Dance

The Department of Dance offers curricula leading to bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) degrees. The goal of the department is to provide comprehensive dance training within the liberal arts framework of the university. The serious 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.

Facility with oral and written communication is one goal of a liberal arts education. Therefore, dance majors pursue a course of study to acquire a firm intellectual grasp of the theoretical, historical, and creative forces that shape dance as an art form.

Dance, unique in that it is also a physical form of communication, requires continual experience in its technical foundations. Students are expected and encouraged to experience a variety of forms of dance training and idioms. Production and pedagogy are also integral to the undergraduate core, because many students find careers in theater and teaching.

Goals for the Undergraduate Dance Major

1. Explore the field of dance from a liberal arts perspective
2. Explore disciplined technique and creative processes involved in the artistry of dance
3. Formulate an intellectual understanding of the historical, philosophical, and culturally significant aspects of dance
4. Develop a working knowledge of music and science as they relate to and enhance the dance experience
5. Develop an understanding of dance as a unique art form in conjunction with its relationship to other art forms and disciplines
6. Develop a level of competence in performance, creative, and theoretical aspects of dance to pursue graduate studies or other professional goals

Preparation

High school students planning to major in dance should include preparation in music, drama, art, and dance, especially modern dance.

Students transferring to the UO as dance majors after two years of college work elsewhere should have completed two terms of college-level English composition, as many of the university’s general-education requirements as possible, and training in modern dance.

Careers

Career opportunities include performing in regional dance companies and teaching in universities, colleges, community colleges, community centers, fitness centers, and private studios. Business and technical theater management, dance science, dance research, and dance journalism offer alternatives to performance and creative work.

Bachelor's Degree Program

Students eligible for admission to the university may declare dance as a major. Candidates for the bachelor’s degree with a major in dance must satisfy general university requirements, select appropriate courses in related areas, and complete dance course requirements with a grade of C– or better. The faculty regularly reviews students for evidence of satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements. Students who receive grades lower than C– or I (incomplete) or Y in dance courses are placed on departmental probation and must repeat or complete the course with a minimum grade of C–. Students placed on departmental probation have one term to achieve the goals they agreed upon with their academic advisors. While students are on probation, they receive guidance to help them achieve satisfactory progress toward the degree.

Courses required for a dance major or minor 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.

Advising

Students admitted as majors must meet with a dance faculty advisor prior to registration each term. These meetings inform students about prerequisites and progress toward the degree. Appointment schedules for advising are posted by each advisor. Students must have a signed advising contract in their departmental academic file before they may register each term.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Lower Division
DAN 255	Dance Production I	3
DAN 256	Dance Somatics	3
Upper Division
DAN 351–352	Dance Composition I-II	6
DAN 360	Dance Kinesiology	4
DAN 394	Modern Dance Laboratory	9
DAN 407	Seminar: [Topic] (Senior Seminar)	3
DAN 408	Workshop: [Topic] (Performance)	9
DAN 453	Ballet from the Courts to Balanchine	3
DAN 454	Evolution of Modern Dance	3
DAN 458	Music for Dancers	3
DAN 494	Modern Dance Laboratory	9
University Requirements and Electives
Courses to fulfill university requirements for bachelor's degree and electives		125
Total Credits		180

Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Lower Division
DAN 255	Dance Production I	3
DAN 256	Dance Somatics	3
Upper Division
DAN 351–352	Dance Composition I-II	6
DAN 360	Dance Kinesiology	4
DAN 394	Modern Dance Laboratory	9
DAN 407	Seminar: [Topic] (Senior Seminar)	3
DAN 408	Workshop: [Topic] (Performance)	9
DAN 453	Ballet from the Courts to Balanchine	3
DAN 454	Evolution of Modern Dance	3
DAN 458	Music for Dancers	3
DAN 494	Modern Dance Laboratory	9
University Requirements and Electives
Courses to fulfill university requirements for bachelor's degree and electives		125
Total Credits		180

University requirements for the BA and BS degrees are explained in the Bachelor's Degree Requirements section of this catalog.

Honors College Program

See the Robert Donald Clark Honors College section of this catalog for specific honors college requirements. Departmental requirements for dance majors enrolled in the Clark Honors College include the following:

• 6 credits of independent study in choreography, technical production, or related research leading to the senior honors thesis
• Either a choreography (minimum of ten minutes) with written description and discussion or an honors essay on an approved research topic

Dance Minor

The dance minor is available to undergraduate students who want to combine an interest in dance with a major in another area of study. The minor allows students flexibility in constructing a program of courses to enhance and complement any chosen major.

Dance courses applied to the minor must be passed with grades of C– or better. Most upper-division courses have prerequisites, corequisites, or both.

Dance Minor Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Technique
DAN 394	Modern Dance Laboratory	9
DAN 408	Workshop: [Topic]	3
Core Courses
DAN 251	Looking at Dance	4
DAN 255	Dance Production I	3
DAN 256	Dance Somatics	3
DANC 271	Dance Improvisation	1
DAN 355	Dance Production II	1
Upper-Division Courses 1
Select courses from at least two of the following fields:		8
Studio Theory
DAN 351	Dance Composition I
DAN 352	Dance Composition II
Humanities
DAN 301	African Dance Aesthetics
DAN 453	Ballet from the Courts to Balanchine
DAN 454	Evolution of Modern Dance
DAN 458	Music for Dancers
Science
DAN 260	Anatomy of Human Movement
DAN 360	Dance Kinesiology
Total Credits		32

1	Independent study courses, including performance credits in Workshop: [Topic] (DAN 408) [Work Rehearsal and Performance], are applicable to meet upper-division course requirements with faculty consultation and approval.

The graduate program in dance has been temporarily suspended. No new graduate students are being accepted at his time.

The Department of Dance offers master of arts (MA) and master of science (MS) degrees in three programs—general master’s degree with thesis or choreographic thesis, general master’s degree without thesis, master’s degree with emphasis in dance science—and the master of fine arts (MFA) degree.

The MFA program requires at least three years of study in residence. Full-time students with adequate undergraduate preparation can complete an MS or MA degree program in two years if their area of specialization is designated during the first year. Students who enter with background deficiencies or who lack a specific focus for the thesis or final project typically take more than two years to complete an MS or MA degree. Work for a master’s degree must be completed within a period of seven years. This includes credits transferred from another institution and the thesis or final project.

Admission

Department Visit

Applicants for admission are strongly encouraged to visit the dance department during February or March of the preceding academic year. Participation in classes and a brief performance of choreography during the visit help the faculty evaluate applicants and serve to augment the video application. Video applications alone are acceptable in extenuating circumstances. Video applications must be in DVD format or delivered using an online service and must clearly show technical, performance, and choreographic proficiencies. For more information, call or write the department.

Application

Students seeking admission to a master’s degree program should apply online through the Graduate School. Application for enrollment is open to anyone who has graduated from an accredited college or university and has a 3.00 cumulative undergraduate GPA. A student with a GPA below 3.00 may be admitted upon review of credentials. An official transcript of the student’s college record must be submitted to the Graduate School. In addition, applicants must arrange for electronic submission of three letters of recommendation, a current curriculum vitae or résumé, a statement of purpose explaining their intent to pursue graduate studies in dance at the University of Oregon, and a sample of written work. A statement of purpose and sample of written work are used to evaluate writing ability. All submissions must be electronic.

International students whose native language is not English must earn scores of at least 575 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System examination (IELTS).

Adequate undergraduate preparation in dance theory and technique is required for admission to graduate programs in dance. Applicants with undergraduate deficiencies should seek admission as postbaccalaureate students until the necessary courses are completed.

Deficiencies, which must be addressed at the first opportunity after entering the program, may be made up by

• passing proficiency examinations provided by the department
• presenting evidence of acceptable practical professional experience
• demonstrating ability on videotape or in person for faculty review

Graduate Fellowships

Some graduate teaching fellowships (GTFs) are available; applications are available online. Fellowship applicants are strongly urged to visit the department. Applicants who cannot visit must submit a DVD or the Internet address (URL) for a web-based video service documenting teaching skills. Videos should document a complete class; edited highlights of classes are not acceptable. Applications are reviewed beginning January 1 for the following fall term. GTF offers are made by April 15. Positions remain open until filled. Graduate teaching fellows must satisfactorily complete at least 9 graduate credits each term.

Master of Fine Arts Requirements

The master of fine arts is a rigorous terminal degree. Prescribed components provide a foundation upon which each student builds an individualized degree. Flexible emphases, supported by faculty expertise, permit elective areas of study in performance, choreography, collaboration, education, history, contemporary issues, and dance science. The program emphasizes modern dance with ballet as a strong supporting area.

Goals

The MFA in dance is designed to develop

• individual creative and scholarly talents, interests, and philosophies that can be used to expand and preserve our cultural heritage
• individuals with the potential to solve contemporary problems in dance and to explore and address new questions and issues
• professional competence in the dissemination of knowledge, including the logical, verbal, and written presentation of aesthetic ideas
• scholarly competence in the organization, evaluation, and interpretation of knowledge
• professional competence as reflected in a significant body of artistic work

Master of Fine Arts

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Theory Core
DAN 558	Music for Dancers	3
DAN 602	Supervised College Teaching 1	3
DAN 607	Seminar: [Topic] 2	9
DAN 611	Research Methods in Dance	3
DAN 692	Dance Literature	3
DAN 693	Aesthetic Bases for Dance in Art and Education	3
Performance and Choreography Core
DAN 594	Modern Dance Laboratory 2	18
DAN 606	Special Problems: [Topic] (Composition)	9
DAN 508	Workshop: [Topic] (Rehearsal and Performance) 3	4
DAN 608	Workshop: [Topic] (Rehearsal and Performance) 3	4
Electives
Dance electives 4		16-24
Other electives 5		8-16
Terminal Projects
DAN 503	Thesis	9
DAN 613	MFA Professional Paper	9
Total Credits		109

1	Every term during the first year.
2	Every term.
3	Complete by the end of second year winter term. These courses, approved by the major advisor, are selected from fields related to the student’s research. At least 4 credits must be earned outside the department before beginning the thesis.
4	Electives include, but are not limited to, courses in production, technique, performance, choreography, dance sciences, dance studies, pedagogy, and collaboration.
5	At least 8 credit must be in course work other than dance. 4 credits must be completed by the end of the second year. These may be either graduate or undergraduate credits.

Candidates must spend at least three years in residence to complete the degree.

Completed Undergraduate Course Work Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Improvisation		2
Dance composition		6
Music for dancers		3
Dance history		6
Dance pedagogy		4
Dance kinesiology		3
Dance production		3
Total Credits		27

Upon consultation with the graduate director, students may use graduate-level work for the master’s degree to correct deficiencies.

Satisfactory Progress toward a Master’s Degree in Dance

1. Qualified students are admitted to the dance master’s degree program with conditional master’s classification. The classification is changed to unconditional master’s after a student has
   1. corrected undergraduate deficiencies
   2. completed 12 graduate dance credits with minimum grades of B– or P
   3. achieved a technical skill equivalent to that achieved in Modern Dance Laboratory (DAN 594). Studio classes taken to prepare for 500-level DAN courses must be passed with minimum letter grades of B–
      Students must achieve unconditional master’s classification before they have completed 36 credits of graduate work
2. Students must meet with a graduate advisor each term to draw up course advising contracts, which ensure that courses taken fulfill university and department requirements
3. DAN graduate courses must be passed with minimum grades of P or B– or better. Courses must be retaken at the next scheduled offering if satisfactory grades are not received. The student may be dropped from the program if a minimum grade of P or B– is not earned on the second try
4. Technique and core courses (except Workshop: [Topic] (DAN 508) and Workshop: [Topic] (DAN 608)) must be taken for letter grades. A minimum of 24 graduate credits must be taken for letter grades; the remaining credits may be taken pass/no pass (P/N). P is the equivalent of a B– letter grade or better
5. Courses in dance should be completed the first term they are offered during graduate study. Requests for exceptions are considered by the graduate director and the student’s advisor
6. Students must have a GPA of 3.00 or better in course work used to meet the requirements of a master’s degree
7. With the exception of Thesis (DAN 503), no more than one incomplete (I) may be earned each term and no more than two each year. Students have one calendar year or less to finish an incomplete, depending on the nature of the course and the instructor’s requirements

MA and MS Requirements

A minimum of 54 graduate credits must be completed for an MA or MS degree in dance; at least 30 of these credits must be earned in residence after admission to the graduate program. Candidates for the MA degree must demonstrate proficiency in one second language by submitting evidence of two years of college-level study within the previous seven years or by passing an examination at the university Testing Office, 238 University Health and Counseling Center Building.

Students must enroll in a technique course every term during their studies in residence and earn a minimum of 6 credits in 500-level DAN courses. These 6 credits must be taken for letter grades.

Students must take a minimum of 2 credits in Supervised College Teaching (DAN 602). The department recommends that these credits be earned in at least two teaching experiences, which provide opportunities to develop mentor relationships with faculty members.

A final oral thesis defense or terminal project presentation is administered by the student’s faculty committee following completion of the thesis or project.

Master’s Degree with Thesis

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Core Courses
DAN 611	Research Methods in Dance	3
DAN 692	Dance Literature	3
DAN 693	Aesthetic Bases for Dance in Art and Education	3
Requirement
DAN 602	Supervised College Teaching 1	2
DAN 607	Seminar: [Topic]	1-5
Electives
DAN electives selected in consultation with advisor 2		23
Graduate courses outside department 3		8-16
Thesis
DAN 503	Thesis	9
Total Credits		52-64

1	The department recommends that these credits be earned in at least two teaching experiences, which provide opportunities to develop mentor relationships with faculty members.
2	Early in their programs, students should enroll in graduate-level choreography courses.
3	Complete by the end of winter term of the second year. These undergraduate- or graduate-level courses, approved by the major advisor, are selected from fields related to the student’s research. At least 4 credits must be earned outside the department before beginning the thesis. The prospectus for the thesis must be approved by fall term of the second year.

The thesis proposal must be approved by a committee of at least three faculty members representing fields of study related to the student's research. The chair of the committee must be from the Department of Dance. Graduate School requirements are to be followed in the preparation and defense of the thesis. Refer to "Thesis Guidelines," available in the department office, and the Thesis and Dissertation Style and Policy Manual, available from the Graduate School’s website.

Completed Undergraduate Course Work Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Improvisation
Dance composition
Music for dancers
Dance history
Dance pedagogy
Dance kinesiology
Dance production

Courses are assessed by the graduate director upon entry. Students may use graduate-level work for the master’s degree to correct deficiencies.

Master’s Degree without Thesis

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Core Courses
DAN 611	Research Methods in Dance	3
DAN 692	Dance Literature	3
DAN 693	Aesthetic Bases for Dance in Art and Education	3
Requirement
DAN 602	Supervised College Teaching 1	2
DAN 607	Seminar: [Topic]	1-5
Electives
DAN electives selected in consultation with advisor 2		19
Graduate or undergraduate courses related to dance 3		8-16
Project-related courses 4		9
Total Credits		48-60

1	The department recommends that these credits be earned in at least two teaching experiences, which provide opportunities to develop mentor relationships with faculty members.
2	Early in their programs, students should enroll in graduate-level choreography courses.
3	Complete by the end of winter term of the second year. These courses, approved by the major advisor, are selected from fields related to the student’s research.
4	Courses may be within or outside the department and must be approved by advisor.

A project is required in the area of concentration. A proposal must be approved by a project committee representing the area of concentration in dance.

Completed Undergraduate Course Work Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Improvisation		2
Dance composition		6
Music for dancers		3
Dance history		6
Dance pedagogy		4
Dance kinesiology		3
Dance production		3
Total Credits		27

Upon consultation with the graduate director, students may use graduate-level work for the master’s degree to correct deficiencies.