, relocated to England in 2006, and then to the USA in 2016 with her husband, Prof Phil, and their daughter, Liya. In 2013 Mantra completed her B.A. in Visual Arts at The University of Salford in England. She has closely studied techniques of painting with Prof. Phil, Ernst Fuchs, and De Es Schwertberger and drawing and painting as an Erasmus Exchange Student at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Macerata in Italy. A 4-month long internship at the Phantasten Museum in Vienna, Austria, followed her Erasmus Exchange program. It was there that she assisted the internationally renowned artist, Ernst Fuchs, daily.听

Mantra has been co-teaching with Prof Phil every summer since 2012 in their international Old Masters-New Visions painting seminars. In 2023 the seminar took place in Kerala, India and in summer 2024 it will be in Delphi, Greece. In 2016 she organized some 100 artists from around the world for the now-historical exhibition: "A Legacy of Light" and also co-created and edited the catalog for the show. This exhibition took place at Castle Gloggnitz in Austria. Her art has been exhibited internationally, including the UK, Italy, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, and the USA. In 2019 Mantra and her family relocated to the Midwest and she joined 天涯社区官网 as an adjunct faculty member where she teaches Portrait Drawing, Watercolor, and Independent Studies (drawing and painting).听Mantra has completed her first year of studies in the MFA Program at Fort Hays University where she is majoring in Painting and Photography.

Christina Lamoureaux
Adjunct Faculty: Digital Design, Watercolor

Todd Mobray
Adjunct Faculty: Digital Photography, Digital Image and Video Editing, Multimedia Presentations

Teralyn Morriss
Adjunct Faculty: Art Appreciation

Partnerships
Partnerships

Beyond the Classroom: Real-World Exposure

The Art Department works closely with the Shafer Art Gallery, located on 天涯社区官网鈥檚 campus, to give students access to a wide range of enriching experiences, including:

  • Guest artist lectures that bring national and regional voices into the conversation
  • Live in-class demonstrations from practicing artists across different disciplines
  • Hands-on community workshops that allow students to engage with the public and share their craft

These partnerships provide students with valuable networking opportunities, professional exposure, and creative inspiration, while connecting classroom learning to the broader artistic community.

Discover Career Paths
Discover Career Paths

Visit the听听webpage to find helpful resources on career paths, employers and more!

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Admissions


You are only a few quick steps away from becoming a 天涯社区官网 Cougar! The Admissions process is quick, easy and free - we're here to help you through every step of the way. Start your future today!

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Student Life


天涯社区官网 is dedicated to creating a vibrant and engaging student experience!听From clubs听to听student activities, we offer countless opportunities to make the most of your time as a Cougar.