UMD Launches Master’s Program in Dance Education with Teacher Certification

The program offers a clear pathway into full-time, salaried teaching positions.

The University of Maryland will launch a Master of Arts in Education (MCERT) with teacher certification 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 master’s degree in education and eligibility for Maryland state licensure in dance. 

“This program offers a clear pathway into full-time, salaried teaching positions,” said Crystal U. Davis, associate professor of dance performance and scholarship, who helps coordinate dance education. “There is a real need for qualified dance educators in our public schools, and we want our graduates to be fully prepared and immediately hireable.”

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 settings—typically one elementary and one secondary school—where they gradually take on classroom teaching responsibilities. 

“They’re not just shadowing,” Davis said. “They’re teaching full class sessions and receiving feedback at multiple points across the school year.”

Placements are coordinated with regional school systems, including Prince George’s 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). 

“The College of Education partners across the university to prepare the next generation of educators and leaders,” said Ebony Terrell Shockley Ph.D. ’12, associate dean for educator preparation and undergraduate studies and clinical professor. “Dance education is both academically rigorous and deeply connected to the community. It fosters creative expression, teamwork, sustained focus and complex sequencing—skills that translate directly to effective teaching and learning.”

She added that licensed, well-prepared educators remain one of the most critical factors in student success and educational equity.

“Strong arts programming builds confidence, supports multisensory learning and fosters deeper student engagement,” she said. 

Learn more about the MCERT. The deadline to apply for the Summer 2026-Summer 2027 program is March 13, 2026. For more information, contact Crystal Davis at cudavis@umd.edu .

Photo by Taneen Momeni.