Ed.M. with Certification in Dance Education
- Degrees & Programs
- Prospective students should download the revised proposed program guide (with fewer required credits) effective September 2025*. The program guide includes a proposed course list and application requirements for the anticipated new program.
- The current program guide is effective through Summer 2025 and is applicable to all current students.
- For more information about the pending changes to the program, please attend a GSE Initial Licensure Information Session or watch this video of an information session, password: ?0fzQs9I
- Contact Ken Tufo, Student Counselor in the Office of Student and Academic Services for further information.
Program Overview
The Ed.M. program with (K-12) teacher certification in dance education at the GSE is designed for individuals who possess a baccalaureate degree and who wish to pursue dance teacher certification and a master’s degree in education at the same time. Through guidance and instruction from expert faculty and backed by research-driven curriculum, the program serves to prepare students to become culturally responsive practitioners within PK-12 schools, and throughout the local and state communities they serve. Carefully curated coursework prepares students with the skills and experience needed to fulfill teaching and administrative roles in the arts and education.
This program is offered jointly by the GSE and the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited university is required for (but does not guarantee) entry into this program. After completion of the program and the master’s degree is awarded, the GSE will make a recommendation to the New Jersey State Department of Education on behalf of the graduate to receive their Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS).
For more information about this program:
*Pending final approval from the New Jersey Department of Education and Rutgers University.
Program Details
Application Deadline
February 1, 2025
Entry Term(s)
Fall
Program Level
Masters
Program Type
Degree + Teacher Certification
Format
On-campus
Credits
62
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What You’ll Learn
Students who enroll in the Ed.M. in Dance Education program can expect to develop their knowledge of dance-as-art within the contexts of educational practice and instruction, scholarly research, education policy, and communities of practice. They will examine the pedagogy of teaching in the discipline and the influence individual differences amongst children, including ability and social, economic, and cultural background, have on student learning and their relationship with dance and others. The program encourages students to consider dance learning contexts for their potential to nurture identity formation, engender empathy, embrace diverse perspectives, engage interdisciplinary inquiry, and shape social transformation. Graduates will exit the program armed with culturally responsive skills and dispositions in curriculum development, assessment, research, data-informed decision making, and leadership, and be empowered to strive and advocate for educational equity for all PK-12 students.
For more information about the courses in this program, please visit the course catalog and online schedule of classes.
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Program Requirements
This program typically takes 2 years to complete and includes:
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- 1 No-Credit Online Training – Completed in the First Summer Semester
- 1 No-Credit School Module – Completed in the Second Summer Semester
- 62 Graduate Course Credits
- 13 Credits – Completed in the First Fall Semester
- 13 Credits – Completed in the First Spring Semester
- 6 Credits – Completed in the Second Summer Semester
- 15 Credits – Completed in the Second Fall Semester
- 15 Credits – Completed in the Second Spring Semester
Accepted students have 5 years to complete the program.
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Careers and Outcomes
Earning an Ed.M. with teacher certification in dance education offers graduates the opportunity for employment as an educator, administrator, or specialist in dance, art, or related fields in New Jersey public, private, and charter schools. Students will also possess the ability to conduct high quality research and have demonstrated the competencies needed to pursue doctoral-level study and or careers at the post-secondary level.
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Admissions Requirements
- Personal Statement
- Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- One Letter of Recommendation
- Passing Praxis Core test scores* in Reading, Writing, and Math
- or SAT scores* greater than 50th percentile in both Math and Verbal or both Math and Reading
- or ACT scores* greater than 50th percentile in both Math and English
- or GRE scores* greater than 50th percentile in both Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning
- Official Undergraduate Transcripts**
*Any test scores submitted must be less than 5 years old as of the application deadline
**The New Jersey Department of Education requires a minimum GPA of 2.75 to be admitted to a teacher education program -
How to Apply
- Collect the materials required for admission
- Submit your application online at http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/
- Submit supporting materials online
- Any supporting materials that cannot be submitted electronically should be mailed to Graduate Admissions’ New Brunswick office. Their mailing address can be found here: https://gradstudy.rutgers.edu/about/contact-us
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Tuition & Financial Assistance
Tuition:
For tuition and fees information please visit the tuition landing page.
Financial Aid:
While students are encouraged to apply for federal student aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), there are a number of other merit- and need-based support options, including loans and college work-study programs within and external to Rutgers. For more information, please visit the Office of Financial Aid website.
Scholarships, Fellowships & Assistantships:
Generous GSE alumni, friends, and community members have established and continue to donate to more than one dozen fellowships and scholarships to help deserving students reach their goals. These awards are granted on the basis of academic achievement and or financial need. While these awards are competitive, interested students are encouraged to apply for consideration and submit the required materials. Students must also submit a FAFSA application to be eligible.
To review all current awards and learn more about the donors that established them, please click here.