The primary mission of the 5 year combined degree is to prepare art teachers for public and private school service, who posses knowledge and skills in the arts, advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in art education and understanding of the roles of education within wider contexts of culture and society.The 5 year combined BA in Art/MS in Art Education program centers around the theoretical position of Art for Life, which assumes that the arts are an essential part of education, culture and social justice. The 5 year program consists of an educational sequence that prepares skilled and knowledgeable K-12 art teachers who work to improve education in the arts within the framework of local and global communities. The program is designed to develop candidates’ professional skills in art and art education through field observations; researching, designing and teaching curricula engagement in self-initiated professional development; developing and conducting practice-based research in education. Completion of this dual degree results in candidates earning a Bachelor’s of Art (BA) or, in rare cases, a Bachelor’s of Fine Art (BFA) degree, as well as a Master’s of Science Degree in Art Education (MS), and initial Certification for Teaching K-12 Art in Florida.Art Education 5 year combined program courses are offered once per year and are sequenced over 3-semester periods.