The Interdisciplinary Program in Art Education at the Seoul National University Graduate School was established in 1975 to systematically research art education theory, teaching and learning methods, and art and cultural education policy and apply the findings in the field. As an interdisciplinary program in the College of Education, this program has established the master’s program and doctoral program in art education to foster talented students, thereby contributing to the theoretical and practical aspects in response to academic and social demands in Korea. The program has also been widely recognized through international exchanges with international scholars and universities.

Art in modern society is becoming more specialized and segmentalized than ever. At the same time, the scale of its activities and social influence are rapidly increasing. In response to such needs of the times, art education is facing the task of establishing its own area as an independent and specialized academic field and fostering human resources that could utilize such research findings. Art education should also urgently respond to the needs of various learners and conduct research, and produce future educators who could provide high-quality education in the field.

While art education has an illustrious history as an academic discipline in other cultures, such as the Western culture and China, the perception toward art education in Korea has just begun to rise in importance and still coexists with the perception of viewing art education as an instrument for art history and art theory. Under such circumstances, the Interdisciplinary Program in Art Education at Seoul National University will cultivate and develop the discipline of art education in Korea and play a pivotal role in nurturing qualified professionals.

The Interdisciplinary Program in Art Education at the Seoul National University Graduate School has become a center of research and diffusion of contemporary art education by developing the discipline of art education and fostering qualified professionals for various theoretical and practical areas of art education. The program also aims to foster experts in art education by providing courses and research programs on art education to students who majored in art theory and fine arts as undergraduates.

Art education as an academic field has already been fully established in the Western hemisphere, and research accomplishments have been introduced through associations including InSEA (International Society for Education through Art), NAEA (National Art Education Association), and NSEAD (National Society for Education in Art and Design). In Korea, art education researchers and teachers present their findings through societies such as the Korea Art Education Association, Korean Elementary Art Education Association, Society of Art Education for Korea, Korean Society for Education through Art, and Korea Association of Arts Education.

In conclusion, the Interdisciplinary Program in Art Education at Seoul National University places effort in developing the program with an emphasis on the academic development and field application of art education. This program hosts annual international seminars that invite the president, vice president, and the board members of InSEA, as well as the scholars active in the NAEA. Such academic activities have undeniably elevated the program’s status in Korea and played a key role in enhancing the international status and reputation of Seoul National University.

In this context, the Interdisciplinary Program in Art Education at Seoul National University has been acknowledged for its academic accomplishments and status domestically and internationally and has played a pivotal role in conducting in-depth research on the philosophy and future of art education and fostering professionals by expanding the research and field application of art education to school education and social education. First, the program has researched art education in schools to review the current status of art education in elementary, middle, and high schools in Korea and enhance the content and depth of the learners’ experience. Moreover, the program has expanded its scope to cover social education policies and lay the academic foundation for art education as an area that anyone can experience anywhere in places such as art galleries, museums, and cultural centers. The Interdisciplinary Program in Art Education provides a variety of programs to help teachers and leaders in art education so that they can develop and deepen their necessary skills. The Program has produced graduates who work as curators in galleries and as art psychotherapists.