Arnhold Graduate Dance Education Program
BA in Dance Education (PreK-12)

The BA in PreK-12 Dance Education leads to initial certification as a teacher in New York State. The undergraduate programs in adolescent education are designed to prepare prospective teachers to serve as high-quality educators for students in Pre K-12 schools. Teacher candidates will take a specified sequence of education courses in addition to fulfilling of the CUNY Common Core Requirement and the requirements of their liberal arts or sciences major. These programs include fieldwork in New York City Public schools.

The Dance Education course of study is a 25-credit sequence that students usually complete over four semesters in addition to the 42-credit Dance major. BA in Dance Education students are considered double-majors in Dance and Education.

Email: grddance@hunter.cuny.edu Phone: (212) 396-6643

How Do I Declare the BA in Dance Education Major?

Before you can declare a School of Education major as part of your bachelor’s degree, you must have already declared the BA in Dance major, and complete an interview with the Director of the Arnhold Graduate Dance Education Program (AGDEP). All interest should be directed to grddance@hunter.cuny.edu.

Students interested in an Education program should meet with the AGDEP Director as early as possible in the semester prior to the one in which they plan to enroll. Transfer students should seek advisement about declaring a School of Education major as soon as they have been admitted to Hunter. The School of Education does not accept non-degree or second-degree students.

Requirements to Declare the Major:

Minimum of at least 60 credits but no more than 90 credits completed by your first semester declared in the BA in Dance Education program
A Hunter College GPA of 3.0 or better
Previous formal declaration of a major in Dance
Completion of internal application and participation in an interview with the AGDEP Director

Academic Progress Standards:

Students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 throughout their studies
Any student who receives a grade of B-, C+, C or D in a course with fieldwork or student teaching must apply to the department chairperson for permission to re-register for that course, which may be repeated only once
Any student who receives a grade of D in an education course will be required to repeat that course; Students are permitted to repeat a course only once
Any student who receives a grade of F in any education course will not be permitted to continue in the program
Take and pass both the Educating All Students (EAS) and the Dance Content Specialty (CST) New York State Teacher Certification Exams prior to enrolling in SEDCP 45600: Student Teaching in Dance

Click Here to Learn More about Undergraduate Admissions

Required Coursework: Dance Major

The undergraduate Dance major curriculum is divided into 4 key areas of study:

Dance Technique and Performance (20-24 credits)
Creative work: Improvisation, choreography, performance (11 credits)
Dance Studies (8 credits)
Electives (3 credits)

1. Dance Technique and Performance* (20-24 credits)

Must complete four credits minimum of any technique at level 1 or higher (4)
Must complete four credits of dance technique in any style at level 3 (4)
Must complete eight credits of dance technique in any style at level 1 or higher (8)
Must complete two credits of Repertory: DAN 43200 (1) and DAN 43300 (1)

*Students technique levels are determined by a placement class prior to the start of each semester. Please email dance@hunter.cuny.edu for more information regarding placement classes.

2. Creative Work (11 credits)

DAN 12400 Production Crew (.5 x 2)*
DAN 22100 Improvisation (1)
DAN 22400 Stagecraft (1)
DAN 32100 Composition I (2)
DAN 42100 Composition II (2)
DAN 42200 Dance Workshop (2)
DAN 42400 Production (2)

*Please note that DAN 12400 Production Crew must be taken twice to complete the major.

3. Dance Studies (8 credits)

DAN 21300 Basic Musicianship for Dancers (2)
DAN 23200 Global Dance History (3)
DAN 35000 Anatomy and Kinesiology for Dancers (3)

4. Electives (3 credits)*

Dance Technique Electives

DAN 15100 Global Dance 1
DAN 25100 Global Dance 2
DAN 25200 Special Topics
DAN 35200 Special Topics

Additional Electives

DAN 48000 Independent Study in Dance
DAN 49000 Honors in Dance
DAN 49800 Internship

*Dance Technique and Creative Work courses are repeatable for elective credit.

Note: All required classes are not offered every semester. Annual meetings with Dance advisors are essential to ensure that the required coursework will be completed in time for graduation.

Required Coursework: Education

Education Courses (28 credits)

SEDF 20300 Social Foundations of Education, Grades 7-12 (3)
SEDF 20400 Adolescent Development (2)
SEDC 21000 Building the Foundations of Literacy in Grades 7-12 (3)
DANED 30200 Methods 1 (3)
SEDC 30800 Clinical Experience 1 (0)
EDUC 41500 Supporting Multilingual Learners Across the Curriculum (3)
EDUC 22500 DASA, Health and Safety in Birth through 21 (1)
DANED 30300 Methods 2 (3)
SEDC 30900 Clinical Experience 2 (0)
SPED 30800 Teaching Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Settings (3)
SEDF 22000 Educational Psychology: Learning and Motivation (3)
SEDCP 45600 Student Teaching in Dance, Grades PreK-12 (4)

School of Education Exit Requirements

Students must meet the following criteria in order to graduate with a School of Education major or minor:

Maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0
Complete the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) anti-bullying workshop. The DASA workshop is required for all students in a NYS certification program at the School of Education. The workshop requires six clock hours of coursework or training.

Photos by Nir Arieli

Arnhold Graduate Dance Education Program BA in Dance Education (PreK-12)