Studies
The art education curriculum at the Estonian Academy of Arts is based on a principle that is widely used in the education of teachers: the general pedagogical subjects are closely related to specialised didactics and practice teaching. The instruction has been brought into conformity with the newest knowledge-based theories of the educational sciences and psychology, as well as with the trends in contemporary art.
The curriculum is comprised of the Academy’s identity subjects, or general study module, the goal of which is to provide basic theoretical and methodological humanities-related knowledge by introducing the most important issues and research orientations related to contemporary philosophy as well as art, design and architecture theory. The general study subjects are covered in the first two semesters.
The professional teacher training is divided into theoretical subjects and practice teaching, and is distributed over four semesters. Every semester has its one context subject, the objective of which is to provide the students with the opportunity to focus on one general pedagogical and/or psychological subject in both theory and practice. During the first semester, the context subject is pedagogy and educational philosophy; during the second semester, it is developmental and pedagogical psychology; during the third, it is the psychology of creativity; and during the fourth semester, the studies create the context for writing the master’s thesis.
The practice teaching is divided into three components: at a general education school, at an art school and at a museum. This provides the students with the experience of planning, managing and analysing the actual teaching process in various types of institutions. The theoretical subjects and the three components of practice teaching are related and support the development of a knowledge-based understanding of different approaches to art didactics and their impact on the practice of art education. The institutions for practice teaching are the Art Museum of Estonia, Sally Studio, Viimsi Secondary School, Rocca-al-Mare School, Tallinn United Upper Secondary School and Pelgulinna Upper Secondary School.
The students are free to choose electives totalling 15 EAP in order to academically satisfy their individual developmental needs, and to primarily increase their art-related competency. We also support academic mobility both domestically and at the international level.
The Academy’s Chair of Art Education works closely with the Institute of Educational Sciences at Tallinn University and the Eduko Development Programme for Education Sciences and Teacher Training.
The master’s curriculum for art teachers is directed at the academic and personal development of the student and the labour market.
WHAT SKILLS WILL I ACQUIRE?
An art teacher with a master’s degree
• knows how to plan and manage the educational process, considering the regulations of the state and the educational institution;
• creates an environment that supports learning and the development of the students by involving the students;
• is able to create and scientifically justify his or her approach to art education based on the theoretical positions of art didactics;
• analyses the developmental processes in the culture and orientates in the contemporary art world, as well as possesses in-depth knowledge and skills in at least one narrower field of art;
• has acquired the skill of individual study and is open to continued professional development.
WHAT JOBS WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER I GRADUATE?
• Art teacher in a general education school
• Art teacher in an art school
• Educational specialist at a museum
• A person who teaches art 🙂