- March 04, 2026
- By Jessica Weiss ’05
The University of Maryland will launch a Master of Arts in Education 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.
“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,” said Crystal U. Davis, associate professor of dance performance and scholarship, who helps coordinate dance education.
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.
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.”
The deadline to apply for the Summer 2026-Spring 2027 program is March 13.