Department of Dance
Information for the Master of Arts in Dance Education at UNCG
(updated 11/09)
QUESTIONS? Contact Dr. Sue Stinson, sue_stinson@uncg.edu.
The MA in Dance Education, with or without the advanced North Carolina M (advanced) license in dance, is designed for public school dance educators. Students from North Carolina as well as other states and countries are welcomed. The degree may be completed only through part-time study, combining online courses at UNCG, summer study on campus, and selected courses taken on campus or online from other institutions. At the present time, we are admitting students into this program only in alternate (even) years. We will be admitting the next class of students into the MA in Dance Education to start in summer 2010; all applications will be due April 1, 2010.
Note that many specific details below represent changes from the existing program and are awaiting University approval.
Students who already hold an initial North Carolina teaching license in Dance (Standard Professional I) may choose to earn the advanced M license along with the degree. This option is not available for those students who do not already hold the initial license.
The program is designed for full-time dance educators teaching a diverse population of public school students. At least one year of full-time teaching experience with K-12 students is very strongly recommended before beginning the program. Many course assignments require teaching public school students (or similar populations).
All DCE courses are taught either in the summer or online; most are currently available only in a 4-year rotation. The elective courses may be taken at UNCG or another institution. (Students may transfer in up to 12 credits from an accredited institution, with approval.)
(Note: An alternate route to Standard Professional I licensure in dance may be possible for students through the MA in Dance Theories and Practices; this is not a distance program and students would have to attend classes on campus during the normal school day. Students interested in that approach rather than the distance programs described below should contact Dr. Stinson at the address above.)
Admission requirements for all students include coursework from an accredited institution demonstrating proficiency in the following:
1. improvisation and choreography
2. dance technique at the high intermediate or advanced level in one or more forms
3. dance history, including global dance forms and 20th century modern dance
4. music for dance or other significant work in music
5. dance production
6. applied anatomy/kinesiology/injury prevention
See below for information about courses required to complete the MA in Dance Education.
NOTE that there are two different paths to earning this degree:
I. MA in Dance Education without licensure (no previous license required): 36 graduate credits required
* indicates online course. All courses are 3 credits except for DCE 698, which is 6 credits.
DCE 560 The Dancer’s Body (June 24-July 15, 2010)
*DCE 610 Dance: The Phenomenon I
*DCE 611 Dance: The Phenomenon II
*DCE 646 Reflective Practice
*DCE 657 Advanced Methods
*DCE 660 Issues in Planning the Dance Curriculum
DCE 651 Choreography (su 2012)
*DCE 698 Field Project in Dance
Additional requirement in Technique: 4 credits undergraduate technique at an accredited University or equivalent documented study at a professional studio.
PLUS:
Electives in Dance, Education or related area (approved by advisor) (9)
(Students who have not completed coursework in diverse learners or educational psychology will be required to do so for elective credit.)
II. MA in Dance Education with M (advanced) licensure (only for students who hold the North Carolina Standard Professional I license in Dance): 36 graduate credits required
* indicates online course. All courses are 3 credits except for DCE 693, which is 6 credits.
DCE 560 The Dancer’s Body (June 24-July 15, 2010)
*DCE 610 Dance: The Phenomenon I
*DCE 611 Dance: The Phenomenon II
*DCE 646 Reflective Practice
*DCE 657 Advanced Methods
*DCE 660 Issues in Planning the Dance Curriculum
DCE 651 Choreography (su 2012)
*DCE 693 Portfolio in K-12 Dance Education
Additional requirement in Technique: 4 credits undergraduate technique at an accredited University or equivalent documented study at a professional studio.
PLUS:
One graduate course in Teacher Leadership (3)
One graduate course in Human Development and Learning (3)
One additional graduate course in education (approved by advisor) (3)
III. General comments for all students
Most students in the MA in Dance Education are full-time dance educators in schools taking one graduate course each semester and one or two courses during the summer, over a three-four year period. The Graduate School allows five years to complete a master’s degree.
The program of study leading to the MA in Dance Education rests on an assumption that experienced teachers working at the graduate level already possess significant knowledge and skill; the program is designed for students who are able to function well as independent learners within a supportive community. Most of the courses involve substantive reading and challenging assignments which students work on over a period of time, receiving extensive feedback from instructors. Peer collaboration and dialogue are built into courses whenever possible, but there is a significant amount of work that is completed solo. The instructors see themselves as facilitators of student learning rather than delivery-persons for content information.
Students should expect to spend approximately 12 hours per week in completing assignments for an online graduate course; this includes a substantial amount of time reading and in front of a computer; those employed full-time who have other significant responsibilities should consider whether their schedules allow for such a commitment. A number of the courses involve developing lesson/unit plans and working with one’s own students in a dance education setting.
To facilitate building a supportive community of peers, we admit students into the program only at the beginning of face-to-face summer courses, which are scheduled two out of every three years. These require three weeks of residence on campus. Summer courses in residence on campus will next be offered in 2010. Application deadline for summer 2010 is April 1, 2010.
Note: Summer courses start in approximately the third week of June and end in mid-July.
Further information about the UNCG Dance Department, including more complete descriptions of courses may be found at http://www.uncg.edu/dce. (These updated requirements are not found in the 2009-2010 Graduate Bulletin.)
IV. Application
The MA in Dance Education, like other programs in the Department, has limited enrollments and the selection process is competitive. For admission, faculty consider the strength of your experience, undergraduate gpa and GRE scores, letters of reference, and your ability to write and think as evidenced by your application materials. They also will review a video showing your ability to demonstrate skillful movement in dance.
The following are due by April 1 to THE GRADUATE SCHOOL :
• A completed Graduate School application form http://www.uncg.edu/grs/applyonline.html
• Two copies of the official transcript from all former undergraduate and graduate degree programs (Students must hold a degree from an accredited institution; a minimum undergraduate gpa of 3.0 is expected.)
• GRE scores for general test (3 sections: verbal, quantitative, analytical writing)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Non-refundable application fee
• Send all of these materials to:
The Graduate School
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
241 Mossman Building
Greensboro, NC 27402
336.334.5596
The following are due by April 1 to THE DANCE DEPARTMENT:
• Completion of form and answers to questions to be found at http://www.uncg.edu/dce/MADanceEducationApplication.pdf
V. COSTS: (Note that tuition and fees are subject to change!)
On-campus courses: http://www.uncg.edu/grs/financial/estimatedcost.html
DCE 560 and DCE 651 are on-campus courses for all students. Students attending UNCG full-time pay the rate for on-campus courses regardless of whether the courses taken are online or face-to-face.
For North Carolina residents, the summer 2009 cost of tuition and fees for a 3-credit on-campus course was approximately $730.00;
For out-of-state residents, the summer 2009 cost of tuition and fees for a 3-credit on-campus course was approximately $2023.00
Online courses for Distance students (You are not a Distance student while you are taking any courses on the UNCG campus): http://web.uncg.edu/dcl/web/offcampus/credit_offcampus.asp
For North Carolina residents who are Distance students, the current (09-10) cost of tuition and fees for a 3-credit online course is approximately $430.00.
For out-of-state residents who are Distance students, the current (09-10) cost of tuition and fees for a 3-credit online course is approximately $900.00.
Other notes about costs:
There are no UNCG scholarships or assistantships available for MA Dance Education students.