Dance (B.S.)

This degree program is for students with prior dance experience who wish to combine university-level dance studies with a broad program of general study in the arts and sciences. The Bachelor of Science in Dance offers an integrative program in the study of dance, culture and community and provides students multiple opportunities to enhance technical skill, to investigate shifting social and global concerns, and to cultivate innovative approaches for dance career preparation in diverse contexts and related professions.

Admission Requirements

Admission to this program is contingent upon satisfaction of the general requirements for undergraduate admission to the University and a successful audition conducted by the Department faculty. Audition dates are scheduled each November, December and February in the year prior to admission; prospective students should contact the Theatre and Dance Office for audition schedule information. Entering students are required to consult the Departmental advising staff prior to their first registration for classes.

All B.S. dance majors must be enrolled in required curriculum each semester and evidence successful progress in the B.S. degree program in order to maintain dance major status. Any dance major who does not comply and/or does not register and complete appropriate dance coursework for one semester MUST AUDITION FOR THE DANCE PROGRAM for re-admission. Students out of the dance program for two semesters or more are rarely re-admitted to the program.

Candidates must complete a minimum of 120 credits in course work, including satisfaction of the University General Education requirements, College degree requirements, minimum fifty-nine credits in dance courses (specified below) and minimum twenty-nine credits in electives. B.S students must comply with the following department policies – any student who does not meet these standards will be placed on Departmental probation and may be denied continuation in the program: the credits in specified Dance courses must be completed with grades of C minus or better and 2.5 cumulative g.p.a must be maintained. Students must be current in their plan of work and all Basic Competency courses must be completed prior to enrolling in the Capstone course.

All course work must be completed in accordance with the academic procedures of the University and the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts governing undergraduate scholarship  and  degrees, as well as with the requirements of the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance.  

General Education Course Progress: majors must complete the Basic Composition (BC) requirement by the time forty-five credits have been earned, the Oral Communication (OC) and Intermediate Composition (IC) requirement by the time sixty credits have been earned. Failure to meet these limits on matriculation will result in the student being placed on departmental probation: the student will be ineligible to be cast in or participate as a member of the artistic/production staff of department productions. Transfer students will be reviewed upon entry into the major for compliance with these standards and advised as needed.

B.S. Major Requirements

Dance Honors Program (B.S. and B.F.A. degrees)

In order to enter the departmental honors program students must have achieved academic excellence in previous work, such as a high school g.p.a. of 3.5 or a college or university g.p.a. of 3.3. Students must meet all regular major requirements including the following: three honors-option courses within their major taught by full-time faculty members (internships cannot satisfy this requirement), at least one 4000-level seminar offered through the Liberal Arts Honors Program, a senior honors thesis under the direction of a faculty advisor in their major area (DNC 5997) and maintain a minimum g.p.a. of 3.3 cumulative and in the major.

Dance Honors Curriculum (15 credits required)

Student must maintain an overall 3.3 g.p.a.

For additional information, students should consult the Irvin D. Reid Honors College. 

Dance Teaching Majors (B.F.A. and B.S. Programs)

Professional Education Sequence: The additional following courses are required for a K-12 teaching major in dance, K-12 certification, and a major in dance, secondary certification for both the B.F.A. and the B.S. degrees:

Post-Degree Studies in Dance

Students who have completed a dance major at another University program may be able to add Teacher Certification by completing the Dance Education Major requirements. Students must apply to the College of Education and to the Dance Department.