Best institutions to study Drama and Dance Teacher Education

CIP 13.1324

A program that prepares individuals to teach drama and/or dance programs at various educational levels.

49 U.S. institutions graduated 242 Drama and Dance Teacher Education students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 13.1324, a specialization of Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.13), and leads most directly to the Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education occupation (BLS SOC 25-2022).

Institutions
49
offering CIP 13.1324
States & territories
25
with graduates reported
Graduates / yr
242
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Women
86%
share of graduates
US median pay · Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
$64,370
BLS OEWS May 2025
Share of Teacher Education and Professional Development
0.6%
of all Teacher Education and Professional Development graduates

About Drama and Dance Teacher Education programs

Official NCES definition · CIP 13.1324
A program that prepares individuals to teach drama and/or dance programs at various educational levels.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).

The Drama and Dance Teacher Education program prepares individuals to teach drama and dance at various educational levels. This program falls under the broader category of Teacher Education and Professional Development and is designed for those passionate about the arts and education.

What you'll learn

Students in this program develop essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically includes education and training, psychology, and philosophy, equipping future educators with the knowledge needed to inspire and instruct students.

Credentials awarded

What Drama and Dance Teacher Education graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).

  • Bachelor's degree124 graduates / yr · 34 institutions
    51%
  • Master's degree93 graduates / yr · 11 institutions
    38%
  • Postbaccalaureate certificate18 graduates / yr · 5 institutions
    7.4%
  • Doctor's degree - research/scholarship5 graduates / yr · 1 institution
    2.1%
  • Post-master's certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution
    0.4%
  • Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year1 graduates / yr · 1 institution
    0.4%

Graduates over time

Drama and Dance Teacher Education completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.

242graduates in 2025
+3% since 2012
292 · 202120122025236242
Graduates per year (IPEDS completions)
YearGraduates
2012236
2013228
2014209
2015200
2016200
2017198
2018191
2019218
2020261
2021292
2022242
2023223
2024280
2025242

Top 49 institutions for Drama and Dance Teacher Education, ranked by graduates

Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.

#InstitutionGraduates / yrGrad rateNet priceField earnings* (1 yr)
1Emerson College
Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor's
4777%$40,982—
2Columbus State University
Columbus, GAPublicBachelor'sMaster's
1442%—$40,616
3University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, COPublicMaster's
1351%—$40,113
4Ball State University
Muncie, INPublicBachelor's
1162%—$46,347
5University of Central Oklahoma
Edmond, OKPublicBachelor's
1137%—$47,741
6Adelphi University
Garden City, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's
1067%$27,326$35,814
7University of Oregon
Eugene, ORPublicPost-degree cert.
1072%——
8University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NCPublicMaster's
956%—$43,033
9Brigham Young University - Idaho
Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
855%$6,760$42,094
10Rutgers University - New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJPublicMaster's
884%——
11Utah Valley University
Orem, UTPublicBachelor's
845%—$49,297
12CUNY Hunter College
New York, NYPublicMaster's
757%—$49,245
13Brigham Young University
Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
781%$13,712$47,153
14Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CTPublicBachelor's
648%—$45,790
15Teachers College at Columbia University
New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral
5———
16Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City, OKPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
565%$22,589$34,321
17Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's
479%$36,488—
18Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UTPublicBachelor's
461%—$45,042
19Harding University
Searcy, ARPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
369%$19,423$40,489
20Butler University
Indianapolis, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
380%$35,696—
21Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MAPublicPost-degree cert.Bachelor's
353%—$38,216
22Evangel University
Springfield, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
365%$17,881$34,872
23CUNY City College
New York, NYPublicPost-degree cert.
357%——
24Niagara University
Niagara University, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's
375%$17,048—
25University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras
San Juan, PRPublicBachelor's
350%——
26Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
243%$21,535$42,566
27Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
248%$25,407—
28Wagner College
Staten Island, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
265%$27,316—
29East Carolina University
Greenville, NCPublicBachelor's
263%—$43,607
30Ohio University - Main Campus
Athens, OHPublicMaster's
265%——
31Coker University
Hartsville, SCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
240%$17,749—
32Lipscomb University
Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
272%$24,309—
33Hardin - Simmons University
Abilene, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
246%$19,285$48,334
34Weber State University
Ogden, UTPublicBachelor's
246%—$50,600
35George Mason University
Fairfax, VAPublicPost-degree cert.
268%—$45,108
36Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZPublicPost-degree cert.
168%——
37Piedmont University
Demorest, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
147%$20,049—
38Boise State University
Boise, IDPublicBachelor's
160%—$41,141
39Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
170%$20,794$46,789
40Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year
158%——
41Keene State College
Keene, NHPublicBachelor's
160%—$42,492
42Rowan University
Glassboro, NJPublicBachelor's
167%—$49,969
43Hofstra University
Hempstead, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
169%$34,539$38,556
44SUNY Brockport
Brockport, NYPublicMaster's
155%—$37,167
45Meredith College
Raleigh, NCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
170%$19,552—
46Xavier University
Cincinnati, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
169%$31,119—
47North Greenville University
Tigerville, SCPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
155%$20,327$43,644
48Belmont University
Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
171%$29,246—
49Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's
151%$25,162—

* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Teacher Education and Professional Development field (CIP 13.13) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.

Offered in 25 states & territories

Where Drama and Dance Teacher Education graduates come from. Each state links to all Teacher Education and Professional Development programs offered there.

Careers & outlook

The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-2022, Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, and its national outlook.

Graduates of the Drama and Dance Teacher Education program often pursue careers as middle school teachers, with additional opportunities in secondary education and postsecondary teaching roles. The job outlook indicates a decline of 2% in this field, with approximately 40,500 annual openings and a median wage of $62,970 for educators.

Projected growth (2024–2034)
-2.0%
Decline
Openings / yr (US)
~40,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$62,970
typically Bachelor's degree
National employment
620,090
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
US average pay
$72,030
annual, BLS OEWS May 2025
US median pay
$64,370
annual

Top-paying metros

El Centro, CA
$117,020avg
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$109,140avg
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA
$106,790avg
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
$103,680avg
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA
$102,020avg

Career pathways for CIP 13.1324

The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.

OccupationUS median payGrowthOpenings / yrTypical entry education
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Educationprimary
SOC 25-2022
$64,370-2.0%
Decline
~40,500Bachelor's degree
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
SOC 25-2031
$72,040-1.6%
Decline
~66,200Bachelor's degree
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1121
$78,620+1.7%
Little or no change
~9,000Master's degree
Education Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC 25-1081
$75,350+2.1%
About as fast as average
~5,600Doctoral or professional degree
Preparation needed

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Related careers

Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
$72,030 avg · 620,090 jobs
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
$94,700 avg · 93,560 jobs
Education Teachers, Postsecondary
$79,350 avg · 60,830 jobs

Skills & knowledge in Drama and Dance Teacher Education programs

From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.

Skills you'll build

Learning Strategies
Speaking
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Active Learning
Monitoring
Critical Thinking

Knowledge areas

Education and Training
English Language
Philosophy and Theology
Mathematics
Psychology
Computers and Electronics

Abilities that matter most

Oral Expression
Problem Sensitivity
Written Expression
Written Comprehension
Oral Comprehension
Information Ordering

Day-to-day work activities

Training and Teaching Others
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Thinking Creatively
Developing Objectives and Strategies
Coaching and Developing Others
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work

What graduates do on the job

  • Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
  • Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
  • Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
  • Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
  • Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
  • Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate these objectives to students.

Tools and technology used

Apple Final Cut ProApple macOSAppletreeBlackboard softwareChildren's educational softwareClassTagCommon CurriculumDesmos

Other Teacher Education and Professional Development specializations

The 37 other 6-digit CIP codes under Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.13).

See all Teacher Education and Professional Development programs →

Common questions

What degree do I need to teach drama and dance?+

Typically, a Bachelor's degree is required.

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.

What is the job outlook for drama and dance teachers?+

The job outlook shows a decline of 2%, with about 40,500 annual openings.

What types of courses will I take?+

Courses will cover education, psychology, and arts instruction.

What is the CIP code for Drama and Dance Teacher Education?+

Drama and Dance Teacher Education is CIP 13.1324 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Teacher Education and Professional Development (CIP 13.13). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to teach drama and/or dance programs at various educational levels.

How many institutions offer Drama and Dance Teacher Education programs?+

49 U.S. institutions reported Drama and Dance Teacher Education graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 25 states & territories, awarding 242 credentials in the year. That is 0.6% of all Teacher Education and Professional Development graduates.

How much do Drama and Dance Teacher Education graduates earn?+

Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education occupation, which Drama and Dance Teacher Education most directly leads to, pays a median of $64,370 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Teacher Education and Professional Development field report median earnings of $43,607 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).

Teacher Education and Professional Development by stateMassachusettsNew YorkUtahOklahomaGeorgiaIndianaColoradoNorth CarolinaOregonIdaho

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.

Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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