Dance, Bachelor of Arts

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Dance provides a strong foundation in dance theory and techniques. Students in the BA in Dance have flexibility to explore courses outside of the dance major. Through this program, students will gain an in-depth understanding of dance and performance techniques with the flexibility to pursue studies in other areas of interest.

Admission requirements for this program beyond university admission requirements.

  • Official entry into Dance Program is through an interview process at the end of the required course DANC 1351 - Intro to Dance.

Progression requirements for this program.

  • Students must complete 5 hours at the foundational level with a grade of ‘C’ or better before progressing to the intermediate level in each technique or with permission of Dance faculty.
  • Students must complete 5 hours at the intermediate level with a grade of ‘C’ or better before progressing to the advanced level in each technique or with permission of Dance faculty.

Specific graduation requirements for this program beyond university bachelor’s degree requirements.

  • Students must earn a score of Satisfactory or higher in the Professional Portfolio completed in DANC 4302.
  • Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all DANC courses.
  • Students must earn an overall GPA of 2.0.

Core Curriculum – 42 hours

The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.

The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.

The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.

050 Creative Arts – 3 hours

Select any Creative Arts course except DANC 2323 Dance Appreciation.

Major Requirements - 53 hours

Dance Core - 31 hours

DANC 1351Introduction to Dance

3

DANC 1202Dance Improvisation

2

DANC 2303Music for Dancers

3

DANC 3301Choreography I

3

DANC 3302Choreography II

3

DANC 3308Dance History

3

DANC 3311Dance Production

3

DANC 4302Senior Project

3

DANC 4309Dance Theory

3

 

DANC 3312Dance Philosophy and Criticism

3

Or

DANC 3313World Dance

3

Or

DANC 3320Dance Science

3

And

DANC 3121Dance Science Lab

1

If DANC 3320 & DANC 3121 are selected, the science prerequisites BIOL 2401 & 2402 must be completed in the General Education Core. 

DANC 1202 Dance Improvisation has a pre- or co-requisite of DANC 2246 or DANC 2345.

DANC 4309 has a prerequisite of a Grade of “B” or better in at least one of the following: DANC 3246 or DANC 3345, DANC 4246, DANC 4345, DANC 3242, DANC 3341, DANC 4242, or DANC 4341.

Choose 2 hours from one or a combination of the following repeatable courses:

DANC 2112Dance Performance: Beginning/Intermediate

1

DANC 3112Dance Performance: Intermediate/Advanced

1

Prescribed Electives / Technique Courses - 22 hours

Contemporary Dance Foundations - 5 hours

DANC 2246Foundations in Contemporary Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 2345Foundations in Contemporary Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

Additional Foundation Courses – 5 hours

Students must complete a minimum of 5 credit hours from one of the following Foundation groups: Ballet, Mexican Folklorico Dance, or Spanish Dance.

Ballet Foundations

DANC 2242Ballet Foundations - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 2341Ballet Foundations - Three Credit Hour

3

Mexican Folkorico Dance Foundations

DANC 2250Foundations in Mexican Folklorico Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 2349Foundations in Mexican Folklorico Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

Spanish Dance Foundations

DANC 2254Foundations in Spanish Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 2353Foundations in Spanish Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

Intermediate or Advanced Contemporary Dance or Ballet - 2 or 7 hours

Students must complete 2 hours of intermediate (3000) or advanced (4000) Contemporary Dance or Ballet.

To enroll in intermediate (3000) or advanced (4000) Contemporary Dance, students must first complete DANC 2246 and DANC 2345.

To enroll in intermediate (3000) or advanced (4000) Ballet, students must first complete DANC 2242 and DANC 2341.

Students need departmental approval to enroll in 4000 level Contemporary Dance or Ballet courses.

Contemporary Dance - 2 hours

Choose from:

DANC 3246Intermediate Contemporary Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 3345Intermediate Contemporary Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 4246Advanced Contemporary Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 4345Advanced Contemporary Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

Ballet - 7 hours

Complete the following:

DANC 2242Ballet Foundations - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 2341Ballet Foundations - Three Credit Hour

3

Choose one from the following:

DANC 3242Intermediate Ballet - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 3341Intermediate Ballet - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 4242Advanced Ballet - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 4341Advanced Ballet - Three Credit Hour

3

Additional Techniques – 5 or 10 hours

All students should consult with the technique faculty advisor when selecting additional dance technique courses.

Students will need department approval to enroll in intermediate or advanced courses for which they have not taken at least 5 credits of corresponding foundation courses.

DANC 3246Intermediate Contemporary Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 3345Intermediate Contemporary Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 4246Advanced Contemporary Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 4345Advanced Contemporary Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 2242Ballet Foundations - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 2341Ballet Foundations - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 3242Intermediate Ballet - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 3341Intermediate Ballet - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 4242Advanced Ballet - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 4341Advanced Ballet - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 2244Ballet Technique: Pointe I

2

DANC 3244Ballet Technique: Pointe II

2

DANC 2250Foundations in Mexican Folklorico Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 2349Foundations in Mexican Folklorico Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 3250Intermediate Mexican Folklorico Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 3349Intermediate Mexican Folklorico Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 4250Advanced Mexican Folklorico Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 4349Advanced Mexican Folklorico Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 2254Foundations in Spanish Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 2353Foundations in Spanish Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 3254Intermediate Spanish Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 3353Intermediate Spanish Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 4254Advanced Spanish Dance - Two Credit Hour

2

DANC 4353Advanced Spanish Dance - Three Credit Hour

3

DANC 2220Jazz Dance I

2

DANC 3220Jazz Dance II

2

Free Electives - 25 hours

Students must select electives from any subject except DANC.

Total Credit Hours: 42

Total Credit Hours: 120

View this program’s recommended roadmap to graduation.

UTRGV Roadmaps are a suggested sequence of courses designed to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree requirements. This is a term-by-term sample roadmap of courses required to complete the degree. Students must satisfy all requirements in their catalog including, but not limited to course prerequisites, grade point average and course grade benchmarks, progression requirements, and graduation requirements.

Students should meet with their academic advisor every semester to discuss their individualized path toward completion. Degree progress within this roadmap depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation and readiness, student time management, work and personal responsibilities, and financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.