Program Overview
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Interim Director: Michelle Gaza, M.F.A
Location: Frasier Hall 105
Theatre Arts: 970-351-2991
Dance: 970-351-2991
Website: arts.unco.edu/theatre/
Graduate Coordinator: Mary Schuttler, Ph.D.
Schedule: The program will be delivered through both online learning and on campus classes. The online learning would take place during the fall and spring semesters, while the students would be on campus during the summers for face-to-face intensive classes. The summer classes would include three classes taught over a three week time period.
- Those applying to the program would submit a sample of their scholarly writing for perusal. Scholarly writing could include writing describing curricula, lesson plans or research created or done by the applicant.
- Applicants would also need to describe in detail how they would plan to actively use what they have learned in this graduate program in their own teaching situation or prospective teaching situation.
- Students accepted to this program would be teachers or prospective teachers in Colorado and throughout the nation. There would, however, be an emphasis on accepting those who are already teaching in our state with the goal of improving dance education in Colorado schools. There is also the possibility of accepting international students in this program. (Dr. Sandra Minton is well-known as a dance educator in the U.S. and internationally and has been able, in the past, to attract Colorado, national and international teachers as students to her graduate level courses offered through UNC Extended Campus).
- Students accepted to this program would not need to have completed undergraduate work in dance, although a background in dance as a professional performer or in dance studio classes would be helpful. Having an undergraduate degree in dance would be a plus.
- If a student has had previous experience in the dance field, please briefly describe those experiences. Such dance experiences could include those from dance studios, public or private K-12 schools university programs.
Admission
Location: Online and Summer Greeley Intensives
Start Term: Fall
General Master's Degree Admission Requirements
Dance Education M.A.
Admission Deadline
Starts Each Fall Term
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.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.
Each applicant must:
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an Institutionally Accredited college or university or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 scale) for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are still completing your bachelor's degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
- If you have completed a master's degree, or at least 18 credit hours towards a master's degree, the GPA of your master's work will be used.
Take the following steps to be considered for admission:
Step 1: Complete the Application
Complete the online application.
- Answer the application questions.
- Send your requests for letters of recommendation.
- Request three (3) academic or professional letters of recommendation from those who can attest to your academic potential and abilities. You will be asked to supply information for your recommenders in the application.
- Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.
Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed below, and track your application through the admissions process.
Step 2: Request Transcripts
Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree.
Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.
Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.
Mailed transcripts should be sent to:
University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639
Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.
The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.
UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.
Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.
Step 3: Note About the GRE
This program does not require GRE scores.
Step 4: Supplemental Items
Log back into the Admissions Portal to submit the following:
- Essay
An essay stating your goals for the program and a discussion of why graduate school is an appropriate choice in your career at this time.
- Resume/Vita
Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, your application will be reviewed by the Graduate School and then sent to the faculty/program for an admission recommendation. The timing of the admission decision depends on each individual program’s deadline and review process.
International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.
For More Information
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.
Degree Requirements — 33-36 Credits
Required Courses — 33-36 Credits
| DNCE 550 | Situating Dance: Exploring vital components of history, culture, and context | 3 |
| DNCE 560 | Dance Movement Skills & Pedagogical Approaches | 3 |
| DNCE 565 | Interdisciplinary Teaching and Advocacy in Dance | 3 |
| DNCE 570 | Doing, Teaching & Appreciating Choreography & Creative Dance I | 3 |
| DNCE 575 | Dance Lesson, Curriculum and Assessment Design | 3 |
| DNCE 600 | Movement and Dance - Framing a Research Question | 3 |
| DNCE 690 | Action Research I | 3 |
| DNCE 691 | Somatic Movement Education and Embodied Praxis | 3 |
| DNCE 693 | Popular Dance Forms | 3 |
| DNCE 697 | Dance Production Techniques | 3 |
| DNCE 699 | Action Research II | 3- 6 |
Program Notes
The Coordinator of the M.A. in Dance Education degree program will assign each student an academic advisor and a graduate committee in accordance with Graduate School policy. The academic advisor will serve as the chair of the graduate committee.
It is recommended that students have a graduate committee review each semester. The student will discuss the graduate review with the academic advisor and the Coordinator of the M.A. in Dance Education Program. The student will assume responsibility for scheduling graduate reviews. Two unsuccessful graduate reviews will be considered grounds for termination of the student’s involvement in the program. In conjunction with DNCE 690 and DNCE 699, the student will prepare and submit a written thesis proposal. Prior to beginning work on the thesis, the thesis proposal must be approved by all members of the student’s graduate committee.
A written research thesis is required of all Master of Arts degree candidates in the School of Theatre Arts and Dance.
Upon completion of the program, the student will be required to demonstrate competence in the designated area of concentration in accordance with approved school standards. The student’s committee must approve the candidate for graduation.