Goucher College 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalogue 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
Goucher College 2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalogue PLEASE NOTE: This is an archived catalog. Programs are subject to change each academic year.

Dance Major


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Majors, Minors, Concentrations, and Certifications

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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:

 

REQUIRED THEORETICAL CORE COURSES


All dance majors are required to complete the following 8 core courses totaling 26 credits.

REQUIRED TECHNICAL CORE COURSES


All dance majors are expected to include dance technique classes in their schedules each semester. Technique courses may be repeated for credit up to three times.

Students must explore all 3 genres (Ballet, Modern, and West African Diasporic Dance) by the end of their sophomore year by completing a minimum of 1 course in each genre for credit. Upperclassmen have the ability to maintain this breadth of study or specialize in chosen genre(s) based on interest. All students must complete a minimum of 9 courses or 18 credits in their four years and reach the proficiencies stated below.

Required Technical Proficiency - All dance majors are required to achieve the following technical proficiencies for credit for graduation:

  • Level 4 in at least one genre
  • Level 3 or higher in a second genre
  • Level 2 or higher in a third genre

 

TECHNICAL CORE REQUIREMENTS

 

BALLET

DAN 121  - Ballet I

DAN 221  - Ballet II

DAN 320  - Ballet III

DAN 421  - Ballet IV

 

MODERN

DAN 115  - Modern I

DAN 215  - Modern II

DAN 316  - Modern III

DAN 415  - Modern IV

 

WEST AFRICAN DIASPORIC

DAN 133 - West African Diasporic Dance I: West African (2 Cr.)  

DAN 233 - West African Diasporic Dance II: West African (2 Cr.)  

DAN 333 - West African Diasporic Dance III: Hip Hop/Jazz/Tap (2 Cr.)  

DAN 433 - West African Diasporic Dance IV: Hip Hop/Jazz/Tap (2 Cr.)  

REQUIRED THEORETICAL AND TECHNICAL ELECTIVES


In addition to the above core courses, students must select 6-8 credits from the theoretical studies cluster and 2 credits from the technical studies cluster to complete their course of study.

In addition to the core requirements, students will complete the major by selecting elective courses from the following offerings:

Related Emphasis:


Students may also pursue any of the following related areas of study.

Concentration in Dance Science


Science with Dance Concentration: See Academic Catalogue under Biological Sciences for details.


This concentration focuses on knowledge and technique in the field of dance science. Study of the sciences is combined with technical and theoretical dance training to provide a basis for understanding problems in dance performance, nutrition, and care and prevention of injuries. With additional course work, this concentration provides preparation for graduate studies in physical therapy, sports medicine, dance medicine, and related fields. In addition to fulfilling all requirements for a major in the biological sciences, requirements for a concentration in dance science are:


Concentration in Arts Management

Students who wish to pursue a concentration in arts management must complete a dance major.  Additional courses are required in business management and are designed to give students a fundamental knowledge in the content areas of business, arts management, and economics.

Arts management is a rapidly expanding profession in performance and institutional arts organizations, including museums and galleries; in community or regional centers for the arts; and in government, corporate, and foundation agencies that are concerned with the development of the arts. Students who pursue a concentration in arts management take a major in one of the arts and supplement that major with courses in arts management and business management. The courses in the major provide a solid foundation in an art form. The additional courses enhance knowledge appropriate to the student’s interest in arts management. The courses in arts management may also be taken independently of the concentration.

The Concentration is open to students majoring in the arts: those students housed in the Center for Art and Media and the Center for Dance, Music and Theatre, as well as art historians in the Center for Humanities.

Requirements include:

 

8 additional credits from the list of approved courses

May also include courses in the new Visual and Material Culture program, pending approval from the State of Maryland.

See details under Business Management.

 

Dance Education Teacher Certification:

Students pursuing certification to teach dance must complete the dance major, DAN 484  and DAN 484L . In addition, see Secondary Education Certification, Grades 7-12  for specifics regarding secondary education courses.  Be aware that a ninth semester student teaching in the school system may be required at the undergraduate level, or students may engage in the 4+1 Accelerated Degree option available through the Graduate Programs in Education.

STUDENTS MAY DOUBLE MAJOR OR SELECT TO PURSUE A SPECIFIC COURSE OF STUDY, LISTED BELOW, IN PREPARATION FOR SUCCESSFUL ENTRY TO GRADUATE OR PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS FOR IDENTIFIED CAREERS IN DANCE:

Dance/Movement Therapy

To practice movement/dance therapy one must obtain a masters degree. At the undergraduate level, students may major in dance and gain knowledge in the content areas of psychological theory, human development, multicultural perspectives, group process, behavioural research, psychopathology, psychodiagnosis and assessment skills. This program of study is designed to fully prepare a student to enter a masters program in dance therapy and require the following psychology courses: PSY 105  (intro and lab), PSY 244  (developmental), PSY 219  (diversity), PSY 230  (social), PSY 302  or PSY 305  (methods), and PSY 238  (abnormal).

Dance and Science with entry to physical therapy programs or dance science graduate programs

Students can major in dance and take additional courses in the sciences that are designed to give students a fundamental knowledge in the content of biology and chemistry. The following courses have been identified as requirements for successful application to physical therapy programs: BIO 101  (4), BIO 102  (4), BIO 210  (4), BIO 360  (4), BIO 261  (4), CHE 111  (4), CHE 151  (4), MA 268 , PSY 105  and PHY 115  or PHY 125 . Students opting to pursue entry to a dance science graduate program will major in dance and select appropriate courses in the sciences for specific graduate programs as requirements for each program vary considerably.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Majors, Minors, Concentrations, and Certifications