Dance - Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

Requirements

Admission Requirements

Students who did not pre-audition into the BFA program and who wish to pursue the BFA can audition during the fall semester of their freshman or sophomore year. If the student is a sophomore auditioning for the BFA, they must be enrolled in or have taken DNCE 3033 or DNCE 3043 in order to be on track to graduate in four years.

Application guidelines for the BFA track are posted each fall semester. The undergraduate director will notify students of faculty decisions regarding their audition. If a student is admitted to the program, they should talk to their primary advisor to have their degree status officially changed from BA to BFA. 

The characteristics that the faculty looks for in BFA students are:

• Exceptional technical/expressive ability as demonstrated in class work and performance.
• ​Choreographic skill or potential as demonstrated through movement invention and appropriate clarity of structure
• Willingness and drive necessary to pursue a professional career in dance.
• Exceptional musicality and rhythmic precision.
• Maturity, organization and a positive attitude.

Required Courses and Credit Hours

Additional Requirements

In addition to specified coursework, the BFA student must meet the following requirements:

• Show original choreographic work each semester in Open Space, FRESH or Dance Class Showings.
• Present a concert in conjunction with other senior BFA's in the spring of their senior year.
• By December of their junior year, the student must have formed a committee of two faculty members who will evaluate their concert. The student and First Reader (lead faculty member) of the committee will complete a BFA Concert Form that is given to the Director of Dance Production by January 31 junior year. The Director of Dance Production will help you plan and oversee the production aspects of the show.
• Maintain a 3.2 GPA in required dance and theatre courses. If a student drops below the required GPA by the time of their concert proposal submission (January 31), they will be removed from the BFA and their concert proposal will no longer be considered.

Graduating in Four Years

Consult the Four-Year Guarantee Requirements for more information on eligibility. The concept of "adequate progress" as it is used here only refers to maintaining eligibility for the four-year guarantee; it is not a requirement for the major. To maintain adequate progress toward a BFA in dance, students should meet the requirements in the Four-Year Plan section.

Four-Year Plan of Study

Through the required coursework for the major, students will fulfill all 12 credits of the Arts & Humanities area of the Gen Ed Distribution Requirement and will fulfill the Global Perspective category of the Gen Ed Diversity Requirement.