Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 General Catalog [Current]

Dance Education (B.A., B.S.)

Location(s): Main Campus

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program Summary

Our purpose is to foster academic and artistic excellence in a nurturing and challenging educational environment. Within a liberal arts and science tradition, the dance experience at SUU engages students in a rich diversity of experiences aimed to cultivate their aesthetic, creative, and scholarly potential. Central to our purpose is superior teaching and personalized mentorship that empowers and transforms the learner to be a dynamic individual.

Program Information

To qualify for technique classes that are level II or above requires a placement audition or Department approval.
All courses must be passed with a “C” (2.0) or better to be counted in the major.
Students will complete a Capstone, which will develop original scholarship that critically evaluates and analyzes their creative practice through a written and oral defense presentation to faculty within their discipline.
Check-In Meetings will be held annually for all dance majors to assess progress and determine each student’s level of skill and competency.
Exit interviews will be held for all graduating seniors.
Every student is required to abide by the policies and procedures set up in the Departmental Student Handbook: www.suu.edu/pva/ta/pdf/student-handbook.pdf.
All dance education majors will complete levels III and IV in Jazz Dance, Modern Dance, and Ballet techniques, and will complete 2 additional courses (4 credits) within levels V and VI in the aforementioned discipline(s) of choice.
Dance Education majors not seeking secondary licensure must complete additional requirements (see below).

Education Admission Requirements

Students desiring to become candidates for licensure to teach in secondary schools (grades 7-12 dance endorsement) and/or primary schools via secondary licensure extension (grades K-12 dance endorsement) must be admitted to the secondary education program in the College of Education and Human Development (COEHD). The admission process requires a joint disposition assessment approval by the COEHD committee and the TDAA Dance Education faculty coordinator. Students are encouraged to apply no later than the spring semester of their junior year, as candidates must be accepted to the COEHD in order to complete upper-division coursework required for licensure.

Department Admission Requirements

The department admission requirements for dance education pre-licensure students include the following:

Completion of DANC 2080 - Improvisation , DANC 3350 - Ballet IV , DANC 3360 - Modern Dance IV , DANC 3320 - Jazz Dance IV , and DANC 2510 - Dance Composition I with a 3.0 GPA prior to admission. (All courses are also requirements in Dance (B.A., B.S.) .)
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Performance in one department mainstage dance concert prior to admission.
Please see Secondary Education Licensure .

Admission is on a provisional basis until students demonstrate mastery of Dance Education requirements, competencies, and skills. Upon completion of all requirements of both the Dance Education and Teacher Education Program requirements and verification of competencies and skills, students become candidates for teacher licensure.

General Education Requirement (30-35 Credits)

See General Education for course options.

Core Course Requirements (12-15 Credits)
Breadth Area Requirements (16-20 Credits)

Please note: All students must complete a minimum of 30 credits between the Core and Breadth Area requirements.

Bachelor’s Degree Type: Arts or Science Requirement (12* or 16** Credits)

Select one degree type from either Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science:

Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree Requirement (12 Credits*)

Bachelor of Science Degree - Math or Science minimum requirement 12 Credits

* Note: A portion of the B.S. requirements may be met by fulfilling the General Education Core and Breadth Areas. Because of this, these credits are typically not counted in the degree total at the bottom of page. Some students majoring in non-science fields may need additional math/science courses to reach the minimum 12 credits. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

or

Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree Requirement (16 Credits**)

Bachelor of Arts Degree - Foreign Language Requirement 16 Credits

** Note: One semester of a foreign language may also fulfill the General Education Humanities requirement. The 16 credits may be fulfilled by taking four semesters of a foreign language or by testing out of a language and purchasing the credits. These credits are typically counted in the degree total at the bottom of the page. Consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

Dance Education Curriculum (55-61 Credits)

Complete Two of the Following (4 Credits)

Complete 4 credits from the following:

DANC 3340 - Jazz Dance V 2 Credit(s) (Fall)
DANC 3370 - Ballet V 2 Credit(s) (Fall)
DANC 3380 - Modern Dance V 2 Credit(s) (Spring)
DANC 4340 - Jazz Dance VI 2 Credit(s) (Spring)
DANC 4370 - Ballet VI 2 Credit(s) (Spring)
DANC 4380 - Modern Dance VI 2 Credit(s) (Fall)

Required if Seeking K-6 Endorsement (4-6 Credits)

DANC 4640 - Special Projects in Dance 1-3 Credit(s)
ELED 4000 - Creative Arts Integration in Elementary Education 3 Credit(s)

Professional Education Requirements for Secondary Licensure (36-37 Credits)*

To qualify for a teaching license, students must also complete the sequence of professional education courses listed by the Department of Teacher Education . Please see the degree requirements for Secondary Education Licensure . Some classes required for the licensure cannot be taken until the teacher candidate has been admitted to the College of Education and Human Development. Please consult your advisor or the Department of Teacher Education for further instruction.

* Students who complete their teaching methods course(s) and student teaching as part of their major requirements will earn fewer than 36 credits. Those course credits are counted only once in the degree total.

Pre-Admission Courses (18-19 Credits)

EDUC 2100 - Principles of Curriculum and Instruction 3 Credit(s)
EDUC 2200 - Educational Psychology 3 Credit(s)
EDUC 2400 - Schools, Society, and Diversity 3 Credit(s)
SPED 2030 - Educating Exceptional Students 3 Credit(s)
SCED 3180 - Instructional Technology for Teaching and Learning 2-3 Credit(s)
SCED 3720 - Content Area Literacy and Utah Core 2 Credit(s)
Academic 3900/4900 Methods Course(s) 2-3 Credit(s)

Block Courses: Block Application Required (6 Credits)

SCED 3570 - Secondary Classroom Management 3 Credit(s)
SCED 3590 - Instructional Planning, Delivery, and Assessment 3 Credit(s)

Advanced Teacher Education Program Courses (12 Credits)

Registration for student teaching is contingent upon passing any required content area Praxis test(s). (Praxis requirements changed for students in content areas on January 1, 2020. See advisor for current rules.)

SCED 4520 - Practicum/Induction Seminar 3 Credit(s)
SCED 4980 - Secondary Student Teaching 6 Credit(s)
Academic 4980 - Student Teaching 3 Credit(s)

Non-Licensure Student Requirements (18+ Credits)

If not seeking licensure, complete at least 18 credits of enrichment courses and other elective courses OR complete a minor and other elective courses.

Free Electives (0-17 Credits)

Total elective credit is determined by General Education courses taken, degree type selected, additional credits earned, and any additional math or other prerequisite courses needed. For a bachelor’s degree, students must earn a minimum of 40 upper-division credits (courses numbered 3000-4999). Students may need to select additional upper-division courses not included in their major requirements in order to reach this minimum. Please consult your Student Success Advisor for details.

Total Credits, B.A. Degree: 120-146

Total Credits, B.S. Degree: 120-130

Licensure Notification

This program typically leads to licensure/certification and was designed to meet such qualifications for the state of Utah. Students who are or may be planning to pursue licensure/certification in any other U.S. state or territory may need to meet additional education requirements. This is not a reflection of SUU’s accreditation or quality, as each state and territory regulates their own education requirements for occupational licensure.

Students enrolled in a teacher preparation program may potentially be able to use a Utah educator license to obtain licensure through reciprocity. Additional information may be found through the Department of Teacher Education’s reciprocity table.

An overview of all of SUU’s programs that lead to licensure/certification and the programs’ current determination statuses may be found at www.suu.edu/provost/licensure.html.

Program Learning Outcomes

A successful student will:

Demonstrate intermediate proficiency in three disciplines-Jazz Dance, Modern Dance, and Ballet-and advanced proficiency in one of three.
Analyze the historical, physical, and sociopolitical development of dance as a global art form.
Examine perspectives of critical analysis regarding creative process and aesthetics.
Employ principles of improvisation and composition as tools for choreography.
Recognize basic production processes related to choreography, performance, and technical production.
Possess knowledge of music fundamentals as they relate to dance practice, composition, and instruction.
Apply knowledge of human movement and anatomy to dance practice and instruction.
Possess practical knowledge of dance in education and its ability to educate the whole person.
Employ methods and skills of teaching with the ability to communicate the art of dance to students.
Possess working knowledge of the Utah and National Dance Standards.