Dance Major UPDATED

General Requirements

The Dance major requires 44.5 credits of coursework in the department and provides a broad knowledge of dance that supports physical/technical, creative and intellectual development. Studio, performance, and real world and academic experiences help students understand the art form and develop their own artistic voice.

All dance majors must complete a core course of study that includes the following courses:

• DAN 191 - Music for Dance (1.5 Cr.)
• DAN 193 - Light Design for Dance (1.5 Cr.)
• DAN 194 - Technical Application for the Stage (1.5 Cr.)
• DAN 263 - Anatomy & Kineseology for Dance (4 Cr.)
• DAN 250 - Dance History I (3 Cr.)
• DAN 251 - Dance History 2 (3 Cr.)
• DAN 260 - Composition I (4 Cr.)
• DAN 261 - Composition II (4 Cr.)
• DAN 225 - Dance Seminar (1.5 Cr.)
• DAN 440 - Dance Capstone (4.0 Cr.)

 

All dance majors are expected to include dance techniques classes in their schedule throughout their 4 years. All students are required to reach the 400 level of either ballet or modern dance and the 300 level of the other.

Additional course required by both the college and the major - a choice of a dance related internship or dance related international experience.

NOTE: All dance majors have the opportunity to perform in and present choreography. During the semester in which a student performs, he or she must be enrolled in a dance technique class in the genre in which they are performing. Prerequisites must be obtained in order to present choreography.

In addition to the above core courses, students select courses from the technical and theoretical studies to complete their course of study.

Technical Studies

Students must complete two or more courses from the offerings listed below. (2.5 - 3.0 Cr.)

• DAN 101 - Pointe I (1 Cr.) OR DAN 201  Pointe II (1 Cr.) OR DAN 302  Pointe III (1 Cr.)
• DAN 204 - Partnering (1.5 Cr.)
• DAN 203 - Variations/Solo Repertory (1.5 Cr.)
• DAN 140 - Jazz Dance Technique I (1.5 Cr.)
• DAN 146 - Goucher African Drum and Dance Ensemble (1.5 Cr.)
• DAN 105 - Men’s Technique (1.5 Cr.)
• DAN 102 - Pilates Method of Body Conditioning I (1.5 Cr.) OR DAN 202  Pliates Method of Body Conditioning (1.5 Cr.)

Theoretical Studies

Students must complete four or more courses, 2 of which must be at the 300 level. (14 -16 cr.)

• DAN 190 - Movement Forms: a Cross-Cultural Perspective (3 Cr.)
• DAN 283 - Dance Pedogogy (4 Cr.)
• DAN 284 - K-12 Dance Education (3 Cr.)
• DAN 284L - Optional Dance Education Fieldwork (1 Cr.) - Must be taken simultaneously with lecture course and may NOT count as one course.

 

• DAN 296 - Introduction to Dance Therapy (3 Cr.)
• DAN 361 - Composition III (4 Cr.)
• DAN 391 - Professional Outreach Seminar (4 Cr.)
• DAN 389 - Dance Notation (4 Cr.)
• DAN 307 - Special Topics in Dance (4 Cr.)

 

Students are encouraged and may elect to take Independent work in any area that they wish to further investigate. This requires working directly with a professor and developing a course of study and requirements for completion of the independent. Courses that are considered independent: DAN 243, DAN 295, DAN 281, DAN 382, DAN 383, and DAN 384.

Students are required to take the senior capstone course and achieve a grade of “B-” or better to be granted writing proficiency in the major.

Related Emphasis:

Secondary Education Certification: Students pursuing certification to teach Dance must complete the dance major and one of the dance education courses offered in the department. In addition, see the Education Department for specifics regarding secondary education courses. Be aware that a 9th semester in the school system student teaching may be required at the undergraduate level or engage in the 4 plus 1 masters option available through the graduate programs in Education.

Concentration in Arts Administration: Students who wish to pursue a concentration in arts administration 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 administration, and economics and must complete the following courses: BUS 110 (3), BUS 120 (3), BUS 170 (3), BUS 229 (3), BUS 270 (3), BUS 375 (3), and EC 100 or 101 (3). See details of double major opportunity under Business Management in the academic catalogue.

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

Students may double major or select to take specific courses, listed below, in preparation for successful entry to graduate or professional programs for identified careers in 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 111 (intro), PSY 112 (intro lab), PSY 244 (developmental), PSY 219 (diversity), PSY 230 (social), PSY 252 or 255 (methods), and PSY 271 (abnormal).

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

Students will 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 104 (4), BIO 105 (4), BIO 210 and 214 (4), BIO 260 (4), BIO 261 (4), CHE 111/112 (4), CHE 151/152 (4), Statistics 141 or 125 (4), PSY 111/112 and Physics 115 or 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.

Honors in the Major

Students can earn honors in the major by completing a Senior Thesis with a grade of “A” or “A-” or by earning a minimum GPA of 3.70 in courses in the department.