COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Dance requires students to complete a minimum of 120 semester hours, including University, College, and departmental requirements, general education courses, a required minor, and a structured set of major and ancillary dance courses. The major itself is built on both technique and academic study, combining performance training with choreography, dance history, and creative exploration. Students begin with foundational technique courses in modern dance, jazz, and ballet, alongside Dance Practicum, which introduces them to performance and studio expectations. They then build on this foundation through a broad set of dance electives that total at least 20 credit hours, including a minimum of 12 credit hours in movement practice. These movement courses span styles such as modern, jazz, ballet, tap, and African Diaspora rhythms, with progression into advanced levels that develop technical precision, artistic expression, and performance strength. At least 9 of these movement practice credits must be at the upper-division (300/400) level, ensuring advanced training before graduation. In addition to technique, students complete at least 6 credit hours in creative research, performance, or dance studies electives, which may include choreography workshops, performance studies, independent study, dance appreciation, movement analysis, and capstone experiences that integrate artistic and scholarly learning. Ancillary courses outside the major provide important theoretical and scientific context, including choreography, anatomy and kinesiology for dance, and dance history, along with courses in production elements such as lighting and sound or media-based movement studies. These ancillary courses must be completed with a grade of C- or higher. Overall, the program emphasizes a balance of physical training, creative development, academic inquiry, and performance experience. Graduates are prepared for careers as professional dancers, choreographers, educators, and arts professionals, as well as for further study in graduate dance programs, supported by a strong foundation in both practice and theory within the discipline of dance.