Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance
A BFA in dance focuses on technical training and preparation for a career in professional performance. An audition is required for entry in the BFA program. For information regarding the audition process, please see the Department of Theatre and Dance's website or email KUDance@ku.edu.
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 Admissions website.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Degree Requirements
The B.F.A. requires an audition for entry; however, students enrolled in the B.A. program may audition at the end of each academic year. In order to be considered for a scholarship or entry directly into the B.F.A. program, incoming students MUST audition in person or online via Acceptd.
The curriculum leading to the B.F.A. focuses on technique, choreography, and performance. It prepares students for professional careers or further academic study in dance. Entrance into the B.F.A. program is provisional during the first year. After evaluation of the year’s work and approval by the faculty, a student is fully accepted into the B.F.A. program.
B.F.A. majors receive integrated training in ballet, modern, and jazz dance technique. They also take courses in choreography, dance theory, history, dance science, and pedagogy. Other B.F.A. courses include flamenco, performing arts administration, classical East Indian dance, conditioning and injury prevention for dancers, and musical theatre dance. Students must complete a senior project in performance and/or choreography. B.F.A. majors have a variety of performance opportunities as members of the University Dance Company. A total of 120 credit hours is required.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 30 | |
| In addition to degree and major requirements, all students must complete the KU Core students may fulfill both KU Core and Major requirements by taking following: GOAL 4 Learning Outcome 2 - DANC 230, 330, 440, or 490. GOAL 6 - DANC 550. | ||
| Introduction to the Dance Major | 1 | |
| Introduction to the Dance Major | ||
| Dance Technique | 33 | |
| Majors must complete 33 hours of Dance technique. Majors must have at least 6 hours of Ballet at the 300 level or higher, 6 hours of Modern at the 300 level or higher, and 3 hours of Jazz at the 300 level or higher. Courses may be repeated for credit. | ||
| Ballet | 6 | |
| 6 hours of Ballet technique at the 300 level or higher. | ||
| Ballet III | ||
| Ballet IV | ||
| Modern/Contemporary | 6 | |
| 6 hours of Modern/Contemporary technique at the 300 level or higher | ||
| Modern/Contemporary III | ||
| Jazz | 3 | |
| 3 hours of Jazz technique at the 300 level or higher. | ||
| Jazz III | ||
| Additional Technique Electives | 18 | |
| Pointe and Pas de Deux | ||
| Pas de Deux | ||
| Ballet III | ||
| Modern/Contemporary III | ||
| Jazz III | ||
| Ballet IV | ||
| Hip Hop II | ||
| Tap II | ||
| University Dance Company | 4 | |
| Majors must complete four semesters of University Dance Company. May be repeated for credit. | ||
| University Dance Company | ||
| University Dance Company | ||
| University Dance Company | ||
| University Dance Company | ||
| Dance Composition | 10 | |
| Majors must complete courses as specified in each of the following areas: | ||
| Choreography I | ||
| Choreography II | ||
| Choreography III | ||
| Senior Project | ||
| Dance Studies | 12 | |
| Rhythms and Structures of Music | ||
| Approaches to World Dance | ||
| Anatomy and Injury Prevention | ||
| Dance Pedagogy: Choose from DANC 520, or DANC 540 | ||
| Pedagogy | ||
or DANC 540 | Field Experience in Dance Teaching | |
| Dance Electives | 12 | |
| Choose four courses from those listed below: | ||
| Musical Theatre Dance | ||
| Hip Hop Fundamentals | ||
| Tap Fundamentals | ||
| Introduction to African Dance Theatre | ||
| Introduction to Videography and Website Design for Dance | ||
| Introduction to Classical East Indian Dance | ||
| Dance History: Research and Reconstruction | ||
| Career Preparation in the Arts | ||
| Introduction to Flamenco Dance Technique | ||
| Directed Study in: _____ | ||
| Pedagogy | ||
| Practicum in: _____ | ||
| Field Experience in Dance Teaching | ||
| Special Topics in Dance: _____ | ||
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
Satisfied by 72 hours of major courses.
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 15 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 BFA in Dance. To view the list of courses approved to fulfill KU Core Goals, please visit the KU Core website.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| DANC 100 (Major Requirement) | 1 | Dance Technique (Modern 1 of 2), Major Requirement | 3 |
| Dance Technique (Ballet 1 of 2), Major Requirement1 | 3 | DANC 210 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| Dance Technique (Elective 1 of 6), Major Requirement2 | 3 | DANC 150 (Major Requirement)3 | 2 |
| Goal 2.1 Written Communication (1 of 2) | 3 | DANC 320 (1 of 4, Major Requirement) | 1 |
| First Year Seminar Goal 1.1 Critical Thinking | 3 | ENGL 102 (Goal 2.1 Written Communication (2 of 2)) | 3 |
| Goal 3 Social Science | 3 | Goal 1.2 Quantitative Literacy | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Dance Technique (Ballet 2 of 2), Major Requirement | 3 | Dance Technique (Jazz), Major Requirement | 3 |
| Dance Technique (Elective 2 of 6), Major Requirement | 3 | Dance Technique (Modern 2 of 2), Major Requirement | 3 |
| DANC 250 (Major Requirement) | 2 | DANC 350 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| DANC 320 (2 of 4, Major Requirement) | 1 | Dance General Elective (2 of 4), Major Requirement4 | 3 |
| Dance General Elective (1 of 4), Major Requirement4 | 3 | Goal 3 Natural Science | 3 |
| Goal 2.2 Communication | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Dance Technique (Elective 3 of 6), Major Requirement | 3 | DANC 375 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| Dance General Elective (3 of 4)4 | 3 | Dance Technique (Elective 4 of 6), Major Requirement2 | 3 |
| DANC 320 (3 of 4, Major Requirement) | 1 | DANC 320 (4 of 4, Major Requirement)3 | 1 |
| 200+ ENGL Course (DANC 330 pre-req) | 3 | Goal 5 Social Responsibility and Ethics | 3 |
| Goal 3 Arts and Humanities5 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours6 | 3 |
| Goal 4.1 US Diversity | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours6 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| DANC 330 (Goal 4.2 Global Awareness, Major Requirement) | 3 | DANC 550 (Goal 6 Integration & Creativity, Major Requirement )1 | 3 |
| Dance Technique (Elective 5 of 6), Major Requirement | 3 | DANC 520 or 540 (Major Requirement) | 3 |
| Dance General Elective (4 of 4), Major Requirement3 | 3 | Dance Technique (Elective 6 of 6), Major Requirement | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours6 | 3 | Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours6 | 3 |
| Second Area of Study/Elective/Degree/Junior-Senior Hours6 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
- 1
Technique placement determined by Dance Department faculty. If student begins technique coursework at 200-level, degree plan will alter significantly.
- 2
See Catalogue for full list of approved Dance Technique Electives.
- 3
Choreography classes sequenced/not offered every semester. See Dance Course Rotation for more details.
- 4
See Catalogue for full list of approved Dance General Electives.
- 5
DANC 490 Introduction to Flamenco Dance Technique satisfies Goal 3 Arts and Humanities.
- 6
Hour requirements (incl. 45 jr/sr hrs) are typically met through KU core, 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.
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.
The same course cannot be used to fulfill more than one KU Core Goal. However, overlap of a KU Core course with a major or degree-specific requirement is allowed. Overlapping is recommended to allow more opportunities to explore other majors and/or minors.