The B.S. in Dance Studies with Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education is a degree with a rigorous foundation in both the arts and sciences. The program has a strong emphasis on both the “how” and “why” of dance, with a solid grounding in not only the physical, but also the cultural, historical, aesthetic, entrepreneurial, therapeutic, and theoretical functions of dance. The Dance Studies program prepares graduates for employment, graduate degrees, and/or certification programs in such areas as dance performance, choreography, dance education, production/stage management, arts administration, dance therapy, dance science/medicine, dance history, dance wellness, dance theory and research, somatic therapies, and movement analysis.
Emphasizing the development of the well-rounded dance artist living and working within a global and technological community, we are forwarding the concept of the “thinking dancer” through this program. The relatively small class sizes allow our professional faculty to work closely with each dancer, guiding them individually in their preparation and career pathway. The spirit of creative investigation, original research, and development of connections are main themes - courses stress personal creativity, individual growth, and strong dance training, within a greater context of collaboration and social awareness. The Dance Studies program will provide an excellent means of gaining in-depth knowledge of the art form and its related fields through multi-faceted training in performance, theory, wellness, interdisciplinarity, pedagogy, and current modes of research. The Dance Studies major can be easily paired with a minor or potentially another major in the student’s area of interest.
Students seeking initial certification at the early childhood and childhood levels may double major in Dance Studies and Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education. Students in this double major are required to have a minimum overall GPA of 2.7 before moving into INCH coursework which typically begins fall semester of the junior year.
Dance Studies with Inclusive Early Childhood/Childhood Education Program Requirements