Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - EDUC 868 G001

Curriculum Theory and Art Education (5)

Class Number: 4026

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Tue, 4:30–9:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The course examines and relates conceptions of creativity and response in the visual arts to the fundamental questions of curriculum theory.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is designed to explore: the historical, cultural, and philosophical roots of the major worldviews; the various theoretical orientations to curriculum; the different positions regarding pedagogy; and other influences on our understandings of what art is, the role of the artist, and our perspectives on art education. From within these various cultural and epistemological perspectives we will focus on how cultural conceptions of art, and the role of the artist impact society, and art education. We survey how differing perspectives and understandings have arisen in relation to art, and the role of the artist and how these directly impact our approaches to art education. We will explore conceptions of curriculum, current concerns, and look at diverse approaches to pedagogical practice in light of these overarching themes. The student as artist/educator will be encouraged to bring together theory and practice as well as personal knowledge in relation to their own understandings of education, art and their particular art-form. As artist/researchers they will be encouraged to explore an in-depth arts-based inquiry within their teaching specialty and/or research interest.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  1. To cultivate one’s capacities as an artist/educator/researcher in collaboration with others in a community of inquiry.
  2. To deepen and broaden one’s knowledge about the historical, cultural, and philosophic orientations to knowledge, curriculum, art and therefore art education.
  3. To critically reflect on one’s worldview and understanding of education.
  4. To engage in an en-visioning process in order to re-imagine one’s orientation to education as well as art education, and to create a future curriculum to be enacted.
  5. To engage in arts-based narrative inquiry process.
  6. To cultivate ones, own artistic practice.
  7. To develop greater understanding as an artist/educator of the conceptions of curriculum and pedagogical practice and how this impacts art education.
  8. To develop greater capacity as an artist/researcher by exploring indigenous as well as arts-based and arts-informed research methodologies.

Grading

  • Personal Journal/Art/Lived Curriculum of Practice Portfolio 20%
  • Presentation of Arts-based Narrative Inquiry 30%
  • Final Métissage paper 50%

NOTES:

PROTOCOLS AND PRINCIPLES FOR COURSE PROCESSES:

  • Reverence for Life, Land, Law – Wonder
  • Respect for the Diversity of Worldviews and Knowledge Systems -- Humility
  • Reciprocal Recognition—Responsibility to All Our Relations
  • Ethical Relationality— Honouring Kinship Relations

GRADING NOTES: *Note: Each student is expected to have completed all the course reading, assignments, and to actively contribute to class discussions as well as other group processes.

Materials

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.