The Certificate in Dance Education will introduce the student to the field of dance education and its various settings. Teaching is an integral aspect of the dance profession including dance instruction in private studios, community centers, outreach programs associated with a dance company, higher education, and K-12 public and private schools. The educational requirements and regulations vary greatly, from unofficial training under a mentor, to certificate programs, undergraduate degrees, and terminal degrees.
This certificate program will appeal to the dance studio teacher seeking professional development. The certificate combined with the BA in dance, dance minor, or education degree would afford students an extra credential that will set them apart from other job seekers or continuing their education in graduate school.
The sequence of courses (24 credits) will provide students with an understanding of the skills and requirements needed to become a dance educator in a multitude of settings. In addition, the required courses for the Certificate in Dance Education could be applied to the dance minor and/or the educational studies minor with the completion of additional courses (3 credits for the dance minor and EDC 345 Directed Field Experience for the educational studies minor).
The dance education certificate does not lead to MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Licensure.
Students will be required to have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in the coursework required for the certificate program.