Point Park University Announces First in Pennsylvania Master’s in Pre-K through 12 Dance Education Certification Program Monday, October 9, 2023
“This is an exceptional program for dance students, especially those who may or may not have their focus on a performance career, but also love the collaborative and rewarding aspects of teaching the art of dance."
Point Park University’s School of Education and Conservatory of Performing Arts are collaborating to offer students a new Master of Education in Pre-K through 12 Dance Education Certification program. The new M.Ed. dance education certification program, set to begin the spring of 2024, is the first of its kind in the state.
“This is an exceptional program for dance students, especially those who may or may not have their focus on a performance career, but also love the collaborative and rewarding aspects of teaching the art of dance,” said Garfield Lemonius, M.F.A, dean and artistic director of the Conservatory of Performing Arts.
B.F.A. in dance (jazz) alumnus James (Washington) Manning '11
teaching a class at The Dance Company.
Lemonius added: “The benefit of pursuing this certification at Point Park is the partnership of two exceptional schools, our Conservatory and School of Education. Students will benefit from the depth of faculty and expertise at both.”
Students eligible for the M.Ed. in PreK-12 Dance Education Certification include current or future Point Park University dance students pursuing their Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, and to any student who has earned a B.F.A. or B.A. in dance from other institutions. A baccalaureate degree in dance is strongly preferred. However, applicants with a baccalaureate degree in another discipline may be considered for admission if they can demonstrate extensive professional investment in the field, such as professional performance or dance pedagogy experience.
In all, the program is 42 credits. The M.Ed. classes will be offered entirely online, making the program accessible and affordable.
“Statewide, we are seeing certification becoming increasingly important in the field of dance education," said Virginia Chambers, associate professor of education and chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning. "We feel we are strongly positioned to offer would-be dance educators an opportunity to earn their certification in a relatively short amount of time, at our renowned Conservatory and highly regarded School of Education."
Marques Murphy ’25, a dance major with a jazz concentration enrolled in Point Park’s B.F.A./M.Ed. PreK-4 program and lauded the Conservatory and School of Education’s approach to education.
“This program has helped me understand how to teach the younger generations,” Murphy said. “I love the classes I've taken, as they have been focused on how we can meet the needs of all our students, and I think that is important in teaching. Point Park’s program can help you explore academically how we can become the best educators in the future.”
"This new program is being offered by one of the best dance programs in the country and is a fantastic opportunity for a student who wants to simultaneously pursue a professional career in dance and also in education," said Amil Brothers, who will complete the B.F.A./M.Ed. PreK-4 program this fall. "This is a wonderful way for dance students to expand their career options and earn a second degree in a timely manner."
Learn More
Contact Jodi Golis, admissions counselor in the Office of Graduate and Online Admissions, at 412-392-3812 or jgolis@pointpark.edu. Click here to schedule a call with her.