COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Dance (Performance and Choreography track) is a structured 120–122 credit-hour program designed to prepare students for professional careers in dance performance and choreography or for graduate study in the field. The curriculum combines rigorous technical training, creative development, and academic coursework to build both artistic and intellectual depth. In the freshman year, students begin with foundational dance technique courses across multiple styles such as ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary, alongside general education requirements including English composition, communication, mathematics, social sciences, history, and introductory government courses. Courses like DAN 1213 (conditioning), DAN 1280/2281/3282 (ballet progression), DAN 1290/2291/3293 (modern/contemporary progression), and DAN 1260/2261/3262 (jazz progression) establish strong technical skills early in the program. In the sophomore year, students continue advancing technique while adding choreography, composition, improvisation, dance history, and creative arts coursework such as DAN 3368, along with philosophy, literature, and additional general education requirements. The junior year emphasizes higher-level technical practice, choreographic exploration, and interdisciplinary learning through electives and performance-based courses like DAN 3370 and DAN 3345, as well as life and physical sciences. Students also choose supporting electives from dance and theatre to broaden artistic versatility. In the senior year, the program focuses on advanced performance, professional development, and capstone experiences such as DAN 4380 and DAN 4470, along with repeated high-level technique training and choreography-focused courses. Electives allow students to specialize further in performance or production-related areas. Overall, the program integrates disciplined physical training, creative exploration, and academic study to prepare students for careers in dance companies, choreography, teaching, or further graduate education in dance.