<p>My daughter is interested in earning a degree that would allow her to teach drama/musical theatre and/or choir to maybe elementary or middle schoolers. I have no idea what sort of program or what college to point her to. We visited our "free" school today and DD had an eiphiany that majoring in music Ed with no musical theatre was just not something she could live with. We are back at square one. Sigh.</p>
<p>Check out Muhlenberg’s double major in MT and arts education…</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>The University of Texas offers a BFA in Theatre Studies designed for students who want to teach theatre:
[B.F.A</a>. in Theatre Studies : Department of Theatre and Dance : University of Texas at Austin](<a href=“http://www.finearts.utexas.edu/tad/degree_programs/undergraduate/bfa_theatre_studies/index.cfm]B.F.A”>http://www.finearts.utexas.edu/tad/degree_programs/undergraduate/bfa_theatre_studies/index.cfm)
and a BM in Music Studies - Choral Emphasis for those who want to teach choir:
[Butler</a> School of Music - Ensembles](<a href=“http://www.music.utexas.edu/areas/details.aspx?id=5]Butler”>http://www.music.utexas.edu/areas/details.aspx?id=5)</p>
<p>Thank you again!</p>
<p>At James Madison University she could either pursue the BM in Music Education and minor in Theatre focusing her electives on performance and musical theatre classes, auditioning for plays and musicals, etc… Most of the students who do this end up student teaching in their 9th semester, and graduating in December. </p>
<p>OR she could pursue the BA in Theatre with a Track in Theatre Education (possibly minor in Music), take certain musical theatre and dance classes, and audition for plays and musicals. This could likely be done in 9 semesters graduating in December… possibly in 8.</p>
<p>OR she could try to pursue the BA in Musical Theatre AND apply for the Track in Theatre Education… This would likey take 9 - 10 semesters including the student teaching.</p>
<p>All of the performing arts programs at JMU are auditioned. So, if she believes JMU to be a good fit, she may want to consider auditioning for Music, Theatre, and Musical Theatre.</p>
<p>Christopher Newport University has a non-auditioned program (as of this year’s audition cycle) with a BA in Theatre and a track in Musical Theatre… they have a Theatre Ed degree that is a 5 year program. I do not know about their BM Music Ed. program.</p>
<p>Tisch has a minor in Applied Theatre and a Department of Art and Public Policy. For the minor, an internship is part of the requirement, and I’d imagine that something in a school would be an option. Your D would not come out with a teaching certificate, but with a great understanding of how art intersects with and supports community life. It might also give her an awareness of different paths one can take as an arts educator or activist. At the end of her undergraduate years, she still might want to pursue a teaching career, but she might also choose to follow a different path.</p>
<p>I wonder if Steinhardt also has a program? I didn’t look there, but here’s the link to Tisch’s progam, and click on the links on the right-hand side to find out more:</p>
<p>[Minor</a> in Applied Theatre: Tisch School of the Arts at NYU](<a href=“http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dr_minor.html]Minor”>http://drama.tisch.nyu.edu/object/dr_minor.html)</p>
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<p>[Educational</a> Theatre - NYU Steinhardt](<a href=“http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/edtheatre]Educational”>http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/edtheatre)</p>
<p>Steinhardt has the oldest theatre ed. program in the country. :)</p>
<p>Texas State offers a BFA path that includes all-level teacher certification and they also offer a teacher certification option for any of their pre-professional BFA programs (requires 18 extra hours):</p>
<p>[Undergraduate</a> Programs : Department of Theatre and Dance : Texas State University](<a href=“http://www.theatreanddance.txstate.edu/TH-DA-Degrees/undergrad.html]Undergraduate”>http://www.theatreanddance.txstate.edu/TH-DA-Degrees/undergrad.html)</p>
<p>As they note, the pre-professional, performance BFA programs are extremely competitive for admission.</p>
<p>The University of Houston offers a BFA in Theatre Education:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.uh.edu/class/theatre-and-dance/academics/theatre/undergraduate/education/index.php[/url]”>http://www.uh.edu/class/theatre-and-dance/academics/theatre/undergraduate/education/index.php</a></p>
<p>This is a well-regarded theatre department with great facilities (Edward Albee is a faculty member). They don’t have an MT program, but they do a mainstage musical every year with directors who have Broadway credentials. Even though they have an MFA program, Freshman routinely get cast in mainstage productions.</p>
<p>Thanks for all this great info! We are looking up every single one except NYU simply because (from what I understand) award very little to no aid.</p>
<p>At James Madison the information on the Theatre & Dance website does not yet mention the Theatre Education track, because it is new in the fall. [James</a> Madison University School of Theatre and Dance, Harrisonburg, Virginia](<a href=“The School of Theatre and Dance - JMU”>The School of Theatre and Dance - JMU)
[JMU</a> School of Music :: Undergraduate Degree Programs](<a href=“http://www.jmu.edu/music/degree_programs/undergraduate.html#music_ed]JMU”>http://www.jmu.edu/music/degree_programs/undergraduate.html#music_ed)</p>
<p>It looks like CNU may have removed the Theatre Ed. Endorsement? at the M.A.T level – [Christopher</a> Newport University](<a href=“http://www.cnu.edu/mat/admission/reqmts.asp]Christopher”>http://www.cnu.edu/mat/admission/reqmts.asp) – not sure… but regardless it is worth exploring as an option… you may be able to combine Music Ed. with Theatre/ Musical Theatre. [Christopher</a> Newport University](<a href=“http://www.cnu.edu/theatercnu/majors/index.asp]Christopher”>http://www.cnu.edu/theatercnu/majors/index.asp)<br>
[Christopher</a> Newport University](<a href=“http://www.cnu.edu/music/education/index.asp]Christopher”>http://www.cnu.edu/music/education/index.asp)</p>
<p>NYU offers aid; it just combines its aid as need/merit. I would not eliminate it from a list unless you disliked the actual program. I’d apply and see what they could offer.</p>
<p>Also, as a teacher, I feel I have to tell you that the market is HORRIBLE. All across the country, from both the left and the right, they are not only attacking teachers nonstop and moving toward far lower pay with few benefits, but they are also slashing arts programs. ESPECIALLY in elementary/middle school. Many programs are just eliminated. So your D would be competing with teachers who have been laid off who have glowing recommendations and perhaps 5-10 years experience. Nearly all teachers I know who have just graduated are out of work – and these are science majors, man with Masters degrees (because they went back to school when they saw the market stunk). Most get a job only and purely through connections (their dad is friends with the super at the school, for instance), and even these jobs are temporary. </p>
<p>Colleges don’t tell you this. I would most definitely not go into only theatre education; I would not view education as a ‘practical’ major either. It is not a practical major any longer, particularly elementary. I don’t want to be a downer, but I feel like the colleges are perfectly happy to take your check and neglect to tell you the reality of the situation. Is it impossible to get a job? No. Is it highly unlikely? Yes. And if you get a job, you will most likely either be fired or be hired in a low paying private school ($25,000/year or part time with no benefits). This is the reality. If she still wants to major in theatre ed, of course, that is her choice–but be aware of the market.</p>