Bachelor of Arts in Dance
Bachelor of Arts in Dance
A BA in dance offers comprehensive technical training built on a solid liberal arts foundation, allowing students to double-major or pursue graduate study in a wide number of fields. The BA does NOT require an audition for entry. Instead, students must complete an evaluation at the end of their sophomore year to complete the degree program.
Undergraduate Admission
Admission to KU
All students applying for admission must send high school and college transcripts to the Office of Admissions. Prospective first-year students should be aware that KU has qualified admission requirements that all new first-year students must meet to be admitted. Consult the Office of Admissions for application deadlines and specific admission requirements.
Visit the International Support Services for information about international admissions.
Students considering transferring to KU may see how their college-level course work will transfer on the Office of the University Registrar website.
Bachelor of Arts in Dance Degree Requirements
The B.A. in Dance at the University of Kansas does not require an audition. Instead, all students must pass a technical and academic evaluation at the end of their sophomore year. However, to be considered for a scholarship, a prospective or transfer student must audition. The B.A. in dance offers comprehensive technical training, built on a solid liberal arts foundation, which allows students to double-major or to pursue graduate study in any number of fields.
The curriculum leading to the B.A. in dance offers integrated training in ballet, modern, and jazz dance techniques, as well as courses in classical Indian dance, African dance and flamenco dance techniques, musical theatre dance, dance improvisation and composition, video for dance, history and philosophy of dance, music for dance, creative dance for children, dance production, career preparation in the arts and independent study options. The program prepares students for professional careers in dance or for further academic study. The senior project may involve research in any of the above areas or choreography and performance culminating in a senior recital. Students are expected to take technique classes appropriate to their level of training each semester they are enrolled. A total of 120 credit hours is required.
Bachelor of Arts in Dance Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core 34 General Education | 34 | |
| The KU Core 34 is comprised of 34-35 credit hours typically completed during the first two years of study. The Core 34 consists of the following requirements: English (6), Communications (3), Math & Statistics (3), Natural & Physical Sciences with lab (4-5), Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 in two different disciplines), Arts & Humanities (6 in two different disciplines), US Culture (3), and Global Culture (3) | ||
| Bachelor of Arts (BA) | 16 | |
| BA students will demonstrate proficiency in a Non-English Language, complete a Quantitative Literacy course, a Laboratory or Field Experience, and two semesters of Writing. | ||
1 credit hour of a Laboratory of Field Experience, 6 credit hours of Writing, and 3 credit hours of Quantitative Literacy are required for all BA students. These requirements will be met through the completion of the KU Core 34. | ||
| Major Requirements | ||
| DANC 100 | Introduction to the Dance Major | 1 |
| DANC 290 | Sophomore Review | 1 |
| Dance Technique | 18 | |
| Majors must complete 18 hours of Dance technique at 200 level or higher. Courses may be repeated for credit. NOTE: some courses may require additional prerequisites. | ||
| Ballet II | ||
| Contemporary Modern II | ||
| Jazz II | ||
| Musical Theatre Dance | ||
| Ballet III | ||
| Contemporary Modern III | ||
| Jazz III | ||
| Hip Hop Fundamentals | ||
| Tap Fundamentals | ||
| Ballet IV | ||
| Hip Hop II | ||
| Tap II | ||
| University Dance Company | 2 | |
| Satisfied by two semesters of University Dance Company. Repeatable for credit. | ||
| University Dance Company | ||
| Dance Composition | ||
| DANC 150 | Choreography I | 2 |
| DANC 250 | Choreography II | 2 |
| DANC 350 | Choreography III | 3 |
| Dance Studies | 9 | |
| Majors must complete 3 courses from the list below | ||
| Rhythms and Structures of Music | ||
| Dance in Culture | ||
| Anatomy and Injury Prevention | ||
| Somatics & Conditioning | ||
| Introduction to Flamenco Dance | ||
| Critical Dance Studies | ||
| Career Preparation in the Arts | ||
| Directed Study in: _____ | ||
| Pedagogy | ||
| Practicum in: _____ | ||
| Field Experience in Dance Teaching | ||
| Special Topics in Dance: _____ | ||
| General Electives | 29 | |
| Students will need to complete additional general elective credits to reach the required 120 hours. | ||
| Capstone Course | ||
| DANC 550 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Major Hours & Major GPA
While completing all required courses, majors must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Major Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 15 hours of KU resident credit in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the major.
Major Junior/Senior Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 KU GPA in junior/senior courses (300+) in the major. GPA calculations include all junior/senior courses in the field of study including F’s and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Below is a sample 4-year plan for students pursuing the BA in Dance. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill Core 34, please visit the KU Core 34 page.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| DANC 100 (Major Requirement) | 1 | 200+ Dance Technique, Major Requirement | 3 |
| 200+ Dance Technique, Major Requirement1 | 3 | DANC 150 (Major Requirement)2 | 2 |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | DANC 320 (1 of 2, Major Requirement) | 1 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| 1st Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 | 2nd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 5 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| 200+ Dance Technique, Major Requirement | 3 | 200+ Dance Technique, Major Requirement | 3 |
| DANC 250 (Major Requirement) | 2 | DANC 350 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| 3rd Semester Language (BA Second Language) | 3 | DANC 290 (Major Requirement) | 1 |
| Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE)040 | 4-5 | Core 34: Social and Behavior Science (SGE)050 | 3 |
| Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 | ||
| 4th Semester Language, or 1st semester of Another Language, unless req for mjr (BA Second Language)5 | 5 | ||
| 12-13 | 18 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| 200+ Dance Technique, Major Requirement | 3 | 200+ Dance Technique, Major Requirement4 | 3 |
| DANC 320 (2 of 2, major requirement) | 1 | DANC 375 (Recommended Dance Studies Elective) | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours3 | 3 | Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours3 | 3 | MATH 105 (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE))030 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours3 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours3 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| DANC 330 (Core 34: Global Culture (SGE), Recommended Dance Studies Elective)070** | 3 | DANC 550 (Capstone Requirement, Major Requirement) | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours3 | 3 | DANC 520 (Recommended Dance Studies Elective) | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours3 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours3 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours3 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours3 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours3 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120-121 | |||
- 1
Technique placement determined by Dance Department faculty.
- 2
Choreography classes sequenced/not offered every semester. See Dance Course Rotation for more details.
- 3
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through Core 34, degree, major, second area of study and/or elective hours. Students completing the BGS with a major must choose a secondary area of study. Individual degree mapping is done in partnership with your advisor.
- 4
See Catalogue for full list of approved Dance Studies Electives.
- 5
For students completing the language requirement via the 3+1 language option, note that many first semester languages are 5 credit hours.
Please note:
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete 120 total hours of which 45 hours must be at the Jr/Sr (300+) level.
*Courses with a * designate courses that are degree requirements but can also be taken to fulfill the KU Core requirement. If another course is used to fulfill the Core 34 requirement, the course listed is still required as a degree requirement.
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Integrate and apply dance knowledge and skills within a liberal arts education in preparation for careers in the creative economy as well as education, business, health care, and civic and cultural sectors.
- Demonstrate comprehensive proficiency in multiple dance disciplines and ability to employ embodied research, inquiry, and movement discovery as creative problem-solving strategies.
- Apply choreographic methods and analysis across a variety of production settings, cultural contexts, and media.
- Understand dance in different historical and cultural lineages, and the ways in which movement reflects and is shaped by values and practices within these contexts.
- Demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of the body and the kinesiology as applicable to work in dance.