Dance Medicine & Science Certificate

Students interested in exploring the field of dance medicine and science have the option to pursue the Dance Medicine and Science Certificate. Open to degree-seeking (any major) and non-degree-seeking students, this certificate program will give you a basic understanding of issues pertaining to the wellness of dancers. Areas of study include typical injury and misalignment patterns, injury prevention and treatment, injury risk factors, effective conditioning, muscular analysis of dance movement, and current topics in dance medicine/science research. Enhance your specialized study through support courses that address the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system, the mechanical principles related to motor performance, the physiological effects of exercise, nutrition, and principles of motor development and skill acquisition.

As part of the experiential aspect of the DM&S Certificate Program, the DM&S labs consist of educational hands-on experiences where students explore particular topics relevant to supporting dancer training and wellness and engage in direct exposure to practitioners and to practices in the field. Examples include:

• Somatic Techniques (e.g., Alexander Technique)
• Nutrition for dancers
• Mental Health for dancers
• “Ask a PT” sessions with a dance medicine PT specialist
• Dance Movement Therapy
• Clinical assessment methods of the dancer
• Approaches to injury prevention, management and rehabilitation
• Tools for dance conditioning
• Types/methods of stretching and strengthening

The lab opportunities may also incorporate engagement in Performing Arts Medicine Conferences/Dance Medicine and Science Conferences and site visits to clinics, studios or research facilities.

The certificate program culminates in a Capstone experience through the Research in Dance II course. Students will review a variety of research in the dance medicine/science field, then complete their own research project exploring a relevant topic in the field.

All majors are welcome. Dance majors, health science majors, exercise science majors, physical education majors interested in dance medicine/science are encouraged to apply.

Who is the Certificate For?

Students pursue the certificate for a variety of reasons: many are dance students who have goals of working in the health professions and use the certificate as a means of exploring their intersectional interests and supporting their educational pathway – with plans to enter PT School, Medical school, Athletic Training programs, Nursing, etc., some are dance teachers who wish to enhance their teaching practice by expanding their knowledge of dancer health, while others are dance students simply interested in advancing their own knowledge to benefit their own self-care and sustainability in the dance field. There are others who are health professionals or who are health science students with interests in the specialized field of dance medicine and science.

Benefits of doing the Dance Medicine and Science Certificate program:

• Support your professional development aims as a dance artist, choreographer, teacher, researcher, etc. entering or currently working in the field, by expanding your knowledge of dance medicine and science research and practice.
• Strengthen your understanding of health and wellness issues pertaining to dancers as well as the area of “dance for health”.
• Develop skills and cultivate knowledge that contributes to graduate school expectations or further education/preparation in the health professions.
• Create connections with dance and health professionals who specialize in the field of dance medicine and science.
• Explore the intersections between two disciplinary interests: dance and medicine/science while building relationships with other students who have similar dual interests.
• Be mentored in the development of an individualized capstone project/research project with opportunities to present your final project in larger forums/conferences.

Timeline will depend upon specific student situation. Degree seeking students may want to spread out the courses and fit them as possible around their major courses.

Non-degree seeking students may want to take the courses in a more compact manner. It is possible to accomplish the certificate in a year and a half, though two years is more ideal.

Recommended course sequencing:

Students should try to take Anatomy and Physiology 1 with Lab and Dance Kinesiology first.
Elective #1 and Elective #2 second,
And then Research in Dance I (fall) and Research in Dance II (spring) third,
With the final capstone project completed either over the following semester or year after the Research in Dance II course is completed.

View the Dance Medicine and Science Certificate curriculum and requirements in the USF Undergraduate Catalog.

Dance faculty member Dr. Morris is the Certificate Program Coordinator. Please meet with her as well to discuss your specific interests: mmorris3@usf.edu

If you would like to pursue the Dance Medicine and Science Certificate, please contact Theatre and Dance Advising.