Dance BS
Major: Dance
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 186.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code: 50.0399
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 25-1121; 27-2031; 27-2032
About the Program
The dance program at Drexel University provides intensive exploration of dance in its physical, intellectual, creative and therapeutic aspects. The major is designed for students to focus on one of the following four concentrations:
- Dance/Movement Therapy
- Dance in Education
- Physical Therapy
- Performance
The dance major at Drexel University has a unique curriculum design and focus. This program combines rigorous academic coursework with extensive stage and studio dance experiences to prepare students for four possible career paths within dance: dance/movement therapy, dance in education, physical therapy and performance. Students participating in this major will earn a BS degree in dance with an optional minor in psychology.
Students focused on dance/movement therapy will prepare for jobs as dance/movement therapists. These are psychological counselors working in a variety of settings including hospitals, out-patient clinics and residential treatment centers. Students pursuing this option will earn a BS degree in dance at the Westphal College, through the Department of Performing Arts, for the first four years of study. They will then have the option to continue on to two years of study in the College of Nursing and Health Professions to earn an MA in Creative Arts in Therapy and become a licensed dance therapist.
The second career focus, dance in education, prepares students for jobs as elementary school teachers (grades Pre-K through 4) who may also serve as school dance specialists. Students choosing this option will earn a BS degree in dance through the Department of Performing Arts and may elect to continue for a fifth year of study to earn an MS in the Teaching, Learning & Curriculum through the School of Education. Students who successfully complete the five year BS/MS option in education will then be recommended to the State for a Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate in the area of Elementary Education for Pre-K to 4 certification, general education.
The third career focus, physical therapy, prepares students to work as physical therapists in a variety of settings, including hospitals, treatment centers, schools, and private practice. Students interested in the physical therapy option will complete the four-year BS degree in dance, along with a series of recommended electives in the physical sciences. After completion of the BS degree, students will continue their education for an additional three years in the College of Nursing and Health Professions to earn a DPT and become a licensed physical therapist.
The fourth option, custom design, allows students to work closely with faculty to create a personalized career in dance. Many students in this focus select performance, which prepares them to work as performers and/or choreographers in a variety of settings. Students interested in the performance option will complete the four-year BS degree in dance, with an emphasis on collaborative and interdisciplinary work.
The student who enters the dance major at Drexel University is an academically achieving student who has a deep curiosity for non-traditional careers in the field of dance. He or she is looking for extensive experiences to improve as a dancer, choreographer and performer while being stimulated academically. This student wants to study dance—-both physically and cognitively—in college while being offered the possibility of gainful employment after graduation.
Additional Information
For more information about this major, visit the Westphal College's Dance webpage.
Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements | ||
CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development | 1.0 |
ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
MATH 171 | Introduction to Analysis A | 3.0 |
MATH 172 | Introduction to Analysis B | 3.0 |
PSY 101 | General Psychology I | 3.0 |
PSY 120 | Developmental Psychology | 3.0 |
PSY 240 [WI] | Abnormal Psychology | 3.0 |
UNIV A101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
Two English (ENGL) electives | 6.0 | |
One Art or Humanities elective | 3.0 | |
Two Natural Science electives | 8.0 | |
Free electives | 40.0 | |
Dance Major Requirements | ||
Foundation and Theory Requirements | ||
ARTH 103 | History of Art III | 3.0 |
DANC 108 | Dance Improvisation I | 2.0 |
DANC 115 | Introduction to Dance | 3.0 |
DANC 116 | Dance and Fitness | 3.0 |
DANC 117 | Foundations of Somatic Theory and Practice | 3.0 |
DANC 135 | Rhythmic Study for Dance | 3.0 |
DANC 215 | Dance Appreciation | 3.0 |
DANC 216 | Introduction to Laban Movement Analysis | 3.0 |
DANC 221 | Survey of Dance and Movement Therapy | 3.0 |
DANC 222 | Dance Pedagogy | 3.0 |
DANC 235 | Dance Composition I | 3.0 |
DANC 315 | Twentieth Century Dance | 3.0 |
DANC 316 | Dance Kinesiology | 3.0 |
DANC 335 | Dance Composition II | 3.0 |
DANC 415 | Dance Aesthetics and Criticism | 3.0 |
DANC 481 | Senior Seminar in Dance | 1.0 |
DANC 491 | Senior Project in Dance * | 3.0 |
MUSC 331 | World Musics | 3.0 |
NFS 100 & NFS 101 | Nutrition, Foods, and Health and Introduction to Nutrition & Food | 3.0 |
THTR 240 | Theatre Production I | 3.0 |
Performance Requirements | ||
DANC 131 | Dance Practicum in Performance ** | 11.0 |
or DANC 133 | Dance Practicum in Choreography | |
Technique Requirements | ||
DANC 104 | Ballet Technique I *** | 4.0 |
DANC 105 | Modern Dance Technique I *** | 4.0 |
DANC 204 | Ballet Technique II † | 6.0 |
DANC 205 | Modern Dance Technique II † | 6.0 |
DANC 304 | Ballet Dance Technique III *** | 4.0 |
DANC 305 | Modern Dance Technique III *** | 4.0 |
Select two terms of one of the following: | 4.0 | |
Jazz Dance Technique I *** | ||
Hip-Hop Dance Technique I *** | ||
African Dance Technique I *** | ||
Select one of the following: | 2.0 | |
Jazz Dance Technique II | ||
Hip-Hop Dance Technique II | ||
African Dance Technique II | ||
Jazz Dance Technique III | ||
Hip- Hop Technique Class III | ||
African Technique Class III | ||
Total Credits | 186.0 |
- *
1.0 credit course repeated for a total of 3.0 credits
- **
For DANC 131: Sections 001, 005, 006, 007, 008 ONLY
1.0 credit course repeated 11 times for 11.0 credis.
- ***
2.0 credit course repeated for a total of 4.0 credits
- †
2.0 credit course repeated for a total of 6.0 credits
Optional Concentrations
Students may select one of the two following concentrations in the Dance BS, or they may elect not to undertake a concentration. The required courses in the concentration will count towards to the free electives to complete the major.
Dance majors who wish to pursue the Physical Therapy track should expect to use all 8 credit hours of natural science elective and 40 free elective credit hours, plus an addition of 11.5 credit hours to fulfill the science course requirement.
Dance/Movement Therapy Concentration:
Concentration Requirements | ||
PSY 212 | Physiological Psychology | 3.0 |
PSY 320 [WI] | Educational Psychology | 3.0 |
PSY 330 | Cognitive Psychology | 3.0 |
PSY 342 | Counseling Psychology | 3.0 |
Two Additional Psychology Electives | 6.0 | |
Total Credits | 18.0 |
Physical Therapy Concentration:
Concentration Requirements | ||
BIO 131 & BIO 134 | Cells and Biomolecules and Cells and Biomolecules Lab | 5.0 |
BIO 132 & BIO 135 | Genetics and Evolution and Genetics and Evolution Lab | 5.0 |
BIO 133 & BIO 136 | Physiology and Ecology and Anatomy and Ecology Lab | 5.0 |
CHEM 101 | General Chemistry I | 3.5 |
CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II | 4.5 |
CHEM 103 | General Chemistry III | 4.5 |
HSCI 101 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 5.0 |
HSCI 102 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 5.0 |
HSCI 103 | Anatomy and Physiology III | 5.0 |
PHYS 152 | Introductory Physics I | 4.0 |
PHYS 153 | Introductory Physics II | 4.0 |
PHYS 154 | Introductory Physics III | 4.0 |
One of the following | 4.5 | |
Statistics for Health Sciences | ||
Advanced Statistics for the Health Sciences | ||
Total Credits | 59.0 |
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.
Sample Plan of Study
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
DANC 104 | 2.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | VACATION | |
DANC 105 | 2.0 | DANC 105 | 2.0 | DANC 104 | 2.0 | ||
DANC 116 | 3.0 | DANC 117 | 3.0 | DANC 115 | 3.0 | ||
DANC 131 | 1.0 | DANC 131 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | ||
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | DANC 135 | 3.0 | PSY 101 | 3.0 | ||
MATH 171 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||
NFS 100 | 2.0 | MATH 172 | 3.0 | Select one of the following: | 2.0 | ||
NFS 101 | 1.0 | ||||||
UNIV A101 | 1.0 | ||||||
18 | 16 | 17 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ARTH 103 | 3.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 |
DANC 108 | 2.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 204 | 2.0 | DANC 204 | 2.0 |
DANC 131 | 1.0 | DANC 221 | 3.0 | DANC 205 | 2.0 | DANC 215 | 3.0 |
DANC 205 | 2.0 | DANC 222 | 3.0 | MUSC 331 | 3.0 | Arts & Humanities elective | 3.0 |
DANC 216 | 3.0 | DANC 235 | 3.0 | THTR 240 | 3.0 | English (ENGL) elective | 3.0 |
PSY 240 | 3.0 | PSY 120 | 3.0 | Free Electives | 6.0 | Free elective | 3.0 |
Select one of the following: | 2.0 | ||||||
14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | ||
DANC 204 | 2.0 | DANC 304 | 2.0 | ||||
DANC 205 | 2.0 | DANC 305 | 2.0 | ||||
DANC 315 | 3.0 | DANC 335 | 3.0 | ||||
DANC 316 | 3.0 | Natural Science elective | 4.0 | ||||
DANC 481 | 1.0 | Free electives | 6.0 | ||||
Select one of the following: | 2.0 | ||||||
0 | 0 | 14 | 18 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 415 | 3.0 | ||
DANC 305 | 2.0 | DANC 491 | 1.0 | DANC 491 | 1.0 | ||
DANC 491 | 1.0 | DANC 305 | 2.0 | English (ENGL) elective | 3.0 | ||
Free electives | 6.0 | Natural Science elective | 4.0 | Free electives | 6.0 | ||
Select two of the following: | 4.0 | Free electives | 6.0 | ||||
14 | 14 | 13 | |||||
Total Credits 186 |
- *
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
On Campus Full Time Students with Dance/Movement Therapy Concentration:
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
DANC 104 | 2.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | DANC 104 | 2.0 | VACATION | |
DANC 105 | 2.0 | DANC 105 | 2.0 | DANC 115 | 3.0 | ||
DANC 116 | 3.0 | DANC 117 | 3.0 | DANC 131 | 1.0 | ||
DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 131 | 1.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | DANC 135 | 3.0 | PSY 101 | 3.0 | ||
MATH 171 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | Free elective | 3.0 | ||
NFS 100 | 2.0 | MATH 172 | 3.0 | Select one of the following: | 2.0 | ||
NFS 101 | 1.0 | ||||||
UNIV A101 | 1.0 | ||||||
18 | 16 | 17 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
ARTH 103 | 3.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 |
DANC 108 | 2.0 | DANC 131 | 1.0 | DANC 204 | 2.0 | DANC 204 | 2.0 |
DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 221 or 133 | 3.0 | DANC 205 | 2.0 | DANC 215 | 3.0 |
DANC 205 | 2.0 | DANC 222 | 3.0 | MUSC 331 | 3.0 | ENGL Elective | 3.0 |
DANC 216 | 3.0 | DANC 235 | 3.0 | THTR 240 | 3.0 | Arts & Humanities Elective | 3.0 |
PSY 240 | 3.0 | PSY 120 | 3.0 | PSY Elective | 3.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 |
Select one of the following: | 2.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||||
14 | 16 | 17 | 15 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | ||
DANC 204 | 2.0 | DANC 304 | 2.0 | ||||
DANC 205 | 2.0 | DANC 305 | 2.0 | ||||
DANC 315 or 305 | 3.0 | DANC 335 | 3.0 | ||||
DANC 316 | 3.0 | Natural Science Elective | 4.0 | ||||
DANC 481 | 1.0 | PSY Electives | 6.0 | ||||
Select one of the following: | 2.0 | ||||||
0 | 0 | 14 | 18 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 415 | 3.0 | ||
DANC 305 | 2.0 | DANC 305 | 2.0 | DANC 491 | 1.0 | ||
DANC 491 | 1.0 | DANC 491 | 1.0 | ENGL Elective | 3.0 | ||
Free Elective | 3.0 | Natural Science Elective | 4.0 | Free Elective | 3.0 | ||
PSY Elective | 3.0 | PSY Electives | 6.0 | PSY Elective | 3.0 | ||
Select two of the following: | 4.0 | ||||||
14 | 14 | 13 | |||||
Total Credits 186 |
- *
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
On campus Full Time students with Physical Therapy Concentration:
First Year | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
BIO 131 | 4.0 | CIVC 101 | 1.0 | BIO 133 | 4.0 | VACATION | |
BIO 134 | 1.0 | BIO 132 | 4.0 | BIO 136 | 1.0 | ||
DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | BIO 135 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | ||
DANC 104 | 2.0 | DANC 105 | 2.0 | DANC 104 | 2.0 | ||
DANC 105 | 2.0 | DANC 117 | 3.0 | DANC 115 | 3.0 | ||
DANC 116 | 3.0 | DANC 135 | 3.0 | ENGL 103 or 113 | 3.0 | ||
ENGL 101 or 111 | 3.0 | ENGL 102 or 112 | 3.0 | PSY 101 | 3.0 | ||
MATH 171 | 3.0 | MATH 172 | 3.0 | Select one of the following: | 2.0 | ||
UNIV A101 | 1.0 | ||||||
20 | 20 | 19 | 0 | ||||
Second Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | COOP 101* | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 |
DANC 108 | 2.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 204 | 2.0 | DANC 215 | 3.0 |
DANC 204 | 2.0 | DANC 205 | 2.0 | DANC 205 | 2.0 | HSCI 345 | 4.5 |
DANC 216 | 3.0 | DANC 221 | 3.0 | THTR 240 | 3.0 | ENGL Elective | 3.0 |
ARTH 103 | 3.0 | DANC 222 | 3.0 | HSCI 103 | 5.0 | Select one of the following: | 2.0 |
HSCI 101 | 5.0 | DANC 235 | 3.0 | PSY 120 | 3.0 | ||
PSY 240 | 3.0 | HSCI 102 | 5.0 | ||||
19 | 18 | 16 | 13.5 | ||||
Third Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
COOP EXPERIENCE | COOP EXPERIENCE | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | ||
DANC 204 | 2.0 | DANC 205 | 2.0 | ||||
DANC 315 | 3.0 | DANC 335 | 3.0 | ||||
DANC 316 | 3.0 | NFS 100 | 2.0 | ||||
DANC 481 | 1.0 | NFS 101 | 1.0 | ||||
PHYS 152 | 4.0 | PHYS 153 | 4.0 | ||||
Arts & Humanities Elective | 3.0 | ||||||
0 | 0 | 14 | 16 | ||||
Fourth Year | |||||||
Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
CHEM 101 | 3.5 | CHEM 102 | 4.5 | CHEM 103 | 4.5 | ||
DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | DANC 131 or 133 | 1.0 | ||
DANC 304 | 2.0 | DANC 304 | 2.0 | DANC 305 | 2.0 | ||
DANC 305 | 2.0 | DANC 491 | 1.0 | DANC 415 | 3.0 | ||
DANC 491 | 1.0 | ENGL Elective | 3.0 | DANC 491 | 1.0 | ||
PHYS 154 | 4.0 | Select one of the following: | 2.0 | MUSC 331 | 3.0 | ||
13.5 | 13.5 | 14.5 | |||||
Total Credits 197 |
Co-op/Career Opportunities
The dance major is designed for students to focus on one of four career options. Several of the concentrations lead to graduate study at Drexel or may be completed at the end of four years. Each also includes a co-op experience that allows for extended interaction with professionals in dance therapy, physical therapy, education, and performance. Students wishing to change career focus throughout the course of the undergraduate curriculum will have the option to do so.
Students focusing on dance/movement therapy participate in a six month co-op experience during the spring and summer terms of their junior year. These students may participate in co-op with a practicing dance/movement therapist, community dance artist, or mental health professional in a mental health, social service, rehabilitation, medical, special education or community arts setting.
Students focusing on physical therapy, will participate in a six month co-op in which they work in a setting with a physical therapist, such as a hospital, treatment center, school, or private practice. Co-op experiences where students are able to work with physical therapists working on dancers as clients will be encouraged.
Students focusing on dance in education participate in after school dance programs, artist in residence school partnerships and auditorium lecture demonstration programs as part of a touring dance company run by the dance program at Drexel, or other dance education focused activities in a school or studio setting, during the fall and winter of their junior year as their co-op experience.
Students focusing on custom design or performance may participate in a six month co-op including performance, administration, production, event planning and grant writing. Students interested in performance will work with professional choreographers to experience multiple aspects of creating a sustainable life in performance and/or choreography.
Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.