Dance
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Demonstrate the fine technical skills of a professional performing dance artist.
- Employ the expressive skills of a professional performing dance artist.
- Synthesize advanced choreographic skills with compositional form.
- Produce original choreography with the use of appropriate production elements.
- Show an understanding of dance in an historical, cultural, and stylistic context.
Program Prerequisites
- Students applying for the dance program must have previous training in ballet and/or modern dance.
- Applicants will be admitted, upon approval of the dance faculty, following mandatory auditions by the prospective student.
- All applicants who are accepted to the Dance Division will be admitted on a provisional basis and officially enter the dance program after the completion of the first two semesters. If evidence shows that the BFA dance major is unable to meet required proficiency standards in dance technique courses, dancers will be counseled to pursue another degree or a more suitable dance program at the time of end of year conferences.
Transfer students
Transfer who are admitted into the dance program are expected to fulfill all requirements of the BFA degree. The Dance Division will recognize as many transferable credits as possible, but curriculum and curricular standards must be fulfilled, possibly resulting in additional semesters of study.
Program Requirements
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate (offered via dual credit only) | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Mathematics For Liberal Arts | ||
| Statistical Reasoning | ||
| Precalculus Algebra | ||
| Precalculus (5 credit hours) | ||
Any 200-level MATH or STAT course | ||
ACT Math Subscore of 28 or higher; or SAT Math Subscore of 660 or higher | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC; satisfied in major requirements below) | ||
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
Major Requirements
Throughout their programs of study, all dancers are expected to maintain general physical fitness and dance aesthetic as prescribed by the dance faculty. Health and dance aesthetic requirements, and many other details, are contained in the Conservatory Dance Student Handbook that is furnished to all dance students. Dance Division Website
Progression
Dance majors must earn a grade of C or better in all DANCE classes required for the degree in order to receive course credit and progress through the program..
The student will be allowed to repeat a technique level after the initial year for only two semesters - for example: if 141B and 142B have been completed and the ballet faculty does not feel the student is ready to move up to the 200 level, the student will be allowed to repeat the 100 level for only two semesters. If progress in the class still has not been accomplished by that fourth semester, the student will not be allowed to continue in the dance program.
All Dance majors must achieve the 200-level in Ballet or Modern Technique by the Junior year.
All Dance majors must successfully complete the 400-level Technique and Theory courses in either Ballet or Modern – and at least the 300-level Technique and Theory courses in the alternative area – in order to graduate.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Ballet Technique and Theory | ||
| 8 semesters of the following determined by skill level and placement: | ||
| DANCE 141B | Ballet Technique and Theory I | 3 |
| DANCE 142B | Ballet Technique And Theory II | 3 |
| DANCE 241B | Ballet Technique And Theory III | 3 |
| DANCE 242B | Ballet Technique And Theory IV | 3 |
| DANCE 341B | Ballet Technique And Theory V | 3 |
| DANCE 342B | Ballet Technique And Theory VI | 3 |
| DANCE 441B | Ballet Technique And Theory VII | 3 |
| DANCE 442B | Ballet Technique And Theory VIII | 3 |
| Modern Technique and Theory | ||
| 8 semesters of the following determined by skill level and placement: | ||
| DANCE 141M | Modern Dance Technique and Theory I | 3 |
| DANCE 142M | Modern Dance Technique and Theory II | 3 |
| DANCE 241M | Modern Dance Technique And Theory III | 3 |
| DANCE 242M | Modern Technique And Theory IV | 3 |
| DANCE 341M | Modern Dance Technique And Theory V | 3 |
| DANCE 342M | Modern Dance Technique And Theory VI | 3 |
| DANCE 441M | Modern Dance Technique And Theory VII | 3 |
| DANCE 442M | Modern Dance Technique And Theory VIII | 3 |
| Dance History, Theory and Related Studies | ||
| DANCE 107 | Dance Production I | 1 |
| DANCE 108 | Dance Production II | 1 |
| DANCE 118 | Analysis of Movement | 1 |
| DANCE 120 | Ballet Pedagogy and Analysis | 1 |
| DANCE 301 | Dance Science and Kinesiology (Satisfies GECRT-SC Essentials Requirement) | 3 |
| DANCE 304 | Fundamentals of Body Alignment and Pilates | 1 |
| DANCE 305 | History Of Dance I | 3 |
| DANCE 306 | History Of Dance II | 3 |
| Composition | ||
| DANCE 216 | Composition I | 2 |
| DANCE 218A | Composition II | 2 |
| DANCE 218B | Composition III | 2 |
| DANCE 319A | Composition IV | 2 |
| DANCE 319B | Composition IV,Advanced Choreographic Design | 2 |
| Jazz | ||
| DANCE 260 | Jazz I | 1 |
| DANCE 261 | Jazz II | 1 |
| Performance Techniques | ||
| DANCE 416A | Dance Forms I | 1 |
| DANCE 416B | Dance Forms II | 1 |
| Ensemble | ||
| DANCE 310 | Conservatory Dance Ensemble (1 CH taken 6 semesters) | 6 |
| Pas De Deux | ||
| 4 semesters of the following: | ||
| DANCE 313A | Partnering/Pas De Deux I | 1 |
| DANCE 313B | Partnering/Pas De Deux II | 1 |
| DANCE 413A | Advanced Pas De Deux I | 1 |
| DANCE 413B | Advanced Pas De Deux II | 1 |
| Ballet Variations/Modern Rep/Men's Classes | 4 | |
| 4 semesters of any of the following: | ||
| Modern Dance Repertory I | ||
or DANCE 405B | Modern Dance Repertory II | |
| Men's Class I | ||
or DANCE 213D | Men's Class II | |
| Men's Variations I | ||
or DANCE 414B | Men's Variations II | |
| Variations I | ||
or DANCE 415B | Variations II | |
| Senior Capstone | ||
| DANCE 493 | Senior Capstone Project I | 1 |
| DANCE 494 | Senior Capstone Project II | 1 |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Introduction to the History of Art: Pyramids to Picasso (Recommended) | ||
| Total Credits | 95 | |
GPA Minimum: 2.0
Total Credit hours: 125
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).
