The ݮý will launch a Master of Education with teacher certification (MCERT) in dance education beginning Summer 2026, offering a direct pathway for graduates to step into full-time K-12 dance teaching positions.
A collaboration between the College of Education and the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, the yearlong program combines graduate coursework with an immersive public school teaching internship.
Designed primarily for dance majors interested in teaching, students begin coursework the summer after their senior year and graduate the following spring with both a masterݮýs degree in education and eligibility for ݮý state licensure in dance.
ݮýThis program offers a clear pathway into full-time, salaried teaching positions,ݮý said Crystal U. Davis, associate professor of dance performance and scholarship, who helps coordinate dance education. ݮýThere is a real need for qualified dance educators in our public schools, and we want our graduates to be fully prepared and immediately hireable.ݮý
The structure allows students to gain hands-on experience while completing their degree. After summer coursework, students spend the academic year as full-time teaching interns in public schools, paired with mentor dance teachers. Over two semesters, interns are placed in two different settingsݮýtypically one elementary and one secondary schoolݮýwhere they gradually take on classroom teaching responsibilities.
ݮýTheyݮýre not just shadowing,ݮý Davis said. ݮýTheyݮýre teaching full class sessions and receiving feedback at multiple points across the school year.ݮý
Placements are coordinated with regional school systems, including Prince Georgeݮýs County and neighboring districts, helping meet growing demand for certified dance educators.
Leaders in the College of Education say the program reflects a broader institutional commitment to strengthening public education through well-prepared teachers (graduates earn their degree through the college).
ݮýThe College of Education partners across the university to prepare the next generation of educators and leaders,ݮý said Ebony Terrell Shockley Ph.D. ݮý12, associate dean for educator preparation and undergraduate studies and clinical professor. ݮýDance education is both academically rigorous and deeply connected to the community. It fosters creative expression, teamwork, sustained focus and complex sequencingݮýskills that translate directly to effective teaching and learning.ݮý
She added that licensed, well-prepared educators remain one of the most critical factors in student success and educational equity.
ݮýStrong arts programming builds confidence, supports multisensory learning and fosters deeper student engagement,ݮý she said.
Learn more about the MCERT. The deadline to apply for the Summer 2026-Spring 2027 program is March 13, 2026. For more information, contact Crystal Davis at cudavis@umd.edu .
Photo by Taneen Momeni
