FALL 2014 Academic Year Starts off with Largest Incoming Class on Record, Higher Academic Standards and New Programming
Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) is proud to announce its newest developments for the 2014-2015 academic year. With the largest incoming class the institution has ever seen, recent accreditation of the MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching), and new programming, MECA&D is determined and well-poised to provide students with more opportunities as one of the leading art schools in New England.
The National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and the State of Maine have recently accredited MECA&D for it’s ten-month MAT program, which focuses on helping participants meet requirements for Maine’s teacher certification, while also providing the critical and creative engagement expected on a graduate level. Teacher candidates in this program work in various community settings, from urban to rural, formal to informal, and learn to think outside of the box, to improve not only their knowledge, but their students’ learning as well. Museums, summer school programs, and non-profit organizations collaborate with the MAT program to expand candidates experiences. Spring semester student teaching internships prepare candidates to become confident art educators, with both reflective practices, and a lifetime of professional learning.
Thanks to the generous gift and collaboration with the Bob Crewe Foundation, MECA&D students will soon be able enjoy and explore the intersection between music and art. The new program, which will be implemented during the 2015 academic year, was discussed in April, and an MOU was signed between Dan Crewe and President Don Tuski in June. This program will cover a wide range of topics, all relating back to the relationships between music and art. Some courses for the new program include History of Contemporary Music, Applied Theory Through Composition, Music Business and Management, Ethnomusicology, and more experimental courses like Sound and Color.
Dean Anderson believes that MECA&D may be one of the first art colleges to explicitly engage in combining the study of contemporary art and design with music; he says, “MECA&D is uniquely positioned to develop this area because of our size, history and willingness to experiment. This is an exciting period of growth and innovation here at the college.”
MECA&D is also pleased to announce it’s new Writing Minor, now available for students to develop exceptional communication and deep reading skills. The objective of this Minor is for students to further enrich their artistic journey, culminating in a final personal writing project, intended for publication.
MECA&D recognizes the growing need for creative problem solvers in an ever-changing, global world, which is why MECA&D is stepping up to meet that need with more students, better facilities, and increased programs, all available to students so that they can pursue opportunities that go beyond what is simply taught in class. The Maine College of Art & Design is intent on staying true to it’s mission: Educating Artists for Life.
For more information or to schedule an interview with President Donald Tuski, Ph.D., please contact Raffi Der Simonian at 207.699.5010 or rdersimonian@meca.edu.
Located in the heart of Portland Maine’s fine arts district, MECA&D offers a BFA degree in 11 studio majors, an MFA in Studio Arts, an MAT, and continuing studies courses for youths and adults. The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at MECA&D and the Joanne Waxman library are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.meca.edu.
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