Dance Education MA
- Master's Degree
- Hybrid
- Greeley Campus
- Online
2 Years + Thesis
Fall Term (Aug.)
$668/Credit
A Mostly Online Master’s Degree for Dance Teachers
Do you love to teach dance? Our online Dance Education Master of Arts is designed for dance educators who want to improve their skills and advance their careers. It’s a great fit for teachers who already have a license, or for those who want to teach in private studios, charter schools or some colleges.
This program prepares dance educators of all backgrounds. See the Program Eligibility section below for details.
What Does Mostly Online Mean?
Designed to fit your schedule: This is a hybrid program, which means there is an in-person portion. You will take classes online most of the year and come to our campus in beautiful Colorado for a short summer session. See the Course of Study section for details, including the variety of skills you will learn in the summer.
Built for connection: Experience the best of both worlds by learning online while still joining an in-person community each summer. You’ll dance and collaborate with teachers from around the globe while keeping your schedule flexible.
What You’ll Learn
Our program seeks candidates with diverse personal backgrounds, ideas and experiences. We bring together a community of educators that will inform and inspire the dancers of the future. You’ll work with our faculty to improve your teaching methods and learn about:
- History and cultural context
- Choreography
- Research
- Dance forms and styles
- Curriculum development and advocacy
- Dance performance production
- Applied embodiment practices and movement skills
Career Benefits for Graduates
All Current and Future Dance Teachers
Succeed in a variety of dance teaching roles:
- The private sector (including your own studio)
- Some K-12 private/charter schools
- Certain post-secondary settings
If you have a public or private K-12 school interested in hiring you once you have this degree, you can speak to them and your state department of education about alternative licensure options that may be available to you based on this master’s degree.
Licensed Teachers
If you are already a licensed teacher, this master’s degree will make you a very desirable candidate for dance teaching jobs that require licensure. The master’s degree can also benefit you in organizations that use tiered teaching pay scales.
Course of Study
Online + Summer Greeley Intensives
You will start in fall term and finish your coursework in two years, then spend one semester on thesis work. Coursework schedule:
- Fall and spring terms: One online, asynchronous Dance Education course each term. Asynchronous means “not at the same time.” There will be deadlines for completing course tasks, but you will not need to be online at certain times.
- Summer terms: intensive in-person sessions on our campus in Greeley, Colorado, plus occasional online coursework.
About the Summer Intensive Sessions
The summer Greeley intensives focus on dancing together to build our learning community.
- When will you be here? The sessions take place in July — two weeks each summer in early to mid July.
- What will you be doing? You will work on choreography, learning dance forms, movement skills/technique, pedagogy, interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue, creative process, applied Somatic Movement Education and embodiment principles, and skills in dance production.
To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for this program.
Courses and Requirements
This is a 33-36 credit master’s degree program.
Transfer Credit
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this program. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Jori Moore
Enrollment Counselor
Ray Schwartz
Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Master’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Please note: because you will only take one 3-credit course during each fall and spring semester, you will only be eligible for federal financial aid in the summer terms. If you will need financial aid for fall and spring terms, please work with UNC Financial Aid for information about non-federal loans and the UNC BearPay option.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an institutionally accredited college or university.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Preparing Dance Educators of All Backgrounds
The best dance educators are those who are inspired to pass on their knowledge and their love of dance for the betterment of their community. While a bachelor’s degree is required for admission, you do not need to have a dance-specific bachelor’s degree. The most important qualities you can bring to your participation in this program are:
- A background in movement practice.
- A desire to implement successful teaching practices.
- A passion to advocate for the movement arts.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
International Student Eligibility
No student visa: F-1 and J-1 student visas are not available for this program. However, if you are a non-U.S. citizen who will be in the U.S. under another visa category, you may be able to enroll in this program. Before you apply, please check for enrollment or employment restrictions for your visa category.
If you do apply to this program, you will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Meet the Program Faculty
Visit the Academic Department
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Application Deadline
- Priority Application Deadline: January 15
- Standard Application Deadline: If space is still available after the review and admission of priority applicants, the standard application deadline is March 1.
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Dance Education (M.A.)
- Start term: Fall Term (Aug.)
View the full program-specific application details in the UNC Graduate Catalog.
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status