B.A. Dance

First, take a look at the curriculum requirements for the dance major listed below. Also take a look at the web page for academic planning at the College of Arts and Humanities and, for more general information about undergraduate requirements, fees and registration, see UMD's Undergraduate Catalog.

All students must create an academic plan to integrate major requirements with UMD’s general education and ARHU requirements. 

A dance major or double major may be declared in any semester that you are registered at the University of Maryland, but please be advised that adding the major after your freshman year may extend your time to graduation. Students who are not currently registered and are candidates for re-enrollment must contact the Registrar's Office to re-enroll before declaring dance as a major. It is strongly suggested that students be in good academic standing when changing majors or adding a second major.

• An appointment must be made; declaring a major cannot be handled on a walk-in basis. Contact Susan Miller, the coordinator of student services and academic advisor, at [email protected].

• Review the web pages listed above, especially the curriculum requirements.

• At the advising meeting, paperwork will be filled out and signed.

• Turn in the Academic Plan Degree Requirement Checklist Form to a College of Arts and Humanities advisor. Call (301) 405-2108 to schedule an appointment.

Schedule an advising appointment.

Dance majors have mandatory advising each semester. In the first semester, the director of undergraduate studies meets with incoming freshmen to establish a four-year plan and with transfer students to review transfer credits and establish a plan to graduation. At the end of the first year, students are assigned an academic advisor who will be their advisor until their final semester. Advisors meet with students each semester to approve their program, to identify students who are on track for the fourth semester assessment process and to help them navigate that process. Advisors also work closely with upper level students to help them select an appropriate area of emphasis and to help them balance the project based learning requirement, their area of emphasis and study abroad.

The fourth semester assessment gives the program a mid-course opportunity for learning outcomes assessment. In preparation for the assessment, students prepare a portfolio, which includes a resume, samples of their writing and a DVD with examples of their work in technique and choreography classes. Each student then schedules a 40-minute time slot on the assessment day to meet with two faculty members. The student is in charge of the first part of the meeting and uses that time to summarize the experiences of the first two years, addressing both successes and challenges. Faculty members then ask questions and offer feedback. Faculty members may also make suggestions about workshops, internships and other ways for the student to pursue a career path that may be suggested by the presentation. 

Dance majors are expected to complete the assessment process during their fourth semester in the program. All transfer students, as well as students who declare dance after their first semester on campus, will be assigned an assessment date when they meet with their dance advisor to develop an academic plan. Students who do not complete the assessment process in their assigned semester will not be permitted to continue in the major. The process is completed  with the submission of a portfolio and participation in a scheduled assessment meeting.

• DANC 218 – “Modern Dance I” (3 credits) 

• DANC 219 – “Modern Dance II” (3 credits)

• DANC 318 – “Modern Dance III” (3 credits)

• DANC 319 – “Modern Dance IV” (3 credits)

• DANC 179 – “Movement Integration” (2 credits)

• 4 credits of Dance Styles selected from:

  • DANC 138 – “Global Dance Forms” (currently 138W and 138C) (2 credits)

  • DANC 228 – “Ballet I” (2 credits)

  • DANC 229 – “Ballet II” (2 credits)

  • DANC 328 – “Ballet III” (2 credits)

  • DANC 329 – “Ballet IV” (2 credits)

• DANC 109 – “Choreography I: Improvisation” (3 credits)

• DANC 207 – “Choreography II: Creative Process” (3 credits)

• TDPS 201 – “Introduction to Technical Production” (3 credits)

• DANC 383 – “Dance History & Theory” (3 credits)

• DANC 304 – “Teaching Dance” (3 credits)

• TDPS 479 – “Production/Shop Practicums” (1 credit)

• DANC 488 – “Project Based Learning” (3 credits)

Students must also complete 12 credits of upper level course work in an area of emphasis in performance and choreography, production or dance education. See area of emphasis below for approved courses.

Students in the performance and choreography area are expected to enroll in a technique class each semester and to be actively engaged in experiences that transition them from the classroom to the stage. Opportunities for engagement include auditioning for student, faculty and guest artist works, showing works-in-progress at monthly open showings and auditioning works for performances. 

Courses:

• TDPS 479 – “Production/Shop Practicum” (required; 1 credit, in addition to the 1 credit required of all majors)

• DANC309 - Choreography III: Dance Composition (3 credits)

• DANC468 - Modern Repertory  (3 credits)

An additional 5 credits selected from:

• DANC 448 – “Modern Dance V” (a maximum of a total of 6 credits of Dance 448 and 449 will count toward the 12 credit area requirement)

• DANC 449 – “Modern Dance VI” (a maximum of a total of 6 credits of Dance 448 and 449 will count toward the 12 credit area requirement)

• DANC 420 – “Contemporary Partnering” (2 credits)

• DANC 466 – “Laban Movement Analysis” (3 credits)

• DANC 371 – “Somatics” (3 credits)

• DANC 399 – “Practicum in Choreography, Production and Performance III” (1-3 credits)

• DANC 499 – “Practicum in Choreography, Production and Performance IV” (1-3 credits)

• DANC 489 – “Special Topics in Dance” (includes all suffixes – 489F, etc.)

• Additional courses approved by the program

• THET 479 (required; 3 credits, in addition to the 1 credit required of all majors)  

An additional 9 credits selected from:

• DANC 310 – “Dance Lighting” (3 credits) 

• DANC 410 – “Topics in Dance Production” (3 credits)

• DANC 468 – “Dance Repertory” (3 credits)

• THET 116 – “Fundamentals of Theatrical Design” (3 credits)

• THET 284 – “Costume Construction I” (3 credits)

• THET 371 – “Scenic Design I” (3 credits)

• THET 383 – “Costume Design I” (3 credits)

• THET 377 – “Lighting Design I” (3 credits)

• THET 373 – “Rendering for the Theatre I”

• THET 472 – “Scenic Painting”

• THET 474 – “Advanced Stage Management”

Note: THET 284, 371, 383, 377, 373, 472, and 474 are permission-required courses.

• TDPS 479 – “Production/Shop Practicum” (1 credit)

• DANC 405 – “Dance Education and Policy” (3 credits)

• DANC 371 – “Somatics” (3 credits)

• DANCE 338 – “Global Movement Practices” (2 credits)

• DANC 466 – “Laban Movement Analysis” (3 credits)

A grade of C- or higher must be attained in all courses taken in fulfillment of the dance major requirement. Students matriculating into the dance major must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 within their dance major requirements in order to graduate. Completion of the fourth semester assessment is a benchmark and a requirement in the curriculum. Dance course offerings are listed in the University of Maryland’s Undergraduate Catalog.

See above for a list of degree requirements and a sample academic plan for the B.A. in dance.

No, we do not require an audition to declare the dance major. We do require auditions/interviews for theatre performance classes, upper level dance technique classes, Main Stage productions and the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) award.

Yes! Many of our students choose to double major. Students are welcome to double major in any other major offered at UMD. Popular double majors include communication, kinesiology, computer science, english, biological sciences, government and politics, business, psychology, etc.

We do not offer a minor in dance or theatre.

Yes! All UMD students are welcome to audition for TDPS productions, get involved with student groups and take some TDPS classes.