The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance program combines conservatory-based training in many genres of dance with a liberal arts curriculum to prepare students for careers as professional dancers. Students are offered ample opportunities to choreograph and perform in conjunction with their coursework. The program is based within the Department of Theatre & Dance. For further information, go to BFA Dance. (Note: All Theatre & Dance majors must pass yearly juries/portfolio reviews and faculty evaluation for continuation in the programs.)
Dance BFA students must:
- attain the Advanced level in one dance technique and Intermediate in the other for at least one semester prior to graduation; and
- complete the major course requirements listed below:
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Program Requirements Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 22 | |
| World Languages and Cultures Requirements | 3-6 | |
| Major Requirements | 86 | |
| Free Electives | 9-6 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Performance and Choreography | ||
| Dance Technique: Modern | ||
| Select 24 credits from the following: | 24 | |
| Dance Technique: Modern I | ||
| Dance Technique: Modern II | ||
| Dance Technique: Modern III | ||
| Dance Technique: Modern IV | ||
| Dance Technique: Modern V | ||
| Dance Technique: Ballet | ||
| Select 24 credits from the following: | 24 | |
| Dance Technique: Ballet I | ||
| Dance Technique: Ballet II | ||
| Dance Technique: Ballet III | ||
| Dance Technique: Ballet IV | ||
| Dance Technique: Ballet V | ||
| Dance Technique: Ballet VI | ||
| Dance Repertory | ||
| Select 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Dance Repertory For Freshmen I | ||
| Dance Repertory For Freshmen II | ||
| Dance Repertory for Sophomores I | ||
| Dance Repertory for Sophomores II | ||
| Dance Repertory for Juniors I | ||
| Dance Repertory for Juniors II | ||
| Dance Repertory for Seniors I | ||
| Dance Repertory for Seniors II | ||
| Improvisation and Choreography | ||
| DNCE 160 | Dance Improvisation | 2 |
| DNCE 161 | Choreography I | 2 |
| DNCE 261 | Choreography II | 2 |
| DNCE 361 | Choreography III | 2 |
| Capstone Course | ||
| DNCE 480 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Theoretical Studies | ||
| DNCE 120 | Music for Dancers | 3 |
| DNCE 130 | Dance Science | 3 |
| DNCE 131 | Health and Wellness Workshop (Complete a minimum of 8 times. There is no credit associated with this course.) | 0 |
| DNCE 135 | Somatics and Self-care | 3 |
| DNCE 145 | Worlds of Dance | 3 |
| DNCE 150 | Production Elements-Dance | 2 |
| DNCE 317 | Explorations in American Dance History | 3 |
| DNCE 362 | Digital Technologies and Dance | 3 |
| DNCE 402 | Dance Methods | 3 |
| Total Credits | 86 | |
General Education Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill General Education categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A. New Student Seminar | ||
| Complete a 1 credit New Student Seminar course. | 1 | |
| C. Communication | ||
| 1. Writing | 3 | |
| 2. Literature | 3 | |
| 3. Communication | 3 | |
| F. Humanities | ||
| 1. Great Works and Their Influences | 3 | |
| 2. Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | |
| G. Computer Science | ||
| Complete a 3 credit Computer Science course. | 3 | |
| K. Social Science | ||
| 1. American and European History | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 22 | |
World Languages and Cultures Requirements
Click here for a list of courses that fulfill World Languages and Cultures categories.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| World Languages | ||
| Based on language placement exam, complete one or two sequential courses in the same language. Requirement is automatically fulfilled by language major courses. | 3-6 | |
| World Cultures | ||
| Requirement may be fulfilled by course selected in General Education - Social Science: Global Cultural Perspectives. Requirement may also be fulfilled by major coursework. See list of courses. | 0-3 | |
| Total Credits | 3-9 | |
Recommended Roadmap to Degree Completion
This recommended four-year plan is provided as an outline for students to follow in order to complete their degree requirements within four years. This plan is a recommendation and students should only use it in consultation with their academic advisor.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GNED 199 | 1 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (C2) Literature | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (C1) Writing | 3 | Dance Technique: BALLET | 3 |
| Dance Technique: BALLET | 3 | Dance Technique: MODERN | 3 |
| Dance Technique: MODERN | 3 | DNCE 120 | 3 |
| DNCE 131 | 0 | DNCE 131 | 0 |
| DNCE 135 | 3 | DNCE 160 | 2 |
| DNCE 150 | 2 | DNCE 185 | 0.5 |
| DNCE 184 | 0.5 | ||
| 15.5 | 14.5 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Dance Technique: BALLET | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (C3) Communication | 3 |
| Dance Technique: MODERN | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (G) Computer Science | 3 |
| DNCE 130 | 3 | Dance Technique: BALLET | 3 |
| DNCE 131 | 0 | Dance Technique: MODERN | 3 |
| DNCE 145 | 3 | DNCE 131 | 0 |
| DNCE 161 | 2 | DNCE 261 | 2 |
| DNCE 284 | 0.5 | DNCE 285 | 0.5 |
| 14.5 | 14.5 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Dance Technique: BALLET | 3 | Dance Technique: BALLET | 3 |
| Dance Technique: MODERN | 3 | Dance Technique: MODERN | 3 |
| DNCE 131 | 0 | DNCE 131 | 0 |
| DNCE 361 | 2 | DNCE 317 | 3 |
| DNCE 384 | 0.5 | DNCE 362 | 3 |
| World Language | 3 | DNCE 385 | 0.5 |
| Free Elective | 3 | World Language | 3 |
| 14.5 | 15.5 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (F2) Humanities – Philosophical and Religious Perspectives | 3 | GENERAL EDUCATION: (F1) Humanities – Great Works and Their Influences | 3 |
| GENERAL EDUCATION: (K3) Social Science – American and European History | 3 | Dance Technique: BALLET | 3 |
| Dance Technique: BALLET | 3 | Dance Technique: MODERN | 3 |
| Dance Technique: MODERN | 3 | DNCE 131 | 0 |
| DNCE 131 | 0 | DNCE 402 | 3 |
| DNCE 480 | 3 | DNCE 485 | 0.5 |
| DNCE 484 | 0.5 | Free Elective | 3 |
| 15.5 | 15.5 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||