COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Dance Studies curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in both dance technique and academic study while allowing flexibility for interdisciplinary exploration. The major requires courses in dance composition, kinesiology, dance pedagogy or teaching dance for nontraditional populations, dance history, and a capstone experience that integrates learning and practice. Students participate in ensemble or performance practicums, and choreography experiences, allowing them to apply creative and technical skills in real-world performance settings. Core music and nutrition courses complement dance training, while theater design courses broaden students’ understanding of performance production. Technique electives allow students to specialize in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, African dance, hip hop, musical theater, or other dance forms, ensuring well-rounded technical development. Students are required to select multiple courses from each dance genre, as well as an additional elective in a style of their choice, to cultivate versatility and depth in performance and teaching skills. Beyond major-specific courses, students complete general education requirements, including composition, mathematics and critical reasoning, humanities and fine arts, social sciences, basic sciences with a laboratory, and additional Kent Core electives. A significant portion of the curriculum consists of general electives, which can be tailored to support a minor or another area of academic interest, promoting interdisciplinary growth and professional flexibility. Altogether, the program emphasizes both artistic development and intellectual inquiry, preparing students for careers in performance, choreography, dance education, arts administration, or further graduate study. The combination of rigorous technical training, creative exploration, and academic breadth ensures that graduates are well-equipped to contribute to the field of dance and pursue diverse professional pathways. The program requires a total of 120 credit hours, with a balance between upper-division dance coursework, technique electives, and general education, providing a structured yet flexible path to degree completion while fostering both artistic excellence and scholarly development.