The Bachelor of Arts degree in dance offers a liberal arts education that consists of 120 credits. By carefully choosing elective courses with an academic advisor, students may choose to double major or minor.
All dance majors must complete 44-46 credits of dance coursework (including studio practice) that includes a core course of study and self-selected courses from the technical and theoretical elective clusters to fulfill their major requirements.
Departmental Honors
Majors in Dance are encouraged to strive for honors in the major upon graduation. Program honors will be awarded to students who exhibit mastery of the subject in both course work and additional academic endeavors.
Requirements for honors in dance:
- A minimum grade point average of 3.7 in 300 and 400 level courses in the major. All courses specifically required for the major must be taken for a grade. No more than two approved courses away from Goucher will be counted in the average.
- Some evidence of maturity and creativity in dance, such as outstanding work on a senior thesis, independent work, paper or final examination in a 300 or 400 level course.
- Approval of the dance program.
National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA)
All students who participate in dance and dance activities at Goucher College are encouraged to strive for National Honors in dance through Goucher College’s Chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts Collegiate level, a program provided by the National Dance Education that recognizes students of dance at the collegiate level in their Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement.
Requirements for NHSDA Induction (any academic standing undergraduate or graduate):
1. The applicant must be an undergraduate or graduate student.
2. The applicant must be enrolled in for-credit dance courses as a dance major, minor, or elective at the school.
3. The applicant must establish an NDEO Undergraduate Student membership or NDEO Graduate Student membership as s/he begins accruing honor points toward induction. The student must maintain this membership while participating in the NHSDA Collegiate Program of any institution. To join NDEO as an Undergraduate or Graduate Student member, click here.
4. The applicant must earn a minimum of 45 points of approved activities in three strands (Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement) in 6 of 10 categories as cited in the Collegiate National Point System.
5. The applicant must receive an above average character reference from his/her chapter sponsor or other dance professor.
6. The applicant must attain a GPA of at least 3.5 overall in dance courses only at the time of induction.
Requirements for graduating with NHSDA National Honors:
The student must meet all the criteria above for Induction, and thereafter:
1. Earn an additional 15 points, for a total of 60 cumulative points, of approved activities in three strands (Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement) in 6 of 10 categories, as cited in the Collegiate National Point System during his/her senior or graduation year.
2. Maintain a GPA of at least 3.5 overall in dance courses only at the time of graduation.
3. Maintain a current student membership in NDEO.
4. Receive an above average character reference from his/her chapter sponsor or other dance professor.
5. Submit a 500-1,000 word essay to their NHSDA Chapter Sponsor that describes their career goals and how the NHSDA and NDEO have impacted their career and life choices, or an equivalent essay (senior thesis projects, Capstone exit writing, etc.).
Multiple Failed Courses
It is the program’s policy that students majoring in dance must receive at least a C- in every course taken toward the completion of the major.
Placement
All new students are placed in technique levels by required audition through placement classes during fall orientation of their first year and the tenth week of classes every semester in residence thereafter. No placement audition is required for DAN 115, DAN 133, or DAN 121.
Progression through Dance Technique Levels
The specific technical skills for each level must be achieved before a student may progress to the next level of technique.
The following courses are repeatable up to eight credits:
The following courses are repeatable up to three times:
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