MA in Dance Education

The Arnhold MA program is designed to prepare dance artists and educators for the demands of teaching the history, culture, and practice of dance in Pre-K-12 curricula and to provide students with the coursework required for professional certification for dance teaching in New York State. The central tenet of this program is that the best educators of the arts must be expert scholars and practitioners in order to be effective in the classroom. The Pre-K-12 environment deserves an infusion of educators with truly global understandings and expertise with the art form itself as well as its pedagogy. 

As an MA student, you will take graduate courses in both the Hunter College School of Education and the School of Arts and Sciences Dance Program, covering pedagogy, assessment, technique, aesthetics, somatics, history, and choreography. Designed with both licensed teachers and newcomers to the field in mind, the MA offers three distinct tracks to meet the needs of a variety of students:

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• Track 1: Applicants must have a liberal arts bachelor's degree with a minimum of 34 credits in dance that satisfies the general education requirements of the Graduate School of Education at Hunter College. 

• Track 2: Applicants must have initial Pre-K-12 certification in Dance from New York State. 

• Track 3: Applicants must have initial or permanent/professional certification in a field other than dance and a minimum of 34 credits in dance. 

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MA in Dance Education - Track 1

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Track 1 is a 49-credit course of study designed for students seeking initial New York State teacher certification in Dance Education. Applicants to Track 1 must have 34 credits in dance and a liberal arts bachelor's degree that satisfies the general education requirements in the Graduate School of Education at Hunter College. 

If you are missing prerequisites, please click here for more information on making up the necessary courses and admission with conditions. 

To download curriculum details for Track 1, click here.

To download a model sequence of study for Track 1, click here

MA in Dance Education - Track 2

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Track 2 is a 30-credit course of study designed for students who already have New York State initial Pre-K-12 teacher certification in dance education and are seeking their Master's for professional certification. Track 2 students take graduate courses in the Dance Program to enhance their knowledge of dance as a content area as well as School of Education courses in the methods of teaching dance, designed to deepen students' teaching practice. 

For information on how to apply to Track 2 of the Arnhold MA in Dance Education, please click here. 

To download curriculum details for Track 2, click here.

To download a model sequence of study for Track 2, click here.

MA in Dance Education - Track 3

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Track 3 is a 30-credit course of study designed for students who already have New York State initial Pre-K-12 teacher certification in an area other than dance and are seeking certification in dance education. Track 3 students take graduate courses in the Dance Program as well as School of Education courses in the methods of teaching dance.

For information on how to apply to Track 3 of the Arnhold MA in Dance Education, please click here. 

To download curriculum details and for Track 3, click here.

To download a model sequence of study for Track 3, click here. 

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Admission Requirements

Applicants must be admitted by both the School of Education and the Dance Department.

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0.

2. A minimum of 34 credits in dance with a GPA of at least 3.0 in dance.

3. Track 1 Only: General education core in the liberal arts and sciences to include: artistic expression; communication; information retrieval; concepts in history and social sciences; humanities; a language other than English; scientific and mathematical processes; and written analysis and expression.
   Track 2 Only: NYS certification in Dance Education.
   Track 3 Only: NYS certification in a subject area other than Dance Education.

4. Applicants also need to submit a DVD or link to up to three clips of their creative work - between 5 and 15 minutes in total and a curriculum vitae.

5. A 3 credit course in special education that focuses on supporting students with disabilities in the general education classroom. Students without this course may be admitted conditionally and must take SPED 70800 in addition to other degree requirements.

6. Two professional references.

7. A personal statement.

8. An audition and interview.

9. Submission of official score report on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), except applicants who are certified teachers or school administrators and hold a graduate degree.

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Progress Standards

1. Minimum GPA for Retention - Graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to remain at Hunter College. Students whose grades fall below this standard are required to raise their GPAs to at least 3.0 within one semester.

2. No F in the first two semesters—students who receive a grade of F or WU in any course in the first two semesters will not be allowed to continue in the program.

3. Progress holds due to Incomplete Grades - Students with two or more INCs will not be allowed to register for any courses.

4. Key Course Performance Standards

   • Students must receive a grade of at least a B in key program courses. 

   • Students who receive a grade of F or WU in key program courses may not continue in the program. 

   • Key Program Courses are identified by the label (KC) in the course title.

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Course of Study

Academic Plan

DANCED-MA

Subplans

• Track 1: DANEDLNYSC

• Track 2: DANEDANYSC

• Track 3: DANEDANYSM

Total Credits

Track 1: 49
Track 2: 30
Track 3: 30
 

Courses for All Tracks

• DAN 70100 - Graduate Dance Technique  (taken 3 times)

• DAN 70500 - Maintenance of the Dancer’s Instrument

• DAN 73000 - Studies of Forms

• DAN 73500 - Performance and Presentation

• DAN 74000 - Aesthetics

• DAN 74200 - Graduate Dance History

• DAN 74600 - Special Topics in Dance

• DANED 76000 - Dance Methods I: Curriculum Design and Pedagogy for Productive Teaching and Learning

• DANED 76200 - Dance Methods II: Advanced Curriculum Design and Pedagogy for Productive Teaching and Learning

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Additional Courses for Track 1

• DANED 76605 - Student Teaching (KC)

• SEDC 71000 - Building the Foundations of Literacy in Adolescent Education

• SEDC 72000 - Adolescent Health and Safety

• SEDF 70300 - Social Foundations of Adolescent Education

• SEDF 70400 - Adolescent Development, Grades 7–12

• SEDF 70500 - Educational Psychology: Applications to Adolescent Education (KC)

• SEDF 70600 - Assessment of Teaching and Learning in Adolescent Education

• SPED 70800 - Teaching Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Settings

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Additional Course for Track 2

• DANED 76400 - Practicum (KC)

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Additional Course for Track 3

• DANED 76602 - Student Teaching (KC)

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Exit Requirements

1. An overall GPA of 3.0.

2. Successful completion of an online Dance Education Professional Teaching Portfolio (PTP).

3. Participation in a final performance event as a performer, choreographer, or technical production crew member.

4. Completion of the DASA workshop.

5. Tracks 2 and 3 must have valid and appropriate NYS certification.