Performing Arts Education (PAE) Pathway for Maine K12 Teacher Certification

For those who want to teach Dance and/or Theatre in Maine k12 schools, the Department of Theatre, in partnership with the Department of Art, offers a Performing Arts Education (PAE) pathway, which results in a Maine k12 state teaching certificate for dance or theatre.

The Performing Arts Education (PAE) pathway will prepare USM students, already majoring or minoring in theatre or dance, to teach dance or theatre in Maine schools serving grades K-12. Students completing this pathway will be recommended for Maine DOE Certification.

Program Requirements

Students wishing to pursue the Performing Arts Education (PAE) pathway must first be enrolled in either the Dance minor and/or the Theatre major.

Required courses for all content areas (22 credits):

AED 221 - Introduction to Teaching Visual and Performing Arts Credits: 3 (offered Fall)
AED 222 - Art Lab Credits: 1-3 (offered Fall)
EDU 225 - Multicultural Child and Adolescent Development Credits: 3
SED 235 - Students with Exceptionalities in General Education Credits: 3
EDU 305 - Foundations of Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Credits: 3
AED 321 - Methods of Teaching Visual and Performing Arts Credits: 3 (offered Spring)
AED 324 - Student Teaching in Art Education Credits: 6-12 (offered Fall - 15 week course)
AED 421 - Seminar in Visual and Performing Arts Education Credits: 3 - 6 (offered Fall)

Choose one (3 credits):

EDU 230 / AED 230 - Teaching Through the Arts Credits: 3
OR
THE 271 - Creative Drama Credits: 3
OR
SBS 364 - Introduction to Creative Modalities Credits: 3

Content Focus Areas

Students must take a minimum of 24 credits in a content area (dance or theatre) per State of Maine teacher certification requirements.

Dance Focus Area

Dance minor requirements that can be used toward the 24 credits:

8 credits of Technique;
3 credits of Electives;
plus DAN 190 , DAN 208 , and DAN 410

Theatre Focus Area

Required Theatre Major Courses that can also be used toward the 24 credits for teacher certification:

THE 101 - Introduction to Theatre and Text Analysis Credits: 3
THE 104 - Practicum in Costuming Credits: 1
THE 105 - Practicum in Stage Lighting Credits: 1
THE 106 - Practicum in Stagecraft Credits: 1 (offered Fall)
THE 122 - Fundamentals of Performance Credits: 3
THE 136 - Fundamentals of Design Credits: 3
THE 140 - Entry Year Theatre Workshop Credits: 3 (Fall entry for major)
THE 141 - Theatre Workshop I Credits: 0.5 (7 semesters)
THE 142 - Theatre Workshop II Credits: 0.5 (7 semesters)
THE 201 - Cultural History of Theatre Credits: 3
THE 234 - Business of Performing Arts Credits: 3 (offered Fall)
THE 352 - Dramatic Literature and History of Modern Theatre Credits: 3
THE 495 - Theatre Capstone Credits: 3

Approved Theatre Electives:

THE 115 - Math & the Theatre Arts Credits: 3 (meets Quantitative Reasoning Core)
THE 139 - Theatrical Makeup Credits: 3
THE 170 - Public Speaking Credits: 3
DAN 208 - Choreography Credits: 3
THE 220 - Acting Techniques I Credits: 3
THE 224 - Acting for the Camera Credits: 3
THE 225 - Voice and Movement Credits: 3
THE 236 - Practicum in Design Credits: 1
THE 250 - Playwriting Credits: 3
DAN 266 - The Art of Dance Credits: 3
THE 284 - Acting the Song Credits: 3
DAN 305 - Dance and Health Credits: 4 (meets Science Exploration Core)
THE 321 - Acting Techniques II Credits: 3
THE 325 - Directing Credits: 3
THE 330 - Dramaturgy: Creative Research, Development, and Critique Credits: 3 (meets WRI III Core)
THE 331 - Scene Design Credits: 3
THE 334 - Costume Design Credits: 3
THE 335 - Lighting Design Credits: 3
THE 337 - Sound Design Credits: 3
ENG 360 - Shakespeare Credits: 3
ENG 361 - Shakespeare Credits: 3
THE 375 - Devised Theatre Credits: 3 (meets Ethical Inquiry Core)
THE 384 - Musical Theatre Scene Study Credits: 3
THE 420 - Acting: Styles Credits: 3
THE 434 - Advanced Design for the Theatre Credits: 3
3 credit Special Topics (THE 280/380) courses are often offered. Subjects include Writing Dialogue, Stage Combat, Improvisation, Audio Production, etc.