School of Arts & Humanities · Bachelor’s degree
Bachelor’s in Dance
Develop your artistry as a performer, choreographer, and teacher.
Ready to grow as a dancer? MVU’s dance major builds your technique in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern, and develops your choreography, performance, and teaching skills, finishing with a senior project.
120
credit hours to graduate
46–59
credit hours in the major
On campus
in Marshall, Missouri
4 years
at a full-time pace
Why dance at MVU
Create, perform, and connect
Train in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern, create your own work, perform with the Repertory Dance Ensemble, and connect with the dance world beyond campus.
Choreography
Learn improvisation and choreography and create your own work.
Performance
Perform with the Repertory Dance Ensemble and complete a senior project.
Industry connections
Meet people working in dance and gain experience beyond the classroom with competitions, performances, studios, and other industry professionals.
Is this program for me?
This program may be a great fit if you want to…
- Perform on stage.
- Create your own choreography.
- Teach dance.
- Understand dance history and the body.
What will I learn to do?
Skills you’ll practice and grow
- Care for your body through safe dance practices.
- Explain your creative work in writing and speech.
- Show the intention of your work as a performer and choreographer.
- Improve your technique.
- Place dance in historical and social context.
How the degree works
How your 120 credit hours add up
Here’s how the degree is built. Your advisor helps you choose courses each term.
01
General education core
At least 42 credit hours across writing, speaking, math, science, social science, and the humanities.
02
Core dance courses
Conditioning, improvisation, choreography, dance history, portfolio, senior project, music, and kinesiology.
03
Technique and performance
Technique classes in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern, plus 4 hours of performance and 9 hours of dance electives.
04
Electives or a minor
Use the rest of your 120 hours for electives, a minor, or even a second major.
Good to know: To complete the major, you’ll finish a senior project in dance under the supervision of a dance instructor.
Explore the curriculum
What you’ll study
Here are the courses in the major. Your advisor helps you plan the order.
Core courses (18 credit hours)
- DANC 115 Conditioning for Dancers
- DANC 250 Dance Improvisation
- DANC 300 Choreography I
- DANC 301 History of Dance
- DANC 480 Dance Portfolio (1 credit)
- DANC 485 Senior Project in Dance (2 credits)
- EXSI 334 Kinesiology
- Any 3 credit hours of music (MUSC)
Technique
- Choose from Ballet I, II, and III, Tap I and II, Jazz I and II, and Modern I, II, and III (2 credits each)
Performance (4 credit hours)
- DANC 299/499 Repertory Dance Ensemble (2 credits)
Electives (9 credit hours)
- 5 credit hours from Choreography II, a dance internship, independent study, or special topics
- 4 credit hours from any dance courses
General education core (at least 42 credit hours)
- Social and behavioral science (9 hours) from at least two subjects, including one constitution course: HIST 104, HIST 105, or POLS 100
- Written communication (6 hours): ENGL 130 Rhetoric and Composition, plus ENGL 160 or HONR 190
- Oral communication (3 hours), such as COMM 100 Public Speaking & Introduction to Communication
- Natural science: 7 hours from at least two subjects, including a lab (BS); 3 hours (BA and BFA)
- Mathematics (3 hours)
- Humanities and fine arts: 9 hours (BS) or 12 hours (BA and BFA) from at least three subjects, covering the arts and creativity, ethics, and culture and society
- Additional general education from any area, to reach at least 42 hours
- Plus one Writing Intensive (WI) course and one Service Learning (SL) course, which can overlap with other requirements
Graduation requirements
- Complete at least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- Earn a major GPA of 2.0 or higher, with no grade below C and no pass/fail grades in the major.
- Complete at least 36 credit hours of upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses.
- Complete your last 30 credit hours, and at least 12 hours of your major, at MVU.
- Complete the major assessment requirement.
- Apply for graduation and pay the $100 graduation fee.
Getting started
Three steps to begin
Applying to MVU is free, and most students finish the application in a few minutes.
02
Send your transcripts
Send your high school transcript, plus official transcripts from any college or dual credit courses. Transferring? See the transfer steps.
03
Plan how you’ll pay
Explore scholarships, grants, and loans on Tuition & Financial Aid, or request information for current tuition.
Is there a minor?
Yes. The dance minor lets students in other majors keep dancing.
Can I add a minor or a second major?
Yes. A minor is optional and appears on your transcript; it must be in a different subject than your major. You can also double major by completing all the requirements for both majors. You’ll receive one diploma.
What do I need to graduate?
- At least 120 credit hours with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- A C or higher in every major course.
- At least 36 upper-division credit hours.
- Your last 30 credit hours at MVU.
- An application for graduation and the $100 graduation fee.
Talk with the Dean
Have questions about courses, performances, or how to plan your degree? Reach out. We’re happy to talk through your goals.
Bachelor’s in Dance
