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OPDI Home Program Overview Apply to OPDI

OPDI Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Who can take courses in OPDI?

All individuals who have been admitted to the OPDI and are current NDEO individual members are eligible to take courses to earn NDEO CEUs and complete the NDEO Certificate in Dance. Since OPDI is a professional development program, OPDI applicants should already have a dance training background (in any genre) and dance teaching experience. It is recommended that applicants be at least 21 years of age and have at least 3 years of teaching experience. To view admissions criteria and submit an admissions application, please visit OPDI Admissions.

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2. Are there any required courses in OPDI?

No. Students can take one course or many courses depending on their personal goals for professional development. However, we recommend that students new to OPDI and online learning start their OPDI coursework with Mini Courses (4 to 6 weeks). We also highly recommend taking OPDI-101: PTSDA. This course familiarizes the student with industry standards in teaching dance and the criteria expected of master dance educators. It is considered a foundation course applicable to new and veteran teachers.

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3. Must courses be taken in a specific order or on a specific schedule?

Students may take courses in any order they wish assuming they are being offered in a specific trimester. Flexibility is the key – a student can choose when they want to take courses. They can take one per trimester, take up to four courses in a trimester, or even skip a trimester between courses. To view upcoming OPDI courses, click here. A student’s OPDI application will remain valid for 3 years. If a student does not take a class within the first 3 years, she or he will be dropped from the system and will need to reapply to take future courses. For students pursuing the Certificate in Dance Education, it is expected that all coursework will be completed within 5 years.

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4. What courses does OPDI offer?

To view the OPDI Course Catalog, click here.

Please note: the OPDI does not offer technique or in-studio dance courses; the majority of coursework is completed online.

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5. What credit do I get for taking OPDI courses?

When a student completes a course, he or she will automatically receive NDEO-endorsed Continuing Education Unit (CEU): 1 for 4 week course, 1.5 for 6 week course, 2 for 8 week course, and 3 for 12 week course. Select 12-week OPDI courses are also available for undergraduate or graduate credits through the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) for an additional fee. For more on pricing for these options, click here. To see which courses can be taken with UNCG credits, click here and browse through course descriptions.

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6. How do I know if my school accept an NDEO-endorsed CEU?

It is up to the student to determine whether an NDEO endorsed CEU is sufficient or if they need additional credit.

CEUs from an accredited higher education institution usually contribute toward: (a) retention of one's K-12 certification; (b) an endorsement in dance (beyond K-12 certification); (c) pay raises; and (d) attaining Highly Qualified Teaching status (or HQT). The Local Education Agency in most cases determines what CEUs they accept and from whom.

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7. Can OPDI courses be taken for undergraduate or graduate credit?

Select 12-week courses are offered for undergraduate and graduate credits through the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) for an additional fee. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, you must register and pay for the additional credits before the start of the course. To see fees for UNCG credits, click here. To see which courses can be taken with UNCG credits, click here and browse through course descriptions.

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8. How do I decide if I want to pursue a Certificate in Dance Education (CiDE)?

Please see Certificate in Dance Education for more information about the program.

The NDEO CiDE is professional development in the field of dance education methodology and pedagogy that complements traditional education from a postsecondary institution, private studio dance training, and previous teaching experience. The CiDE does not replace a bachelors or masters degree. The CiDE does not include dance technique classes. If that kind of professional development is required or desired, then it must be found through other sources.

The attainment of individual CEUs and completing the entire NDEO CiDE program will make the individual a better teacher and it will provide him or her with knowledge beyond that normally available to current dance educators. However, it is up to the individual student to find out what his or her career or job requirements are, in the private or public sector, to see if the CiDE meets those needs.

For additional questions specifically pertaining to the CiDE program, please contact OPDI Director Jane Bonbright at jbonbright@ndeo.org.

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9. Does the Certificate in Dance Education (CiDE) help with state certification to teach dance?

The NDEO CiDE does not constitute nor replace state dance certification.

To teach in U.S. public K-12 education, the dance teacher must have an undergraduate degree, preferably a major or minor in dance, take all required credits in education theory and practicum mandated by the local education agency (LEA), and pass a teacher’s exam to obtain a K-12 state dance certification license or credential. Assuming the OPDI dance educator is already certified by the state to teach in K-12 schools, the dance educator must check with his/her LEA to find out what evidence that LEA requires for continuing education units, endorsements, pay raises, HQT status, etc. Many LEAs accept NDEO endorsed CEUs.

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10. Am I allowed to audit OPDI courses?

Yes, students are allowed to audit OPDI classes and participate normally in the course. Students must still pay the regular course registration fees, however, they will not be required to do coursework, and professors will not grade or comment on any coursework completed. Auditing students will not receive a CEU at the end of the course and cannot sign up for UNCG college credit. To audit a course, you may either register as an audit prior to the start of the course or email your intention to opdi@ndeo.org and the course professor if you need to switch to an audit after the course has begun.

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11. Why do I have to be a member of NDEO in order to take OPDI courses?

Most OPDI courses will require access to NDEO's Journal of Dance Education, the Dance Education Literature & Research descriptive index, NDEO Online Forums and the NDEO National Conference at some point during the course. These items are only fully accessible to current NDEO members. For more on the Membership Policy, click here.

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12. What platform is NDEO using to deliver OPDI courses?

Sakai is an open source online learning platform originally developed through a collaborative process between University of Michigan, Indiana University, MIT, Stanford, the uPortal Consortium, and the Open Knowledge Initiative (OKI). The online learning tool has features such as a grade book, testing modules, discussion boards, and much more. Our instance of Sakai is administered through LAMP and hosted through the longsight group. If you encounter any problems using Sakai, please email opdi@ndeo.org.

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13. How long will I have access to OPDI course material for courses I have taken?

Students will have access to OPDI course materials for which they are enrolled students (registered and paid) for a period of two weeks immediately following the end date of the course. If students need additional time to finish outstanding course material, students may be granted access to course materials for a longer period as per OPDI policy and determined in consultation with the professor. Any student needing additional time to complete a course should contact the professor, not the NDEO home office, for the extension. Students should make sure to save offline any personal work they wish to access after the completion of the course.

Have a question that wasn't answered?

Send it to opdi@ndeo.org or call the office at 301-585-2880.