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P-12 Teacher Certification in Dance - Professional Track

Overview

The Department of Dance at the University of Georgia is a state approved educator preparation program for initial/induction certification. We offer undergraduate level courses in dance toward the Georgia Initial Certification in Dance (P-12). At this time the Department of Dance offers no separate active, (or cohort) professional certification course program. After an initial individual advisement, individuals who are able to complete the needed and offered courses will progress toward certification at an individual pace.

As an initial step in pursuing teacher certification, visit or contact the Professional Standards Commission (www.gapsc.com). Review the Traditional Routes to certification at the following link: http://www.gapsc.com/Certification/Home.aspx

If you are proceeding through to certification, please note the upcoming changes to Georgia certification. Georgia is moving to a many-tiered certification system.

After reviewing the sites above, it is recommended that you initiate the advisement request process in order to ascertain what courses you will need and whether pursuing this non-degree seeking certification path will be feasible. Please follow the procedures enumerated below. Professor Rebecca Gose, certification coordinator will review your materials and reply with an evaluation letter.

1. Fill out and send in the application below to the address indicated

2. Send along a copy of all transcripts (unofficial is fine)

3. Include contact information, including phone, address and email

4. Indicate whether you have a provisional certification or are working as a full-time teacher at this time.

Requirements Overview

For those persons who hold a baccalaureate degree or who are near completion of such a degree but who are not certified in a field or in dance, the following are procedures and requirements for admittance and completion of Teacher Certification in Dance/Professional Track through the University of Georgia Department of Dance. The requirements are in accordance with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and the state approved program of study for certification in Dance. If you are certified in another area, contact the standards commission 1-800-869-7775 about an add-on certification in dance.

Student Teaching Semester: A student teaching enrolled in DANC 5460 (12 credits) or DANC 4000 is expected to engage in 10-13 weeks, full-time within a P-12 classroom, under a mentor teacher in a public or private school in the region. The teacher candidate is mentored on a daily basis by his/her mentor teacher, and observed at least twice by the college supervisor from the UGA Dance department.

Requirements for Initial/Induction Teacher Certification in Dance

  • Completion of, or near completion of a bachelor's degree
  • The professional candidate must complete minimum of 12 semester hours at UGA (including required course work based on individual advisement).
  • A student teaching semester or equivalent
  • Completed academic courses in the areas listed below

The following courses are the minimum required in order to become certified in dance. Coordinator will evaluate course work outside UGA via transcripts and determine if acceptable.

Required Dance Courses

  Dance Composition & Improvisation (DANC 3400, DANC 2300)

  Dance History (DANC 4500) or Dance Appreciation (DANC 2010)

 Dance Technique in at least two disciplines (modern, ballet, jazz, African, tap); evidence of one full-year of technical study in one discipline; evidence of a minimum of intermediate level ability/understanding

 Principles of Dance Science & Somatics in Dance Training (DANC 3020)

☐  Rhythmic Analysis or Music for Dance (DANC 2600)

☐  Teaching Dance for Children/Creative Movement (DANC 3700)

☐  Issues in Dance Education and Pedagogy (DANC 4700)

☐  Teaching Practicum I (DANC 3200)



Required Educational Foundations Courses

☐  EDUC 2110 (3 hrs) Investigating Critical & Contemporary Issues in Education

☐  EFND/EDUC 2120 (3 hrs) Exploring Socio Cultural Perspectives on Diversity

☐  EDUC/EPSY 2130 (3 hrs) Exploring Teaching & Learning

☐  KINS 5620 & 5620L Adapted Physical Education (3 hrs),

OR> SPED 4020/6020 (Inclusion of Students with Special Needs Grades P-5)

OR> SPED 4030/6030 (Inclusion of Students with Special Needs Grades 6-12)

  DANC 5460 Student Teaching (12 hrs) OR> ☐  DANC 4000 Independent Study  (3-6 hrs)  (if currently employed full time as a dance specialist in a P12 school).



Admission Steps

Your request for advisement evaluation should include:

(a) A copy of your college transcripts (unofficial; remember, UGA admissions will require an official, sealed copy of all transcripts)

(b) The professional track application

(c) A current resume and detailed list of relevant jobs and experiences related to your professional goals and pursuit of teacher certification in dance.

Professor Rebecca Gose

263 Dance Building

University of Georgia

Athens, GA 30602

Once and If a successful plan has been determined, candidates must apply and be admitted to the University of Georgia. Admission is as a post-baccalaureate/'non-degree' seeking student. If you hold a Masters degree, you still process your UGA application as "post-baccalaureate." If you are a graduate of UGA, then apply as a "returning student." Please follow the admission procedures outline in the enclosed brochure or contact the University of Georgia Admissions Office at (706)-542-8776 for further information.

The Department of Dance does not facilitate University admission or registration procedures other than computerized POD (permission of department) and possible advisement clearance. An in-person advisement appointment session with a dance faculty member is required. If you would like to schedule an appointment , please email Rebecca Gose at renghaus@uga.edu.

Additional Educator Prep Resources:

https://resources.coe.uga.edu/students/ed-prep/#assessments-portfolio-mypsc





GACE: The GACE (Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators) Program Admission Assessment is a state mandate assessment for all certification candidates in all subjects. (See https://gace.ets.org). Candidates may be exempt based on SAT ACT or GRE scores- see below. There is no content assessment in dance.

  1. Combined minimum SAT score:
  • For SAT score reports dated prior to July 1, 2019:
    • 1,000 on Verbal/Critical Reading and Math, OR
    • 1,000 on Evidence-based Reading/Writing and Math
  • For SAT score reports dated on or after July 1, 2019:
    • 1,080 on Evidence-based Reading/Writing AND Math
  1. Combined minimum ACT score of 43 (English and Math scores)
  2. Combined GRE Verbal and Quantitative minimum score (prior to fall 2011 = 1030; fall 2011 and beyond = 297)



(Note: there is no content assessment in Dance at this time. However, to complete requirements a candidate will be required to take the GACE exam or show competencies)

Additional Policies:

Georgia law prohibits salaried professionals to enroll in Student Teaching (DANC 5460). Therefore, the professional teacher will enroll in 6-12 credit hours of DANCE 4000 while fulfilling the requirements for student teaching. Such professional teachers in the field at the time that they are completing requirements for certification in dance may apply their current teaching situation toward student teaching with supplementary assignments over the course of the semester. This includes (a) a program review, (b) curriculum development and/or the addition of new content or courses to the existing program, (c) a weekly log of all lesson plans (d) personal assessment and evaluation, and (e) up to three conferences with the assigned UGA advisor. Please note that it is the responsibility of the professional candidate to attend conferences in Athens when scheduled.

The University of Georgia Department of Dance recommends, when available, that the candidate considers enrolling in courses at the graduate level, if possible. In the event that the candidate may seek a graduate degree in the future, theses credits would be applicable, depending on the graduate degree and institution.

STEP BY STEP PROCESS AND TIMELINE

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