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2018-2019 USC Lancaster Bulletin (Archived Copy)
Lancaster Campus
   
2018-2019 USC Lancaster Bulletin (Archived Copy) 
    
 
  Mar 28, 2024
 
2018-2019 USC Lancaster Bulletin (Archived Copy) [Archived Catalog]

Dance, B.A.


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Overview

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in Dance offers two concentrations: (1) Performance and Choreography with focuses in ballet or contemporary dance and (2) Dance Education K-12. The performance and choreography focus in classical ballet requires 8 ballet techniques and 4 contemporary techniques classes. The contemporary dance focus requires 6 contemporary techniques, 4 ballet techniques and 2 techniques of other forms of dance. Academic coursework such as choreography, dance history, and theory courses are in ballet or contemporary dance, depending on the focus. Dance performances include full-length ballet productions, classical repertory and contemporary works.

Dance Performance/Choreography majors must earn at least 5 credits of DANC 177  Dance Company before graduation.

Learning Outcomes

  • Dance majors will demonstrate an advanced level of technical proficiency in ballet and or contemporary dance. Dance majors in Performance as well as Dance Education must acheive level three by graduation. 
  • Students will be able to write about dance in an educated manner and use critical approaches to evaluate dance.
  • Students will describe the principles and theories of dance artists, their theories and choreographic strengths and also the material that pertains to history and cultural dance. 
  • Students will be able to verbally articulate the principles and theories of dance artists and their significance in terms of history and cultural dance.
  • Dance majors will demonstrate that they are prepared for the rigors of an academic dance curriculum.
  • Dance majors will identify and explain a wide selection of dance repertory, principal eras and genres, and cultural sources of dance.
  • Dance majors will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of nutrition, anatomy and kinesiology, and injury prevention, in general and as it relates to their own physical being. Students will be able to examine performance anxiety.
  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of performance skills as well as knowledge of production process for dance performance.
  • Dance majors will demonstrate choreographic proficiency.
  • Dance majors in the teacher certification track will demonstrate professional knowledge, dispositions, and practice appropriate for the certification area.

Basic Degree Requirements for Bachelor of Arts Degrees (120 Hours)


Note: Bachelor of Arts degrees require 120 hours. Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees require additional hours; see Program of Study  for major requirements.

  1. Carolina Core Plus General Education Requirements
  2. Major
  3. Cognate or Minor Requirements (optional for BAIS majors)
  4. Electives

1. Carolina Core Plus General Education Requirements


Note: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees follow General Education Requirements for the BA except where specified in Programs of Study for major requirements.

CMW: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Writing (6 Hours)


  • Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

ARP: Carolina Core Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving (6-8 Hours)


SCI: Carolina Core Scientific Literacy (8 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • Two 4-credit hour laboratory science courses.

GFL: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Communicate Effectively in More than One Language (0-9 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimal passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required for all baccalaureate degrees. Students can demonstrate this proficiency by successfully completing Phase II of the Proficiency Test or by successfully completing the 122 course, including the exit exam administered as part of that course.

It is strongly recommended that students continuing the study of a foreign language begin college-level study of that language in their first semester and continue in that language until their particular foreign language requirement is completed.

GHS: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (6 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

  • One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on U.S. History: HIST 111, 112, 214, or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Sciences to fit this geographic category and
  • One Carolina Core GHS-approved course primarily focused on non-U.S. History: HIST 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 108, 109, GERM 280, FAMS 300, or another GHS-approved course determined by the College of Arts and Sciences to fit this geographic category.

GSS: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (6 Hours)


Specified or additional College of Arts and Sciences Requirement:

AIU: Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 Hours)


Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements:

  • Up to two of these requirements may be met in overlay courses. At least one of these requirements must be satisfied by a course not applied elsewhere in general education. (3-9 Hours)

CMS: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Speech (3 Hours)


INF: Carolina Core Information Literacy (0-3 Hours)


VSR: Carolina Core Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility (3 Hours)


Other Required General Education Courses from the College of Arts and Sciences


Fine Arts and Humanities Requirements (9 Hours)


  • Bachelor of Arts degrees require 3 Hours in the fine arts. (May be taken as Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding.)
  • Bachelor of Arts degrees require an additional 9 Hours in the fine arts or humanities.

2. Dance Major


Emphasis in Performance and Choreography


Admission Requirements


  1. Entering freshmen and transfer students must meet University admissions requirements and academic standards.
  2. Initial acceptance into the dance major is dependent upon a qualifying dance audition in ballet or contemporary dance.
  3. Dance majors are encouraged to complete all four years at USC, Columbia campus, due to the rigorous and ongoing nature of the technical proficiency, as well as company requirements. If a student chooses to transfer into the dance major, additional course work may be necessary to remedy deficiencies.
  4. Students who wish to enter the program from another major on the Columbia campus or from another USC campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher.

Progression Requirements


  1. At the end of each semester, dance majors will be evaluated for proficiency and progression to the next level of dance technique based on rubrics and syllabi. To graduate, students must complete DANC 302  or DANC 312 .
  2. All dance majors with an emphasis in dance education must fulfill admission requirements for the Professional Education Program and Internship.
  3. To remain in the dance major, a student must make satisfactory progress towards a degree. A student who fails to make satisfactory progress may be placed on academic probation or removed from the college.

Prerequisites


The following courses fulfill some of the General Education Requirements and must be completed for the BA degree with a major in Dance, Emphasis in Performance and Choreography.

    Recommended Courses


    It is recommended that the following courses be taken as part of the General Education requirements:

    Note:


    All of these recommended or required courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

    Major Requirements (32 Hours)


    Required (12 hours):


      Techniques (15-24 hours)


      Choose either ballet or contemporary dance.

      Ballet: 

      • 8 ballet techniques
      • 4 contemporary techniques

      Contemporary: 

      • 6 contemporary techniques
      • 4 ballet techniques
      • 2 techniques of other forms of dance

      Students must meet both the number of credits and distribution of technique requirements listed above; some techniques courses are variable credit.

      To graduate with a major in dance, students must successfully complete DANC 302  and DANC 312 .

      Dance Company (5 hours):


        Emphasis in Dance Education K-12 Certification


        Prerequisites


        The following courses fulfill some of the General Education Requirements and must be completed for the BA degree with a major in Dance, Emphasis in Dance Education K-12 Certification:

          Recommended Courses:


          It is recommended that the following courses be taken as part of the General Education requirements:

          Note:


          All of these recommended or required courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

          Major Requirements including Professional Education and Education Cognate (69 hours)


          Required (12 hours):


            Techniques (16 hours)


            • 4 semesters of ballet technique:
                DANC 202 , 302 , and/or 402  
            • 4 semesters of contemporary technique:
               DANC 212 , 312 , and/or 412  
            • 2 semesters of world dance forms:
                one of DANC 111  or 113  and one of DANC 307  or 407  
            • 1 semester of musical theatre dance: 
                 DANC 380  

            Notes:

            • Students must successfully complete DANC 302  and DANC 312  with a C+ or better.
            • Ballet and contemporary technique courses are variable credit.
            • Students must meet both the number of credits and distribution of technique requirements listed above.

            Dance Company (3 hours):


              Professional Education (27 Hours)


                Professional Education Program Requirements


                The dance major with an emphasis in dance education supports prospective teachers in developing both in-depth content knowledge and appropriate knowledge, skills, and dispositions of teaching required in today’s classrooms.

                Extensive clinical experiences in a variety of appropriate PreK-12 classrooms and schools are a central component of the program.

                Application and admission to the Professional Program in Education (typically at 60 credit hours) and admission to Internship are required for all majors seeking teacher certification. All teacher education candidates must adhere to all education policies and procedures related to clinical experiences. Information on education applications, policies, and procedures is available from the College of Education, Office of Student Affairs at 803-777-6732.

                Specific requirements in dance education for Admission to Internship II/Student Teaching include the following:

                1. Admission to the Professional Program
                2. Maintain minimum collegiate summary grade point average as required for admission to the Professional Program.
                3. Completion of DANC 270 , DANC 370 , DANC 470 , DANC 471 , DANC 478  and DANC 479 ; dance content courses; and all performance, choreography, and production requirements
                4. A grade of C+ or better in all dance, dance education and education courses.
                5. Successfully complete EDFI 300 , EDPY 401 , and EDRD 500 .
                6. Satisfactory personal interview
                7. A passing score on a dance proficiency written exam.

                Note:


                Dance majors with an emphasis in Dance Education K-12 teacher certification must meet USC and South Carolina Board of Education requirements in order to be recommended for certification (includes passing state-required examinations). An application for certification is required. Contact the College of Education, Office of Student Affairs, 803-777-6732.

                3. Cognate or Minor Requirements (12-18 Hours) for B.A. Degrees


                Cognate


                The cognate is intended to support the course work in the major. The cognate must consist of twelve  (12) hours of courses at the advanced level, outside of but related to the major. The cognate may be taken in one or more departments or programs, depending on the interests of the student and the judgment of the advisor.

                Courses offered by departments and programs that are acceptable for cognate credit are outlined in the section titled Courses Acceptable for Cognate Credit in Degree Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences .

                For cognate course offerings in other colleges, consult the appropriate sections of this bulletin. Some major programs have specific cognate requirements.

                It should be emphasized that the cognate is not a second set of elective courses to be chosen at random by the student. The cognate must be approved by the major advisor as being related to the major field of study. Students are urged to consult their major advisors for specific requirements in their major.

                Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the cognate.

                For Bachelor of Arts degrees, all cognate courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

                Minor


                In place of the cognate a student in the College of Arts and Sciences may choose a minor consisting of at least 18 credit hours of prescribed courses. (Some minors in the sciences require a minimum of 16 hours.) The subject area of the minor may be related to the major. Students pursuing interdisciplinary minors who wish to use courses in their major department for minor credit must petition the College Committee on Scholastic Standards and Petitions for permission to do so.

                The minor is intended to develop a coherent basic preparation in a second area of study. It differs from the cognate inasmuch as the courses must be concentrated in one area and must follow a structured sequence. Interdisciplinary minors can be designed with the approval of the assistant dean for academic affairs and advising.

                Courses applied toward general education requirements cannot be counted toward the minor. No course may satisfy both major and minor requirements. All minor courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher. At least half of the courses in the minor must be completed in residence at the University.

                A list of minor programs of study can be found at Programs A-Z .

                4. Electives for B.A. Degrees and B.F.A.


                No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the College of Arts and Sciences.

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