The first of its kind in the United States, the Arts Integration Specialist Program (AISP) provides K-12 teachers and teaching artists in public schools the insight, understanding, and skills they require to provide engaging and effective art and arts-integrated lessons across all areas of curriculum and to advance professionally. Participants leave equipped with real classroom applications focused on achieving improved student and teacher learning across all subjects.
The Arts Integration Specialist Program offers core courses and electives, with the option to acquire continuing education units through Cal State East Bay or Mills College. Although AISP course work is open to all, individuals can work toward an Arts Integration Specialist Program Certificate. The Arts Integration Specialist Program Certificate qualifies teaching artists, credentialed arts teachers, multiple subject and single subject credentialed teachers to provide leadership, as well as pedagogical and content knowledge to professional learning communities within their school and district contexts. The Arts Integration Specialist curriculum gives participants experience in the following:
- working knowledge in their artistic discipline
- curriculum development using Teaching for Understanding frameworks and Visual and Performing Arts Standards as guides
- collaboration skills
- knowledge of contemporary art forms
- strategies for arts integration
- assessing student learning in the arts and making learning visible
- partnering with others for school accountability
- showing evidence of learning through public presentation
To obtain an Arts Integration Specialist Program Certificate, applicants are required to complete 12 units of AISP coursework within a 3-year period. Specifically:
MANDATORY COURSEWORK (90 hours):
- Core Class A: Strategies and Resources for Arts Integration (30 hours; 3 units)
- Core Class B: Ongoing Assessment Strategies and Applications: Making Learning Visible, Studio Habits of Mind, Rubrics and Portfolios (30 hours; 3 units)
- Core Class C: Collaborative Curriculum Design (30 hours; 3 units)
(All courses require formative or summative on-line documentation of classroom/school site applications and learning)
ELECTIVES: In addition to the core courses, participants must also take 30 hours (3 units) of arts courses of their choice, including:
- Performing Arts skill building classes
- Visual Arts skill building classes
- Teaching with Contemporary Art
- Teaching with Museums and Visual Thinking Strategies
- English Language Development in the Arts
Use the Elective Log to document your 30 hours of electives. All courses (both core or elective) must be completed with a passing grade; student work is graded pass or fail.
Individuals who are interested in working towards an Arts Integration Specialist Program Certificate, should complete the Arts Integration Specialist Certificate Program Application.
AISP CERTIFICATE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
AISP CERTIFICATE APPLICATION
AISP ELECTIVE LOG