The BFA in Dance is a performance-oriented contemporary dance program designed to prepare students professionally as performers, choreographers, educators, and active leaders of the dance community. Students in this program demonstrate technical mastery and devote their college study to an intensive and comprehensive dance curriculum.
Daily technical training in modern dance and ballet, and numerous performance opportunities develops a versatile dancer. Student progress in the BFA program is assessed consistently. Because of the professional nature of the BFA degree, the program requires completion of 1261 credits of coursework.
| 1 | Edited on May 28, 2020. The program was incorrectly published with a 121 credit total. |
Admissions
Entrance to the program is by audition. Information about the audition process, including dates and audition application, can be found on the school web page, or by calling the dance office at 703-993-1114. Admission to the university is determined by the Admissions Office.
Policies
For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.
Degree Requirements1
Total credits: 126
Mason Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Written Communication | ||
| ENGH 101 | Composition (Mason Core) 1 | 3 |
| ENGH 302 | Advanced Composition (Mason Core) 1 | 3 |
| Foundation Requirements | ||
| Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Information Technology | 3 | |
| Core Requirements | ||
| Literature | 3 | |
| Natural Science 2 | 7 | |
| Western Civilization/World History | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
| 1 | Nonnative speakers of English with limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGH 100 Composition for Multilingual Writers (Mason Core) for ENGH 101 Composition (Mason Core). Students must attain a minimum grade of C in ENGH 100 Composition for Multilingual Writers (Mason Core) or ENGH 101 Composition (Mason Core), as well as in ENGH 302 Advanced Composition (Mason Core), to fulfill degree requirements. |
| 2 | Must include one laboratory science. |
Dance Major Core
Additional technique and performance credits beyond those required in the major core may be applied to dance electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DANC 114 | Rhythmic Analysis and Music Resources for Dance | 3 |
| Select one from the following: 1 | 3 | |
| World Dance (Mason Core) | ||
| Global Perspectives: World Dance Forms (Mason Core) | ||
| Global Dance Intensive (Mason Core) | ||
| DANC 150 | Dance Improvisation | 3 |
| DANC 170 | Orientation to Dance Production | 1 |
| DANC 190 | First Year Seminar | 0 |
| DANC 210 | Anatomy and Kinesiology for Dance | 3 |
| DANC 251 | Dance Composition I | 3 |
| DANC 252 | Dance Composition II | 3 |
| DANC 270 | Dance Production Lab | 1 |
| DANC 360 | Choreography | 3 |
| DANC 362 | RS: Directed Choreography | 1 |
| Four Credits of: | 4 | |
| Dance Performance | ||
or DANC 371 | Residency Workshop | |
| DANC 372 | Advanced Dance Production | 1 |
| DANC 390 | Dance History I (Mason Core) | 3 |
| DANC 391 | Dance History II (Mason Core) | 3 |
| DANC 410 | Introduction to Contemporary Movement Theories | 3 |
| DANC 454 | Methods of Teaching Dance (Mason Core) | 3 |
| DANC 490 | Senior Dance Seminar (Mason Core) | 3 |
| Select 18 credits from the following: | 18 | |
| Modern/Contemporary Dance III (Mason Core) 2 | ||
| Modern/Contemporary Dance IV (Mason Core) | ||
| Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Ballet III (Mason Core) | ||
| Ballet IV | ||
| Dance Electives | ||
| Select 15 credits from the following: | 15 | |
| World Dance (Mason Core) | ||
| Dance in Popular Culture: Afro-Latino Dance (Mason Core) | ||
| Special Topics in Dance | ||
| Beginning Jazz Technique (Mason Core) | ||
| Beginning Tap Dance (Mason Core) | ||
| Modern/Contemporary Dance II (Mason Core) | ||
| Intermediate Jazz Technique (Mason Core) | ||
| Ballet II (Mason Core) | ||
| Global Perspectives: World Dance Forms (Mason Core) | ||
| Introduction to Dance Conditioning | ||
| Modern/Contemporary Dance III (Mason Core) | ||
| Advanced Jazz Dance (Mason Core) | ||
| Ballet III (Mason Core) | ||
| RS: Directed Choreography | ||
| Dance Performance | ||
| Residency Workshop | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Introduction to Contemporary Movement Theories | ||
| Global Dance Intensive (Mason Core) | ||
| Special Topics in Dance | ||
| Modern/Contemporary Dance IV (Mason Core) | ||
| Ballet IV | ||
| Teaching Creative Movement | ||
Or other courses approved by the School of Dance Director or Advisor | ||
| Total Credits | 86 | |
| 1 | Meets Mason Core global understanding requirement |
| 2 | Three credits will meet the Mason Core arts requirement. |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BFA majors are encouraged to complete coursework in any of the following areas to enhance their artistry: | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| 1 | Edited on May 28, 2020. The total credit requirements were initially published as 121, but the change was missing the required SCHEV approval. These edits are a correction in order to maintain compliance with SCHEV policy. |
Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Sample Plan of Study
The sample plan below is a recommended sequencing of courses based on pre-requisites and scheduling. This may not fit every student's needs and is a guideline, not a requirement. Students should confirm major requirements with their academic advisor and with PatriotWeb Degree Evaluation to ensure they enroll in the proper courses and are on track to graduate.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| ENGH 101 | 3 | Mason Core (Western Civilization) | 3 |
| MATH 106 | 3 | DANC 210 | 3 |
| DANC 150 | 3 | DANC 251 | 3 |
| DANC 170 | 1 | DANC 270 | 1 |
| DANC 325 (two sections: 2 cr & 1cr) | 3 | DANC 325 (two sections: 2 cr & 1 cr) | 3 |
| DANC 345 (1 credit each section) | 3 | DANC 345 (1 credit each section) | 2 |
| DANC 190 | 0 | DANC 370 | 1 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| Mason Core (Literature) | 3 | Mason Core (Lab Science) | 4 |
| Mason Core (Social Science) | 3 | DANC 325 (two sections: 1 cr & 1 cr) | 2 |
| DANC 114 | 3 | DANC 345 (1 credit each section) | 2 |
| DANC 252 | 3 | DANC 360 | 3 |
| DANC 325 (1 credit each section) | 2 | DANC 372 | 1 |
| DANC 345 (1 credit each section) | 2 | DANC 410 | 3 |
| DANC 370 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| DANC 425 & DANC 325 | 2 | General Elective | 3 |
| DANC 445 & DANC 345 | 2 | DANC 425 & DANC 325 | 2 |
| DANC 390 | 3 | DANC 445 & DANC 345 | 2 |
| Mason Core (Non-Lab Science) | 3 | DANC 391 | 3 |
| Mason Core (ENGH 302) | 3 | DANC 370 | 1 |
| Elective | 3 | DANC 362 | 1 |
| Dance Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall Semester | Credits | Spring Semester | Credits |
| Mason Core (IT) | 3 | Mason Core (Global) | 3 |
| DANC 425 & DANC 325 | 3 | DANC 425 & DANC 325 | 3 |
| DANC 445 & DANC 345 | 3 | DANC 445 & DANC 345 | 2 |
| DANC 370 & DANC 371 | 1 | DANC 370 | 1 |
| DANC 454 | 3 | DANC 490 | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 126 | |||
Detailed four year plans and degree planning checklists can be found at https://advising.gmu.edu/current-student/majors-at-mason/.