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Bachelor of Arts in Dance

• Requirements for a Major in Dance
• Suggested Order of Coursework

Requirements for a Major in Dance

A bachelor's degree in dance requires completion of (1) B.A. or B.S. degree requirements, (2) dance core, and (3) dance electives. The Bachelor of Arts requires between 47 and 59 credit hours depending on the number of courses required to demonstrate language proficiency, while the Bachelor of Science requires 56 credit hours.

B.A. and B.S. Degree Requirements

All students selecting a dance major must choose either the B.A. or the B.S. degree.

B.A. Degree Requirements

The B.A. degree requires a third-semester proficiency in a foreign language of the student's choice.

B.S. Degree Requirements

• STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics (3 credits)

AND two of the following:

• ACC 212 - Principles of Financial Accounting (3 credits)
• ACC 213 - Principles of Managerial Accounting (3 credits)
• CIS 150 - Introduction to Computing (3 credits)
• HST 290 - The Historian's Craft: What Historians Know and How They Know It (3 credits)
• PNH 300 - Research Methods (3 credits)
• STA 216 - Intermediate Applied Statistics (3 credits)
• STA 301 - Questionnaire Design and Execution (3 credits)
• STA 340 - Statistics in the Media (3 credits)
• STA 341 - Demographic Methods (3 credits)

Dance Core

Students must complete 45 core credit hours as follows:

• DAN 131 - Dance Conditioning (2 credits)
• DAN 175 - Introduction to Dance Company (1 credit), repeat for 2 credits total
• DAN 211 - Choreography and Improvisation (3 credits)
• DAN 245 - Dance History: Evolving Traditions (3 credits)
• DAN 275 - Dance Company (1 credit), repeat for 2 credits total
• DAN 311 - Choreography and Production (3 credits)
• DAN 333 - Dance Costuming (2 credits)
• DAN 345 - Dance History: Expanding Performance (3 credits)
• DAN 394 - Screendance (3 credits)
• DAN 420 - Dance Pedagogy (3 credits)
• DAN 495 - Senior Project (3 credits)
• Choose one course from the following (2 credits): DAN 221 - Elements of Hip-Hop 2 (2 credits) or DAN 261 - African Dance Forms (2 credits)

Dance technique courses in ballet, modern, and jazz are grouped into pools according to genre. Students must complete 6 credits from one pool of their choice, 4 credits from a second pool, and 4 credits from a third pool for a total of 14 credits. Ballet, modern, and jazz dance technique courses may be repeated for credit; all credits at all levels count toward the 6-4-4 pool requirements. Students will be advised into levels each year by a faculty advisor.

• Ballet Technique pool:
  • DAN 241 - Ballet Technique 2 (2 credits)
  • DAN 341 - Ballet Technique 3 (2 credits)
  • DAN 441 - Ballet Technique 4 (2 credits)
• Modern Technique pool
  • DAN 251 - Modern Technique 2 (2 credits)
  • DAN 351 - Modern Technique 3 (2 credits)
  • DAN 451 - Modern Technique 4 (2 credits)
• Jazz Technique pool:
  • DAN 281 - Jazz Technique 2 (2 credits)
  • DAN 381 - Jazz Technique 3 (2 credits)
  • DAN 481 - Jazz Technique 4 (2 credits)

Dance Electives

Students must complete two credit hours of electives:

• Two credits can be taken as any currently listed dance course except DAN 200. For technique courses, any course taken beyond the minimum dance core requirements can fulfill the elective.

Suggested General Education Courses

The following seven credit hours of general education courses are suggested:

• BMS 202 - Anatomy and Physiology (4 credits)
• MUS 100 - Introduction to Music Literature (3 credits)

Mid-program Review

• At the end of the sophomore year, students enrolled in the dance major program will sign-up for a Mid-program Review to determine if they can proceed to upper-division courses. The Mid-program Review is reviewed and adjudicated by the dance faculty.
• The following courses must be successfully completed by the end of the semester the student completes the Mid-program Review: two semesters in ballet (DAN 241, DAN 341, or DAN 441); two semesters in modern dance (DAN 251, DAN 351, or DAN 451); DAN 175, DAN 275, DAN 211, and DAN 245.

Suggested Order of Coursework

Following are the guidelines for completing the dance major. Students should verify specific major requirements with their advisor. This option assumes students will complete the required skills, general education, and required courses working toward a B.S. or B.A. degree.

Year One
Fall

• DAN 175 - Introduction to Dance Company (1 credit)
• DAN 241 - Ballet Technique 2 (2 credits)
• DAN 251 - Modern Technique 2 (2 credits)

Winter

• DAN 131 - Dance Conditioning (2 credits)
• DAN 175 - Introduction to Dance Company (1 credit)
• DAN 281 - Jazz Technique 2 (2 credits)

Year Two
Fall

• DAN 221 - Elements of Hip-Hop 2 (2 credits)
• DAN 245 - Dance History: Evolving Traditions (3 credits)
• DAN 275 - Dance Company (1 credit)

Winter

• DAN 211 - Choreography and Improvisation (3 credits)
• DAN 333 - Dance Costuming (2 credits)
• DAN 261 - African Dance Forms (2 credits)

Year Three
Fall

• DAN 275 - Dance Company (1 credit)
• DAN 311 - Choreography and Production (3 credits)
• Additional dance technique course (2 credits)

Winter

• DAN 345 - Dance History: Expanding Performance (3 credits)
• DAN 394 - Screendance (3 credits)
• Additional dance technique course (2 credits)

Year Four
Fall

• DAN 495 - Senior Project (3 credits)
• Additional dance technique course (2 credits)

Winter

• DAN 420 - Dance Pedagogy (3 credits)
• Dance elective (2 credits)

Click here for the program description.