Bachelor's in Dance Education Degree for Secondary Education

Bachelor of Arts in Dance for Secondary EducationInitial Program – Leads to Initial Teacher Licensure

Offered By: College of Arts and Media

Dance Education Degree: Opening Doors to Teaching Possibilities

Teach the next generation the art of dance with your Bachelor of Arts in Dance for Secondary Education.1 Offered by the College of Arts and Media in conjunction with the College of Education, this program can prepare you to design, maintain and grow a dance program in middle and high schools. It includes extensive coursework in different dance forms, as well as educational training, such as classroom management. From dance history to choreography, you will be immersed in all aspects of dance. You will have the opportunity to study competencies in teaching various forms of dance effectively and designing a curriculum that is historically grounded, developmentally appropriate, inquiry-oriented, culturally responsive and based upon state and national standards.

This dance education major leads to initial teacher licensure. It requires student teaching experience in preparation for a career in dance education. In addition to classroom studies, you will be required to participate in the Ethington Dance Ensemble, which includes four main concerts throughout the year. This allows you to experience the entire creative process, from planning and rehearsals to the live performance, from both onstage and offstage perspectives. This bachelor’s degree in dance education also requires you to participate in the Elementary Dance Tour, which brings exciting multi-media productions to local schools.

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Dance Education Course Topics

Our bachelor’s in dance for secondary education curriculum combines observational and practice-based dance experiences. It can prepare you to position yourself to be both a dance practitioner and a dance educator.

Courses covered in this dance education degree examine a range of topics, including:

  • Somatic practices in dance, including body awareness, alignment, injury prevention and movement observation
  • Skills, movement techniques and artistic expression specific to a range of dance styles, including ballet, jazz and modern dance
  • Dance improvisation skills in solos, duets and groups
  • Traditional and contemporary approaches of dance education, with a look at effective teaching practices
  • The use of technology in dance education to facilitate inquiry, collaboration and interaction in the classroom

Learn Skills to Become a Middle or High School Dance Teacher

Our holistic approach to teaching dance balances theory with practice, with the aim of producing graduates who are prepared to work toward their future career. After completing the full-time practicum/field experience of this program, you may be prepared to teach in a range of middle or high school settings – public or private, rural or urban, large or small. Students may also work toward seeking educational dance opportunities available in community organizations and performing arts institutions.

The BA in dance education degree can prepare you to pursue endorsements in additional subject areas. Make the most of your passion for dance and shape your future as a dance education major.

Take Secondary Dance Education Courses From an Institutionally Accredited University

When contemplating a bachelor's degree in dance education, your choice of university should prioritize proper institutional accreditation. GCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, underscoring the university's dedication to providing quality education. GCU takes pride in its mission to empower students through dedicated instruction and guidance.

This dance education degree will teach you to connect with your future students and tackle challenges in the classroom. It was designed using National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD) standards and all courses within this degree program are directly aligned with the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) principles.

Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Education FAQs

Before you decide whether to pursue a dance education degree, it can be helpful to learn more about the profession and your potential career path. The following frequently asked questions and answers can provide a starting point for your career-related research.

An aspiring dance teacher needs a diverse skillset comprised of both teaching skills and dance skills. The dance skills you need may include:2

  • Athleticism
  • Creativity and artistic expression
  • Physical stamina
  • Teamwork
  • Leadership skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Persistence and perseverance

As an educator, you’ll also need to be an excellent communicator who is able to explain concepts to students in language they can easily understand and put into practice. Dance educators should be resourceful, as they must adapt lessons to meet the needs of each class and student. It’s also helpful to possess patience and the ability to remain calm under challenging circumstances.1

It’s possible to become a dance educator without a degree if you wish to work in a community center or a performing arts company, or if you would like to open your own dance studio. You might also be able to secure employment as a private school dance teacher without a degree. However, if you would like to teach at a public school, you’ll need a degree and a teacher’s license.1 It should be noted that private schools, community organizations and performing arts companies establish their own hiring criteria, and some of them may require or prefer a dance education degree even if they do not require licensure.

Pursue your passion for dance and work toward your dream of becoming a middle or high school dance educator by pursuing a dance education major at GCU. Apply today for enrollment.

1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, January 10). How to become a high school teacher. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved August 14, 2023.

2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, September 8). How to become a dancer or choreographer. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved August 14, 2023. 

TOTAL CREDITS & COURSE LENGTH:
Total Credits: 126
Campus: 15 weeks
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TRANSFER CREDITS:
Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division
TUITION RATE:
Campus: $8,250 per semester [More Info]

Course List

General Education Requirements:
34-40 credits
Major:
86 credits
Open Elective Credits:
0-6 credits
Degree Requirements:
126 credits

General Education Requirements

General Education coursework prepares Grand Canyon University graduates to think critically, communicate clearly, live responsibly in a diverse world, and thoughtfully integrate their faith and ethical convictions into all dimensions of life. These competencies, essential to an effective and satisfying life, are outlined in the General Education Learner Outcomes. General Education courses embody the breadth of human understanding and creativity contained in the liberal arts and sciences tradition. Students take an array of foundational knowledge courses that promote expanded knowledge, insight, and the outcomes identified in the University’s General Education Competencies. The knowledge and skills students acquire through these courses serve as a foundation for successful careers and lifelong journeys of growing understanding and wisdom.

Requirements

Upon completion of the Grand Canyon University's University Foundation experience, students will be able to demonstrate competency in the areas of academic skills and self-leadership. They will be able to articulate the range of resources available to assist them, explore career options related to their area of study, and have knowledge of Grand Canyon's community. Students will be able to demonstrate foundational academic success skills, explore GCU resources (CLA, Library, Career Center, ADA office, etc), articulate strategies of self-leadership and management and recognize opportunities to engage in the GCU community.

Course Options

  • UNV-103, University Success: 4
  • UNV-303, University Success: 4

Requirements

Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to construct rhetorically effective communications appropriate to diverse audiences, purposes, and occasions (English composition, communication, critical reading, foreign language, sign language, etc.). Students are required to take 3 credits of English grammar or composition.

Course Options

  • ENG-105, English Composition I: 4
  • UNV-104, 21st Century Skills: Communication and Information Literacy: 4
  • ENG-106, English Composition II: 4
  • COM-263, Elements of Intercultural Communication: 4

Requirements

Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to express aspects of Christian heritage and worldview. Students are required to take CWV-101/CWV-301.

Course Options

  • CWV-101, Christian Worldview: 4
  • CWV-301, Christian Worldview: 4

Requirements

Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to use various analytic and problem-solving skills to examine, evaluate, and/or challenge ideas and arguments. Students are required to take 3 credits of college mathematics or higher.

Course Options

  • MAT-144, College Mathematics: 4

Requirements

Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to demonstrate awareness and appreciation of and empathy for differences in arts and culture, values, experiences, historical perspectives, and other aspects of life (psychology, sociology, government, Christian studies, Bible, geography, anthropology, economics, political science, child and family studies, law, ethics, cross-cultural studies, history, art, music, dance, theater, applied arts, literature, health, etc.). If the predefined course is a part of the major, students need to take an additional course.

Course Options

  • PSY-102, General Psychology: 4
  • INT-244, World Religions: 4
  • SOC-100, Everyday Sociology: 4

Core Courses

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the techniques of the classical ballet, including alignment, positions, port de bras, and allegro combinations. It includes fundamental concepts, skills, movement vocabulary, and artistic expression specific to ballet.

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the style, technique, and rhythmic structures of jazz dance with emphasis on increasing movement capabilities and personal expression. It includes fundamental concepts, skills, movement vocabulary, and artistic expression specific to jazz.

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare the student for a dance concert production in a theatrical setting. Through the rehearsal process and culminating performances, students gain dance proficiency by working in a range of styles and choreographic approaches. Students audition choreography and may be cast as dancers, understudies, stage managers, and production assistants. Prerequisite: Audition.

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare the student for the GCU Elementary Dance Tour, a multi-media production composed through collaboration by faculty and students. Topics include choreography, dramatic dialogue, elementary teaching methods, technical production, and artistic expression in a range of different dance styles. Participation is determined by audition.

Course Description

This course is a study of somatic practices in dance. Students explore and discuss issues related to one body practice. Topics include body awareness, alignment, injury prevention, and movement observation.

Course Description

This technique course is designed to increase skill in classical ballet. It includes intermediate concepts, skills, movement vocabulary, and artistic expression specific to ballet. Prerequisite: DAN-100.

Course Description

This course is a refinement of beginning skills, with an emphasis on development of technical abilities and performance qualities. It focuses on intermediate concepts, skills, movement vocabulary, and artistic expression specific to jazz. Prerequisite: DAN-101.

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare the student for a dance concert production in a theatrical setting. Through the rehearsal process and culminating performances, students gain dance proficiency by working in a range of styles and choreographic approaches. Students audition choreography and may be cast as dancers, understudies, stage managers, and production assistants. Prerequisite: Audition.

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the movement techniques of modern dance. It includes fundamental concepts, skills, movement vocabulary, and artistic expression specific to modern dance.

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare the student for the GCU Elementary Dance Tour, a multi-media production composed through collaboration by faculty and students. Topics include choreography, dramatic dialogue, elementary teaching methods, technical production, and artistic expression in a range of different dance styles. Participation is determined by audition.

Course Description

This course addresses alignment for dancers, using Pilates mat exercises. The course addresses how breath , strength, and coordination may facilitate greater ease and efficiency in movement.

Course Description

This course is designed to assist teacher candidates in understanding theories and principles of psychology that describe the growth and development of early adolescents and adolescents, including cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas. This course enables teacher candidates to build foundational knowledge for constructing learning opportunities and environments that support individual students’ development, acquisition of knowledge and skills, and motivation. Practicum/field experience hours: 5. Fingerprint clearance not required.

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to the elements of technical theater specific to a dance production and to prepare students to organize a production in a variety of media. The course covers the fundamentals of lighting and costume design; sound/music/video recording and other multimedia devices; and basic elements of production management, such as contracts, labor issues, budgets, facility rentals, marketing and fundraising.

Course Description

This course focuses on creating and developing movement through dance improvisation in solos, duets, and groups. Contact improvisation and partnering, the uses of improvisation in choreography and performance, and the creative process are explored. Students are guided toward finding their own artistic voice through movement, discussion, and writing.

Course Description

This course is a refinement of beginning skills with an emphasis on development of technical abilities and performance qualities. It includes intermediate concepts, skills, movement vocabulary, and artistic expression specific to modern dance. Prerequisite: DAN-120.

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare the student for a dance concert production in a theatrical setting. Through the rehearsal process and culminating performances, students gain dance proficiency by working in a range of styles and choreographic approaches. Students audition choreography and may be cast as dancers, understudies, stage managers, and production assistants.

Course Description

Teacher candidates are introduced to the educational needs of students with mild to moderate disabilities and their families, including the definitions, characteristics, prevalence, causes and educational approaches to these disabilities and disorders. Teacher candidates will identify cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional patterns of learning and development for students with mild to moderate disabilities. Teacher candidates also survey the special education process involving the application of various laws and regulations. Practicum/field experience hours: 5. Fingerprint clearance not required.

Course Description

In this writing intensive course, teacher candidates study how to teach a diverse population of students by examining the foundations and dimensions of social justice in education, social constructs, privilege, prejudice, and oppression with the goal of becoming culturally competent educators.

Course Description

This course is a survey of Arizona history and government, as well as American government. It meets the teacher certification requirement for Arizona government and American government.

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare the student for a dance concert production in a theatrical setting. Through the rehearsal process and culminating performances, students gain dance proficiency by working in a range of styles and choreographic approaches. Students audition choreography and may be cast as dancers, understudies, stage managers, and production assistants.

Course Description

This course is designed to increase skill in classical ballet technique. It includes advanced concepts, skills, movement vocabulary, and artistic expression specific to ballet. Prerequisite: DAN-250.

Course Description

This course is designed to increase skill in jazz technique. It includes advanced concepts, skills, movement vocabulary, and artistic expression specific to jazz. Prerequisite: DAN-260.

Course Description

This course focuses on the elements of time, space, and energy as related to choreographic design. It is a study of these primary dance elements and their intrinsic role in developing diverse understandings of dance. The course considers design in the related fields of music and art as relevant to choreographic design and communication in dance. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Students needing field experience hours should take DAN-385N.

Course Description

This course focuses on the exercises and activities necessary to develop strength, flexibility, endurance, and technical dance skill. It includes advanced concepts, skills, movement vocabulary, and artistic expression specific to modern dance. Prerequisite: DAN-270.

Course Description

This writing intensive course focuses on the anatomical and mechanical principles that relate to human movement; the analysis, management, and prevention of dance injuries; the analysis of body types and technical ability; and the means by which to improve dance ability. Aspects of teaching safe technique classes and alternative methods will also be explored.

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare the student for a dance concert production in a theatrical setting. Through the rehearsal process and culminating performances, students gain dance proficiency by working in a range of styles and choreographic approaches. Students audition choreography and may be cast as dancers, understudies, stage managers, and production assistants.

Course Description

This course is a study of and experience in various approaches to the choreographic process as related to artistic concepts and to the philosophy of art as espoused by various traditional and contemporary dance artists and as developed by the individual student. Prerequisite: DAN-385N or DAN-375.

Course Description

Students study and utilize a variety of dance technologies, such as computer software, hardware, networking, multimedia, interactive media, and the internet in order to foster inquiry, collaboration, and interaction in the classroom to meet the needs of a diverse 21st century student population.

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the style, technique, and rhythmic structures of urban dance. Students will explore street dance styles with emphasis on increasing movement capabilities and personal expression. Development of proficiency includes fundamental concepts, skills, movement vocabulary, and artistic expression specific to Urban dance. Students will explore urban dance through historical, social, aesthetic, and improvisational contexts as well as most current forms found in popular urban culture. This course is available for non-majors.

Course Description

In this course, teacher candidates differentiate instruction based on knowledge of students, learning theory, and curricular goals. Major emphasis is given to planning instructional objectives and lessons, sequencing, and assessing objectives, utilizing formal and informal assessment strategies that address individual students' needs. Practicum/field experience hours: 5. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: SEC-201.

Course Description

Teacher candidates explore instructional strategies for delivering differentiated instruction to promote reading and writing proficiency. Language and literacy development is examined to inform assessment, intervention, and remediation practices to support middle to high school readers of diverse ability levels, including students with dyslexia and other reading disabilities. Using this foundational knowledge, teacher candidates will select, adapt, and use research-based instructional strategies and interventions with attention focused on literacy in academic curricula to advance learning for adolescent students. Practicum/field experience hours: 15. Fingerprint clearance required.

Course Description

This course prepares teacher candidates to create and manage positive, productive middle- and secondary-grade classroom environments with diverse students. Candidates develop a comprehensive understanding of the learning and behavior principles that underlie effective classroom management and student engagement in order to design and promote an effective classroom management program. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: SEC-201.

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare the student for a dance concert production in a theatrical setting. Through the rehearsal process and culminating performances, students gain dance proficiency by working in a range of styles and choreographic approaches. Students audition choreography and may be cast as dancers, understudies, stage managers, and production assistants.

Course Description

This course encompasses traditional and contemporary approaches of dance education and examines effective teaching practices in settings including elementary and secondary schools, private dance organizations, and community-based settings. Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: DAN-355.

Course Description

This course is a supervised experience in choreographing a dance for public performance arranged through a cooperative effort of the student and supervisor. Prerequisite: DAN-390.

Course Description

In this course, teacher candidates examine the fundamentals of the legal, historical, and educational foundations of Structured English Immersion (SEI) and other instructional programs for English language learners. Theoretical principles of language acquisition and the role of culture in learning are examined. Methods of assessment are identified and analyzed. Teacher candidates identify strategies to promote English language development and improve student achievement. Through Universal Design for Learning they plan, deliver, and evaluate standards based instruction for English language learners. Practicum/field experience hours: 15. Fingerprint clearance required.

Course Description

This course is designed to prepare the student for a dance concert production in a theatrical setting. Through the rehearsal process and culminating performances, students gain dance proficiency by working in a range of styles and choreographic approaches. Students audition choreography and may be cast as dancers, understudies, stage managers, and production assistants.

Course Description

Practicum/field experience hours: 10. Fingerprint clearance required.

Course Description

This course is a study of methods for developing and conducting the dance program in middle schools and high schools. Methods, materials, topics, and issues in dance education are used to prepare dance education majors to enter the teaching profession. Practicum/field experience hours: 15. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: DAN-390.

Course Description

In this course, teacher candidates study methods and materials related to teaching middle- and secondary-grade students. Emphasis is placed on using data to evaluate and modify instruction. Teaching methodologies encourage problem solving, active participation, meeting diverse students’ needs, and professional collaboration. Practicum/field experience hours: 15. Fingerprint Clearance required. Prerequisite: SEC-355.

Course Description

Teacher candidates are engaged in the student teaching experience that includes practical classroom experiences, research, analysis, and teaching to support the creation of a Student Teaching Evaluation of Performance (STEP). Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisites: Successful completion of all courses in POS and content area; a 2.8 GPA; successful completion of NES or your state’s mandated content area exams; and approval and placement by the College of Education Office of Clinical Practice. All paperwork for student teaching must be submitted by the due date the semester prior to student teaching.

Locations

GCU Campus Student


Join Grand Canyon University’s vibrant and growing campus community, with daytime classes designed for traditional students. Immerse yourself in a full undergraduate experience, complete with curriculum designed within the context of our Christian worldview.

* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.

* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.

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