Dance, BA

The Bachelor of Arts in Dance encourages young artists to explore their talents through comprehensive study of dance technique, choreography, and performance. BA candidates also pursue dance studies in such areas as history, dance cultures, pedagogy, stage production and kinesiology, where students gain the intellectual foundation to understand the body from the perspective of history, culture, and science. Dancers are also invited to choose either contemporary dance or tap/hip hop/jazz as their technical concentration. Through the support of the department’s professionally active and diverse faculty, students are encouraged to participate in performance opportunities to refine their unique talents as creative makers, doers, and thinkers.

Auditions are required to place students in the appropriate levels.

Program Learning Outcomes

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements	42
Major Preparation	9
Major Requirements	53
University Electives	16
Total	120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

Major-Specific Graduation Requirements

All courses in the preparation and major (all courses in preparation, and core) must be completed with a grade of “C- or better”.

University Requirements

Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Abbreviations ).

Core Lower Division General Education (30 units)

Of the 39 units required by the university, 9 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details.

Upper Division General Education (6 units)

Of the 9 units required by the university, 3 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)

Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas.

The American Studies sequence (AMS 1A /AMS 1B ; 12 units) or Humanities Honors course (HUM 2B ; 6 units) satisfies the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see course descriptions for details).

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

U.S. History and Government (6 units)

Complete One US1: US History Course

AMS 10 - Stories that Make America 3 unit(s) (C2+US1)
HIST 15 - Essentials of U.S. History 3 unit(s) (D+US1)
HIST 170S - Topics in American History: American Identities and Institutions 3 unit(s) (S+US1)

Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course

AMS 11 - Visions of Democracy 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 15 - Essentials of U.S. & California Government 3 unit(s) (D+US23)
POLS 16 - Power and Ideas in American Politics 3 unit(s) (C2+US23)
POLS 170V - American Politics in Global Perspective 3 unit(s) (V+US23)

Physical Education

The Physical Education Requirement is met with the completion of the major.

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a grade of C or better (C- not accepted) to meet graduation requirements. For this major, the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) is satisfied by a course in the major.