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Dance Studies

Dance Studies - B.A.

Where Passion and Opportunity Meet

 

At Kent State University you train for a life in the arts. You will engage daily with your craft through our professionally-modeled production season and join a network of nationally and internationally recognized alumni artists, designers, technicians, and educators. Dance is different at Kent State.

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College of the Arts
School of Theatre and Dance - Dance Division
www.kent.edu/theatredance

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Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance Studies allows students who have previous dance experience and a strong interest in another subject area, within or outside of the arts, the opportunity to combine the two into one plan of study. The curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in dance techniques and dance academics while allowing flexibility to incorporate another area or minor.

The B.A. degree program encourages exploration of areas that can be combined with dance to enhance opportunities for future employment.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Perform a wide range of dance works within Western and non-Western dance forms.
  2. Articulate and communicate an embodied understanding of diverse dance forms; their histories, including the role of oppression; and their relationship and representation in the contemporary era of dance.
  3. Articulate and demonstrate dance theory, aesthetics, pedagogy and choreography.
  4. Create, revise, reflect and present choreography.
  5. Articulate a relationship between their dance studies and a secondary concentration, minor or double major, as applicable.
Coursework
On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
DAN 17051MODERN 3 1,24
DAN 17054BALLET 3 1,24
DAN 27070JAZZ STYLES I 22
DAN 27071MODERN 4 1,24
DAN 27073BALLET 4 1,24
DAN 27074DANCE COMPOSITION I 3
DAN 27150KINESIOLOGY FOR DANCERS 3
DAN 27170JAZZ STYLES II 22
DAN 37010DANCE PEDAGOGY 3
or DAN 37020 TEACHING DANCE AND MOVEMENT FOR NONTRADITIONAL POPULATIONS
DAN 37035DANCE COMPOSITION II 2
DAN 37072DANCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2
DAN 37092KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR) (taken three times) 33
or DAN 37192 DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
DAN 37392DANCE PRACTICUM - CHOREOGRAPHY (ELR) 1
DAN 47063DANCE HISTORY I 3
DAN 47163DANCE HISTORY II (WIC) 43
DAN 47199BACHELOR OF ARTS CAPSTONE (ELR) 1-3
MUS 22111UNDERSTANDING WESTERN MUSIC (KFA) 3
or MUS 22121 MUSIC AS A WORLD PHENOMENON (DIVG) (KFA)
NUTR 23511SCIENCE OF HUMAN NUTRITION (KBS) 3
THEA 11732FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION II: COSTUMES, LIGHTING AND PROJECTIONS 2
THEA 11733FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION LABORATORY III: COSTUMES 1
or THEA 11734 FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION LABORATORY IV: LIGHTING, SOUND AND PROJECTIONS
Additional Technique Elective, choose from the following: 21-3
DAN 17007
TAP 1
DAN 17008
TAP 2
DAN 17009
TAP 3
DAN 17013
AFRICAN DANCE 1
DAN 17019
HIP HOP 1
DAN 17020
HIP HOP 2
DAN 27073
BALLET 4
DAN 27080
MUSICAL THEATRE JAZZ AND TAP I
DAN 37068
MODERN 5
DAN 37069
BALLET 5
DAN 37080
MUSICAL THEATRE JAZZ AND TAP II
DAN 37100
POINTE 1
DAN 37150
POINTE 2
DAN 47070
JAZZ STYLES III
DAN 47081
MUSICAL THEATRE DANCE STYLES II
DAN 47095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN DANCE
DAN 47170
JAZZ STYLES IV
DAN 47196
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN DANCE
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)6
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)3-4
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 535
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Students may substitute a different level of modern or ballet.

2

Promotion to the next level of technique is at the discretion of the dance faculty.

3

Maximum 8 credit hours of DAN 37192 may be applied toward the major.

4

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

5

Students must complete a minimum 15 elective credit hours of courses related to a secondary area of inquiry or minor.

Progression Requirements

  • Promotion to the next level is at the discretion of the dance faculty.
  • All students in the major must audition for all Dance Division concerts. To perform in the concert, students must be enrolled in a minimum of one dance technique course during the semester of the concert.
  • Students enter on a probationary status and must maintain GPA requirements and professional standards as indicated in the student handbook in order to be allowed to audition for concerts and progress through to graduation.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.500 2.000
  • All majors must participate in dance faculty juries and an annual review.
  • All graduates must successfully complete a course of study that includes a minimum of 15 credit hours related to a subject or minor chosen by the student.
  • All graduates must complete a project or presentation through DAN 47199 that demonstrates knowledge of dance and the additional subject chosen by the student.
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
DAN 27070 JAZZ STYLES I 2
DAN 37092
or DAN 37192
 KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR)
or DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
1
NUTR 23511 SCIENCE OF HUMAN NUTRITION (KBS) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Ballet or Modern 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
DAN 47063 DANCE HISTORY I 3
THEA 11732 FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION II: COSTUMES, LIGHTING AND PROJECTIONS 2
THEA 11733
or THEA 11734
 FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION LABORATORY III: COSTUMES
or FUNDAMENTALS OF PRODUCTION LABORATORY IV: LIGHTING, SOUND AND PROJECTIONS
1
Ballet or Modern 4
General Electives 5
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
DAN 27074 DANCE COMPOSITION I 3
DAN 37092
or DAN 37192
 KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR)
or DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
1
MUS 22111
or MUS 22121
 UNDERSTANDING WESTERN MUSIC (KFA)
or MUSIC AS A WORLD PHENOMENON (DIVG) (KFA)
3
Ballet or Modern 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours17
Semester Four
DAN 27150 KINESIOLOGY FOR DANCERS 3
DAN 27170 JAZZ STYLES II 2
DAN 37035 DANCE COMPOSITION II 2
Ballet or Modern 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Five
Additional Technique Elective 1-3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours16
Semester Six
Requirement: present choreography at Student Dance Festival  
DAN 37010
or DAN 37020
 DANCE PEDAGOGY
or TEACHING DANCE AND MOVEMENT FOR NONTRADITIONAL POPULATIONS
3
DAN 37072 DANCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2
DAN 37392 DANCE PRACTICUM - CHOREOGRAPHY (ELR) 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
DAN 47163 DANCE HISTORY II (WIC) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
DAN 37092
or DAN 37192
 KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR)
or DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
1
DAN 47199 BACHELOR OF ARTS CAPSTONE (ELR) 1-3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD)

Reasons to Choose Kent State
  • The Kent Dance Ensemble (KDE) - a pre-professional contemporary dance company, housed within a vibrant School of Theatre and Dance.
  • An impressive professional faculty offer a BFA focused on performance and choreography.
  • A BA in Dance Studies that allows one to complete a double major!
  • An ongoing roster of professional guest artists including choreographers, instructors and lecturers representing a wide range of dance styles and career perspectives.
  • A balanced curricular approach that combines rigorous training with academic excellence nurturing tomorrow's dance artists and scholars.
  • Small enough to provide personalized training and large enough to offer access to a world of possibilities!

Dance Auditions

Students who apply to Kent State University seeking a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Dance Performance or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Dance Studies, and are accepted by the university, are automatically accepted as a B.A. in Dance Studies major. Congratulations!

To complete the admission process for the B.A. in Dance Studies degree program, students must schedule an audition for class-level placement.

If you wish to be considered for the B.F.A. Dance Performance degree, you are required to schedule an audition. When the audition has been completed, you will be notified if you have been accepted and class-level recommendations will be made.

An audition is not required for admission to the Dance minor, but Dance minors who wish to be considered for advanced placement must participate in an audition.

Dance Audition Information

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

5.6%

faster than the average

116,300

number of jobs

$69,690

potential earnings

Choreographers

14.0%

much faster than the average

5,500

number of jobs

$43,680

potential earnings

Dancers

2.3%

slower than the average

11,400

number of jobs

$N/A

potential earnings

Tutors and teachers and instructors, all other

7.4%

faster than the average

406,200

number of jobs

$40,590

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Career Opportunities

Combining Dance with another major or minor will provide support for careers in areas such as: Dance and Fitness studio ownership or operation (Business, Entrepreneurship, Recreation Management); Dance Therapy (Psychology); Dance Production (Theatre); Dance criticism (Journalism); Arts Management (Event planning, Stage Management); Costume, lighting or scenic design for dance (Theatre); Dance medicine (Athletic Training, Exercise Science) and Dance Photography (Photojournalism) to name a few. Future dance teachers can broaden their potential marketability if they possess skills in ASL or in teaching students with physical or developmental challenges (Special Education).

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