Dance (BA/BS)

https://musicanddance.uoregon.edu/dance

The goal of the department is to provide comprehensive dance training within the liberal arts framework of the university. The study of dance involves intellectual, artistic, and physical development. The Department of Dance emphasizes all three areas of growth, a commitment made possible by the breadth of its curricular offerings and the depth of faculty expertise. In addition to the academic components, dance students experience the rigorous professional discipline that is inherent in studio classes. The department explores diverse idioms in dance: African dance and drumming, ballet, contact improvisation, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, modern, partnering, and Salsa.

Regardless of a student’s career goals, education in dance at the University of Oregon provides the opportunity to develop motivation and self-discipline, intellectual curiosity, and creative imagination. These attributes are essential not only for a successful career but also for experiencing a fulfilling life.

Program's Admission Requirements

Please visit the program's website.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Synthesize approaches to dance through immersion in multiple dance forms, performance, creative practice, and theory.
  • Contextualize and understand dance from philosophical and cultural perspectives.
  • Cultivate awareness and responsibility as a global dance citizen.
  • Engage in music, science and somatics, history and culture, pedagogy and production of dance.
  • Communicate about dance through writing, speaking, embodied practice, and creative inquiry.

Courses required for a dance major must be taken for letter grades when that option is available. A grade of P must be earned in courses designated pass/no pass (P/N) only.

Dance Major Requirements

Technique 121
Contemporary I
Contemporary II
Contemporary III
Ballet I
Ballet II
Ballet III
Hip Hop I
Hip Hop II
Hip hop III
African I
African II
Special Studies: [Topic]
Special Studies: [Topic]
Special Studies: [Topic]
Advanced Movement Practice (Three Times)
Performance7
Dance Loft Performance
Student Dance Concert Performance
Workshop: [Topic]
Dema African Performance Ensemble: [Topic]
Faculty Dance Concert Performance
Student Dance Collective: [Topic]
Creative Practice8
Dance Improvisation: [Topic]
Contact Improvisation: [Topic]
Dance Composition I
Dance Composition II
Theory39
Screendance: History and Theory
Looking at Dance
Dance Production I
Musical Elements of Dance
Anatomy of Human Movement
African Dance Aesthetics
Dance Production II
Dance Kinesiology
Senior Seminar: [Topic] (Three Times)
Dance and Power
Contemporary Issues in Dance
Music for Dancers
Teaching Dance
Total Credits75
1

9 credits minimum in upper division. 3 courses minimum per idiom in DANC.

Students transferring to the UO as dance majors after two years of college work elsewhere should have completed courses for the UO BA foreign language/BS mathematics requirement, two terms of college-level English composition, as many of the university’s core-education requirements as possible, and training in modern dance.

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Courses that apply to the major must be passed with grades of C– or better.

Bachelor of Arts in Dance

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
First term of first-year second-language sequence 5
WR 121Z Composition I 4
DAN 255 Dance Production I 3
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary I  
Ballet I  
Hip Hop I  
African I  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
 Credits 14
Winter
Second term of first-year second-language sequence 5
General-education course in arts and letters 4
General-education course in social science 4
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary I  
Ballet I  
Hip Hop I  
African I  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
 Credits 15
Spring
Third term of first-year second-language sequence 5
WR 122Z
Composition II
or College Composition III
4
General-education course in social science 4
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary I  
Ballet I  
Hip Hop I  
African I  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
 Credits 15
 Total Credits 44

Maintain an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher.

Degree Map
Second Year
FallMilestonesCredits
First term of second-year second-language sequence 4
General-education course in arts and letters that doubles as multicultural 4
General-education course in science 4
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary II  
Ballet II  
Hip Hop II  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
DAN 355 Dance Production II 1
 Credits 15
Winter
Second term of second-year second-language sequence 4
General-education course in science 4
General-education course in social science that doubles as multicultural 4
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary II  
Ballet II  
Hip Hop II  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
 Credits 14
Spring
Third term of second-year second-language sequence 4
General-education course in science 4
Multicultural course 4
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary II  
Ballet II  
Hip Hop II  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
Electives 2
 Credits 16
 Total Credits 45

Maintain an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher. Identify a minor, certificate program, or second major.

Degree Map
Third Year
FallMilestonesCredits
DAN 251 Looking at Dance 4
DAN 394 Contemporary III 3
General-education course in arts and letters 4
General-education course in social science 4
 Credits 15
Winter
DAN 252 Dance Composition I 3
DAN 260 Anatomy of Human Movement 4
DAN 394 Contemporary III 3
Multicultural course 4
 Credits 14
Spring
DAN 352 Dance Composition II 3
DAN 394 Contemporary III 3
General-education course in arts and letters 4
Elective courses 5
 Credits 15
 Total Credits 44

Maintain good academic standing and complete general-education requirements. A degree audit is recommended.

Degree Map
Fourth Year
FallMilestonesCredits
DAN 407 Seminar: [Topic] 1
DAN 408 Workshop: [Topic] 3
DAN 494 Advanced Movement Practice 3
DAN 452 Dance Composition III 3
DAN 458 Music for Dancers 3
Elective course 2
 Credits 15
Winter
DAN 360 Dance Kinesiology 4
DAN 407 Seminar: [Topic] 1
DAN 408 Workshop: [Topic] 3
DAN 494 Advanced Movement Practice 3
Elective course 4
 Credits 15
Spring
DAN 407 Seminar: [Topic] 1
DAN 408 Workshop: [Topic] 3
DAN 494 Advanced Movement Practice 3
Elective courses 5
 Credits 12
 Total Credits 42

Maintain good academic standing and complete major, minor, and/or certificate programs.

Bachelor of Science in Dance

Degree Map
First Year
FallMilestonesCredits
MATH 105Z Math in Society 4
WR 121Z Composition I 4
DAN 255 Dance Production I 3
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary I  
Ballet I  
Hip Hop I  
African I  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
Elective course 1
 Credits 14
Winter
MATH 106 University Mathematics II 4
General-education course in arts and letters 4
General-education course in social science 4
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary I  
Ballet I  
Hip Hop I  
African I  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
Elective course 1
 Credits 15
Spring
MATH 107 University Mathematics III 4
WR 122Z
Composition II
or College Composition III
4
General-education course in social science 4
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary I  
Ballet I  
Hip Hop I  
African I  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
Elective course 1
 Credits 15
 Total Credits 44

Maintain an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher.

Degree Map
Second Year
FallMilestonesCredits
General-education course in arts and letters that doubles as multicultural 4
General-education course in science 4
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary II  
Ballet II  
Hip Hop II  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
DAN 355 Dance Production II 1
Elective course 3
 Credits 14
Winter
General-education course in science 4
General-education course in social science that doubles as multicultural 4
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary II  
Ballet II  
Hip Hop II  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
Elective course 4
 Credits 14
Spring
General-education course in science 4
Multicultural course 4
Choose two from the following: 2
Contemporary II  
Ballet II  
Hip Hop II  
Special Studies: [Topic]  
Electives 5
 Credits 15
 Total Credits 43

Maintain an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher. Identify a minor, certificate program, or second major.

Degree Map
Third Year
FallMilestonesCredits
DAN 251 Looking at Dance 4
DAN 394 Contemporary III 3
General-education course in arts and letters 4
General-education course in social science 4
 Credits 15
Winter
DAN 252 Dance Composition I 3
DAN 260 Anatomy of Human Movement 4
DAN 394 Contemporary III 3
Multicultural course 4
 Credits 14
Spring
DAN 352 Dance Composition II 3
DAN 394 Contemporary III 3
General-education course in arts and letters 4
Elective courses 5
 Credits 15
 Total Credits 44

Maintain good academic standing and complete general-education requirements. A degree audit is recommended.

Degree Map
Fourth Year
FallMilestonesCredits
DAN 407 Seminar: [Topic] 1
DAN 408 Workshop: [Topic] 3
DAN 494 Advanced Movement Practice 3
DAN 452 Dance Composition III 3
DAN 458 Music for Dancers 3
Elective course 2
 Credits 15
Winter
DAN 360 Dance Kinesiology 4
DAN 407 Seminar: [Topic] 1
DAN 408 Workshop: [Topic] 3
DAN 494 Advanced Movement Practice 3
Elective course 4
 Credits 15
Spring
DAN 407 Seminar: [Topic] 1
DAN 408 Workshop: [Topic] 3
DAN 494 Advanced Movement Practice 3
Elective courses 5
 Credits 12
 Total Credits 42

Maintain good academic standing and complete major, minor, and/or certificate programs.