Bachelor of Arts in Dance (6-12 Dance Certification)

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance with an education minor leading to teacher certification is designed to prepare dance educators for the secondary schools and other arts education venues. The curriculum provides the dance major with a comprehensive foundation in the content areas that define dance as a discipline, as well as the skills necessary to facilitate an appreciation and understanding of dance as an art form and cultural phenomenon in others. Focusing on developing the teacher as a facilitator of learning rather than a dispenser of information, the curriculum integrates dance studies with the university general education requirements and a core of professional education courses.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

Degree Skills

1. Effectively communicate movement theories, dance science concepts, and pedagogical ideas when observing, teaching, and practicing as a movement specialist and critically responding to others in such situations
2. Engage in and develop critical thinking utilizing artistic and pedagogical models to create, problem-solve, implement and evaluate such projects as community dance experiences, performance and choreographic projects, presentations, and curriculum planning
3. Develop interpersonal leadership skills by engaging in cooperative group learning while demonstrating effective social-emotional attributes when planning events and creating projects including dance outreach projects, dance and drill team companies, performance seasons, and fundraising activities

Teacher Certification Skills

1. Appropriately explain the impact of effective planning and communication (within the chosen area of concentration) to relevant internal and external stakeholders in an education or community setting.
2. Identify, select, and implement entry-level instructional plans when serving as an instructor in the school setting.
3. Successfully manage organizational and student behavior when teaching in the school setting.
4. Efficiently and accurately assess student progress and use data to develop and modify instruction for K-12 students.
5. Work effectively and collaboratively with students and families from diverse backgrounds.

Admissions

All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.

In addition to these general requirements, an audition for placement in dance practice classes is required. The placement audition for new students is held the week before classes begin in the fall semester. Students entering in the spring should schedule a placement audition with a dance faculty advisor or the Department Chair.  For additional information about auditions please visit the Division of Dance Placement Assessment Audition website.

Teacher Certification

Application Deadlines

There are three application periods per year (Fall, Spring, and Summer). Students must have their applications in by the deadline the semester before they intend to take ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, or READ 4223 (EC-3 only).  (see schedule below).

Spring Application Deadlines*  (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Summer)

• May 1 - Deadline to apply for Summer admission
• May 31 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement

Summer Application Deadlines  (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Fall)

• July 1 - Deadline to apply for Fall admission
• July 31 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement

Fall Application Deadlines*  (Admission to the EDUC 3000s Spring)

• December 1 - Deadline to apply for Spring admission
• December 21 - Deadline for Transfer Grades, Grade Changes, or Any Other Requirement

Guidelines

Please adhere to the following guidelines: 

• We recommend preparing your application well in advance of the deadline. That way you will be able to identify and resolve any potential issues before the deadline date. 
• If you intend to register early for ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, or READ 4223 (EC-3 only) for the Summer or Fall semesters and have met all admission requirements, it is recommended that you apply to the EPP by December 1.
• If you apply for admission to the Educator Preparation Program while enrolled in EDUC 2003 or are taking coursework to increase your GPA to a 2.75, the Office of Educator Preparation Services will process your application. If the GPA requirement, along with all other admission requirements are met at the end of the semester, an admission decision will be made at that time.
• No late applications will be accepted. If the deadline date falls on a weekend or a day that TWU is closed, applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on the next day that TWU is open after the deadline day.

Requirements

In addition to the general undergraduate admissions requirements, to obtain acceptance into the undergraduate Educator Preparation Program (and prior to taking ECE 3223 (EC-3 only), EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, EDUC 4113, EDUC 4243, READ 4223 (EC-3 only), and Clinical Student Teaching) students must have:

• A cumulative GPA of 2.75 (includes all courses, whether posted to TWU transcript or used on a degree plan. Excludes developmental and repeated courses);

• Demonstrated basic skills in reading, written communication, and mathematics by meeting the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative;

• A minimum of 12 to 15 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought;

• Completed EDUC 2003 with a C or higher;

• Completed department application for admission to the Educator Preparation Program in Tk20;
  • Important: Purchase and creation of a Tk20 account is required

• Completed the Digital Literacy Pre-assessment;

• Submitted a non-refundable Texas Education Agency Fee;

• Completed a Commitment Contract acknowledging awareness and understanding of the Professional Dispositions Policy and Educators’ Code of Ethics;

• Successfully completed a pre-admission departmental interview with an interview panel; and

• Acknowledged and accepted admission to the Educator Preparation Program.

Please note:

• All accepted students must maintain the admission requirements to remain in the TWU Education Preparation Program.
• Admission requirements are determined by Texas Education Agency policies and are subject to change without notice.
• Students seeking Bilingual certification must meet minimum proficiency in Spanish.
• Students seeking Deaf/Hard of Hearing certification must meet minimum proficiency in sign.

All admission decisions are based on the successful completion of the above requirements. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor other than a minor traffic violation may affect certification. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Texas Education Agency. Any previous or current issues of academic dishonesty, disruptive behavior, or professional dispositions infractions at TWU, another university, or another Educator Preparation Program may result in denial of admission. Any decision may be appealed by contacting the Office of Educator Preparation Services at 940-898-2829.

Contact the Office of Educator Preparation Services (OEPS) at copeadvising@twu.edu or 940-898-2829 with any questions.

Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Requirements

• Candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to employment as an educator. [19 TAC §227.1(b)(1)]
• Candidates must undergo a criminal history background check prior to clinical teaching. [19 TAC §227.1(b)(2)]
• The potential ineligibility of an individual who has been convicted of an offense for issuance of a certificate. [19 TAC §227.1(d)(1)]
• The right to request a preliminary criminal history evaluation from TEA. [19 TAC §227.1(d)(3)]

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 120   

Major: 52 SCH;  Required Minor: 26 SCH

Program Code: DANCE.BA.EDUC;   CIP Code: 50.0301.00

Special Requirements

Students must earn a B or higher in the following courses: DNCE 2143, DNCE 2183, DNCE 3292, DNCE 3393, DNCE 3813, DNCE 4133, and DNCE 4243.

Texas Core Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
ENG 1013	Composition I	3
ENG 1023	Composition II	3
Mathematics		3
Life & Physical Sciences		6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture		3
Creative Arts		3
HIST 1013	History of the United States, 1492-1865	3
HIST 1023	History of the United States, 1865 to the Present	3
POLS 2013	U.S. National Government	3
POLS 2023	Texas Government	3
Social & Behavioral Sciences		3
CAO: Women's Studies		3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics		3
Total SCHs		42

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
DNCE 1171	Bartenieff Fundamentals of Movement	1
DNCE 2183	Introduction to Movement Analysis and Description	3
DNCE 3193	Experiential Anatomy for Dancers	3
Total SCHs		7

Technique Practice

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
Modern Dance Practice (based on placement audition)		6
DNCE 1151	Elementary Modern Dance I
DNCE 1161	Elementary Modern Dance II
DNCE 2151	Intermediate Modern Dance I
DNCE 2161	Intermediate Modern Dance II
DNCE 3151	Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance I
DNCE 3161	Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance II
DNCE 4151	Advanced Modern Dance I
DNCE 4161	Advanced Modern Dance II
Ballet Practice (based on placement audition)		4
DNCE 1111	Elementary Ballet I
DNCE 1121	Elementary Ballet II
DNCE 2111	Intermediate Ballet I
DNCE 2121	Intermediate Ballet II
DNCE 3111	Intermediate/Advanced Ballet I
DNCE 3121	Intermediate/Advanced Ballet II
Urban & Global Dance Practice		2
DNCE 2171	Beginning Urban and Global Dance Practices
DNCE 3191	Urban and Global Dance Practices
Summer Dance Intensive		3
DNCE 3913	Summer Dance Intensive
Elective (selected from any of the above courses)		1
Total SCHs		16

Dancemaking

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
Choreography Courses		7
DNCE 1191	Improvisation
DNCE 2202	Dance Composition
DNCE 3292	Choreographic Designs
DNCE 4182	Concert Choreography
Performance Courses		7
DNCE 1101	Beginning Dance Performance (may be taken twice)
DNCE 2101	Intermediate Dance Performance (may be taken twice)
DNCE 3101	Advanced Dance Performance (may be taken twice)
DNCE 4133	Dance Production (must be taken)
Total SCHs		14

Dance Theory

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
Dance and Identity		9
DNCE 2143	Dance and Globalization
DNCE 3393	History of Dance
DNCE 4393	Contemporary Trends and Issues in Choreography and Performance
Pedagogical Communities		6
DNCE 3813	Theories of Teaching Dance Technique
DNCE 4243	Children's Dance
Total SCHs		15

Recommended Plan of study

First Year
Fall		TCCN	SCHs
DNCE 1101	Beginning Dance Performance	DANC 1151	1
DNCE 1111	Elementary Ballet I		1
DNCE 1151	Elementary Modern Dance I		1
DNCE 1191	Improvisation	DANC 1201	1
DNCE 2171	Beginning Urban and Global Dance Practices	DANC 2247	1
ENG 1013	Composition I	ENGL 1301	3
HIST 1013	History of the United States, 1492-1865	HIST 1301	3
UNIV 1231	Learning Frameworks: The First Year Experience	EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300	1
Wellness CAO Core			2
	SCHs		14
Spring		TCCN
DNCE 1101	Beginning Dance Performance	DANC 1151	1
DNCE 1121	Elementary Ballet II		1
DNCE 1161	Elementary Modern Dance II		1
DNCE 1171	Bartenieff Fundamentals of Movement		1
DNCE 2202	Dance Composition	DANC 1301	2
ENG 1023	Composition II	ENGL 1302	3
HIST 1023	History of the United States, 1865 to the Present	HIST 1302	3
Mathematics Core			3
	SCHs		15
Second Year
Fall		TCCN
DNCE 2101	Intermediate Dance Performance	DANC 2151	1
DNCE 2111	Intermediate Ballet I		1
DNCE 2143	Dance and Globalization	DANC 1305	3
DNCE 2151	Intermediate Modern Dance I		1
DNCE 2183	Introduction to Movement Analysis and Description		3
DNCE 3292	Choreographic Designs		2
POLS 2013	U.S. National Government	GOVT 2305	3
Life/Physical Science Core			3
	SCHs		17
Spring		TCCN
DNCE 2101	Intermediate Dance Performance	DANC 2151	1
DNCE 2121	Intermediate Ballet II		1
DNCE 2161	Intermediate Modern Dance II		1
EDUC 2003	Schools and Society	EDUC 1301	3
WS 2013	Gender and Social Change: An Introduction to Multicultural-Women's Studies		3
POLS 2023	Texas Government	GOVT 2306	3
Creative Arts Core			3
Life/Physical Science Core			3
	SCHs		18
Summer 1		TCCN
DNCE 3913	Summer Dance Intensive		3
	SCHs		3
Third Year
Fall		TCCN
DNCE 3151	Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance I		1
DNCE 3193	Experiential Anatomy for Dancers		3
DNCE 3393	History of Dance		3
READ 3013	Literacy and Learning across the Curriculum		3
EDSP 3203	Learners with Exceptionalities		3
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core			3
	SCHs		16
Spring		TCCN
DNCE 3161	Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance II		1
DNCE 3191	Urban and Global Dance Practices		1
DNCE 3813	Theories of Teaching Dance Technique		3
DNCE 4133	Dance Production		3
DNCE 4393	Contemporary Trends and Issues in Choreography and Performance		3
EDUC 3003	Learning Theory and Development		3
EDUC 3482	Teaching Diverse Learners Through Technology Integration		2
	SCHs		16
Fourth Year
Fall		TCCN
DNCE 3151	Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance I		1
DNCE 4182	Concert Choreography		2
DNCE 4243	Children's Dance		3
EDUC 4113	Design and Implementation of Instruction and Assessment		3
EDUC 4243	Classroom Environment and Management		3
Social/Behavioral Science Core			3
	SCHs		15
Spring		TCCN
EDUC 4946	Clinical Student Teaching		6
	SCHs		6
	Total SCHs:		120