How the Art Education Major Prepares You for the Job Market
Education is one of the most important career fields today. As the population increases, the need for teachers to instruct the youth of the country increases as well. Enrollment in public primary and secondary schools is projected to increase eight percent by 2016, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. With over 50,000 students in the countryís public schools in 2009 alone, more teachers must step into the classroom and instruct the countryís youngest children. Art education instructors in particular focus on developing the artistic expression and creative thinking of both younger students as well as adults in college. Primary and secondary school art teachers teach art as an extracurricular activity, exposing students to many different modes of artistic expression. To prepare for a future in instructing students with paints, pencils, and many other art media, art education majors take courses in child psychology, educational psychology, educational teaching methods, and many other topics related to providing students with an extensive art education in various media. This educational background provides art education graduates with the experience and skills needed in the field.

Best Career Paths for Art Education Majors
Art education majors can join a highly rewarding field, where they can help spread their passion for art to the impressionable youth of the country. The best career path for art education majors is art education for elementary, middle, and high school students. Elementary art teachers are responsible for introducing the concept of art and creative expression to young children. They may work on motor skills and color recognition, giving the students coloring or painting assignments so that they may become acclimated to using a paintbrush or coloring with crayons. Middle school art teachers begin introducing newer forms of art media to students, such as pottery and printmaking with linoleum. Artistic techniques are also taught, so that students may learn different ways to create shadows or dimension in their pieces. High school art classes are more detailed, introducing art students to more specialized courses such as theatre arts, studio art, or photography. Art education teachers make an average salary of $49,140 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

How to Market Your Art Education Degree
Earning an art education degree is an important step towards starting your career. However, you will also need to know how to market your degree to potential employers in order to prove to them that your education makes you an excellent candidate for the position. To do this, be specific about the skills you learned during your college career. For example, mention that your art education degree helped you understand the importance of artistic experience, student motivation, and project planning in providing the best quality art education possible. Reassuring employers and clients that your educational background helped you develop real-world skills is the most effective way of marketing your art education degree.