Admissions Policy

General Admissions Requirements

All students, regardless of degree-seeking status, must submit official transcripts documenting a conferred bachelor’s degree or higher from an appropriately accredited institution. 

Degree-seeking students are required to submit the AOEU application for admission. The Art of Education University accepts applications continuously throughout the year. 

There is no application for individual coursework. 

Admissions questions may be directed to admissions@theartofeducation.edu or 515.236.5050.

Official Transcripts

The Art of Education University considers a transcript official when sent directly from the issuing institution. Students may request to send official transcripts through these methods:

  1. Parchment Exchange 
  2. Through other electronic services providers to the email address, transcripts@theartofeducation.edu.
  3. Mailed* in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing institution to the following address:

Attn: Registrar
The Art of Education University
518 Main St. Suite A
Osage, IA 50461

*Note: Mailed transcripts take approximately 4–6 weeks to receive and process. 

Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts to the registrar’s office for admission; however, any offer of acceptance will be considered conditional pending receipt of official transcripts.  

Application Requirements: Master of Arts in Art Education

At the time of application, prospective students must submit an official transcript documenting a conferred bachelor’s degree or higher in Art or Art Education from an appropriately accredited institution. 

Students who have no formal academic preparation or experiential background in art and/or education may be required to provide additional information and/or take prerequisite coursework for admittance to the degree program. Tuition for these courses is in addition to the total cost of the degree program. 

The application is designed to showcase students’ professional qualifications, passion for art education, and ability to succeed in a master’s-level program. Applicants must submit artifacts for review:

  • Writing sample
  • Micro-portfolio

Components must be submitted through the electronic application. Details and requirements are included in the application.  There is an application fee of $50.

Application Fee Waiver

Application fee waivers may be granted for applicants with the statuses listed below or for those participating in a special event or program. Applicants in these categories will be given information regarding the waiver when it is assigned. Programs and status where fee waivers may apply include:

  • NAEA or State Art Educator Association Booth Attendants
  • Preferred District Scholarship Recipients
  • NOW Conference Attendants

Application Review

The review process typically begins when the application and copies of transcripts are on file. Applicants who apply in person at special events may participate in the interview before all official documents are received, but admissions decisions are not final until all documents are received. 

All applicants are notified of program acceptance status via email. Official transcripts must be received within one enrollment period, or the student will be withdrawn from the program. 

If denied, applicants may choose to reapply. All fees apply. 

Program Enrollment

Accepted candidates must review, sign, and accept the Enrollment Agreement to enroll in the program and begin their degree. This document stays on file and serves as the agreement for the duration of the degree program. Students can access the Enrollment Agreement at any time in their online account. The Enrollment Agreement indicates AOEU reserves the right to change tuition, policies, and fees for future terms. The university will provide written notification of substantive changes no later than 90 days prior to the effective change date. 

Pre-Requisite Requirements

Some courses have pre-requisite requirements. The university recommends all students take courses in the prescribed order. To request an exemption to a prerequisite requirement, students must submit a Special Request Form to the Registrar’s Office and the appropriate supporting documentation as outlined in the form.

International Students

International Transcripts and Transfer Credit Evaluation

An applicant who has completed secondary/university-level courses outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated for United States equivalency. Copies of the evaluations must be sent to AOEU directly from the evaluation agency. Foreign transcript evaluations are accepted from any agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (www.naces.org) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (www.aice-eval.org). Additional questions may be directed to registrar@theartofeducation.edu or 515.236.5094.

English Proficiency

Online coursework at The Art of Education University requires graduate-level reading and writing. Applicants whose native language is not English must upload documentation of passing English language proficiency scores to the application. Students may be withdrawn from individual courses and the master’s degree program if they can not meet the requirements of graduate-level coursework. Students withdrawn from a course for inadequate English language proficiency are entitled to a tuition refund according to the Add/Drop, Withdrawal, and Tuition Refund Policy.

Passing scores from acceptable services are outlined below:

  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
        – Destination Institution Code: B814
        – A score of 71 or above on the iBT
        – A score of 60 or above on the PBT
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
        – A score of 6.5 or above
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
        – A score of 50 or above
  • Duolingo English Test
        – A score of 100

Additional questions may be directed to registrar@theartofeducation.edu or 515.236.5094.

Exemptions 

Required documentation of English language proficiency may be waived if the student earned a degree from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction.

Tuition Requirements and School Purchase Order Collections

Students must pay in full at registration. Other payment options include the following:

  1. Payment with a school/organization-issued credit card.
  2. Payment with a school/organization purchase order (PO)*.
  3. Payment with a private loan.

*Each school/organization processes purchase orders differently. At the time of checkout, students will be asked to enter their assigned PO number and a copy of the purchase order. For more information, or if the school/organization does not provide a PO number, contact help@theartofeducation.edu or call 515.293.4283.

Note: AOEU is not responsible for any student unable to secure reimbursement. AOEU is not responsible for any organization unable to secure reimbursement for their student.

Note: An administrator cannot register a student for courses. The student must sign the Enrollment Agreement.

Educational Loans

AOEU students are encouraged to borrow responsibly. The Art of Education University does not have a preferred lender list or recommend any lenders. 

Federal Loans

The Art of Education University does not participate in federal financial aid. Federal loans are funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

Acceptance of Program Disclosure

The Art of Education University cannot guarantee employment or promotion as a result of participating in this master’s degree program.

It is the responsibility of the student to check with their district and/or state’s Department of Education to verify that this program leads to the desired outcomes. No internship is included in this program. The degree is not designed to lead to licensure or teaching credentials.

Additional information may be found in the current edition of the Graduate Catalog.


If you have specific questions or concerns not addressed here, contact help@theartofeducation.edu for clarification.