Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Dance, BA


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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.

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.

Physical Education


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

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (3 units)


At SJSU, students must pass a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course with a grade of C or better (C- not accepted) is required to meet graduation requirements. Exceptions to the GWAR may be found in the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)  section.

Major Preparation (9 units)


Complete One Course From:


Complete One Course From:


Major Requirements (53 units)


Dance Technique, Performance and Choreography (36 units)


Dance Technique (18 units)


Complete at least six units of DANC 154A and/or DANC 154B. All Dance technique classes are repeatable for credit.

Culminating Experience (2 units)


Performance (6 units)


Any combination of the following courses:

University Electives (16 units)


By advisement: 9 units must be outside of the dance area.

Total Units Required (120 units)


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