Major and Minor Requirements
Requirements for the Major
For Barnard College, Columbia College, And School Of General Studies
Dance Major Self-Audit Form
Majors must complete eleven academic courses (six required, five elective) and a minimum of eight 2-point technique courses. All majors write a senior thesis as part of their coursework.
Required courses are distributed as follows:
Dance History
The following two courses in Dance History must be completed before the fall of the senior year.
- DNCE BC 2565 World Dance History
- DNCE BC 3001 History of Theatrical Dancing
Movement Science
One course in Movement Science
- DNCE BC 2562 Movement Analysis
- DNCE BC 2573 Applied Anatomy for Human Movement
- DNCE BC 3144 Coding Choreography
Composition
One course in Composition must be completed before the fall of the senior year.
- DNCE BC 2563 Dance Composition: Form
- DNCE BC 2564 Dance Composition: Content
- DNCE BC 3560 Dance Composition: Screendance
- DNCE BC 3565 Dance Composition: Collaboration and the Creative Process
- DNCE BC 3566 Dance Composition: Site / Experimental
Senior Work
If you plan to write a combined thesis, you must request approval from both departments and notify the Registrar.
All majors must do two semesters of senior work. The following course, which culminates in a 25-30-page written thesis and an oral presentation to the Department at the end of the semester, is required of all seniors:
- DNCE BC 3591 Senior Seminar in Dance
In addition, all majors must take one or both of the following two courses, depending on whether the senior requirement is completed with a creative project, a two-semester written thesis, or both:
- DNCE BC 3592 Senior Project: Research for Dance
- DNCE BC 3593 Senor Project: Repertory for Dance
Students who are double majors may request permission to write a two-semester combined thesis.
Electives
Five additional 3- or 4-point courses, chosen in consultation with the major advisor, are required. Electives may be chosen from among the departmental offerings listed above or below, including additional coursework in Composition, Movement Science, and/or Senior Work beyond the major requirement.
History/Criticism
- DNCE BC 2570 Dance in New York City
- DNCE BC 3000 From the Page to the Dance Stage
- DNCE BC 3002 Choreographing Race in America
- DNCE BC 3200 Dance in Film
- DNCE BC 3240 Seeing the Body: Movement and Phycicality in Modern Visual Culture
- DNCE BC 3550 Dance in Africa
- DNCE BC 3567 Dances of India
- DNCE BC 3576 Dance Criticism
- DNCE BC 3585 Devising Immersive Performance
- DNCE BC 3800 Dismantling Racism/Decolonizing Dance
- DNCE BC 3984 Digital performance
Studio/Performance
- DNCE BC 2567 Music for Dance
- DNCE BC 3340 Dance/Music Improvisation
- DNCE BC 3601, 3602, 3603, 3604, 3605, 3607 Rehearsal and Performance in Dance
Overview of Major Requirements
(11 total, plus 8 technique courses)
1 Movement Science
1 Composition
2 History
1 Senior Seminar
1 Senior Project (Research in Dance or Repertory for Dance)
5 Electives
8 Technique Courses
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Columbia College And School Of General Studies
Degree Requirements For A Concentration In Dance (only for students who entered Columbia College in or before 2023-2024 academic year)
The concentration in Dance is identical to the major except that only two electives are required.
(For Major requirements, please see above)
Overview of Concentration Requirements (8 total, plus 8 technique classes)
1 Movement Science
1 Composition
2 History
1 Senior Seminar
1 Senior Project (Research in Dance or Repertory for Dance)
2 Electives
8 Technique Classes
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Requirements for the Barnard College Minor
Five courses constitute a minor in dance. Normally, two history/criticism and three credit-bearing performance/choreography courses are taken. (Note: 2-point technique courses do NOT count toward the Dance minor.) Courses are to be selected on the basis of consultation with full-time members of the department.
Requirements for the Columbia College Minor
Five courses
1 Dance Studies(either World Dance or History of Theatrical Dancing)
1 Composition (either Form or Content)
3 Electives (Choose any 3- and 4-point courses from among offerings in Dance Studies, Composition, Movement Science, and Rehearsal & Performance)
For information on the College policy on studio classes, see “Requirements for the Liberal Arts Degree” in the Barnard College Catalog: http://catalog.barnard.edu/barnard-college/curriculum/requirements-liberal-arts-degree/
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School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Minor
Undergraduate Degree Requirements For A Minor In Dance
The SEAS Dance Minor consists of five 3 point courses. Please note that no performance/choreography courses below count toward the non-tech requirement for SEAS students:
1. Two of the following history/criticism courses:
DNCE BC 2565 World Dance History
DNCE BC 3001 History of Theatrical Dancing
DNCE BC 2570 Dance in New York City
DNCE BC 3576 Dance Criticism
2. Two of the following performance/choreography courses:
DNCE BC 2563 Dance Composition: Form
DNCE BC 2564 Dance Composition: Content
DNCE BC 3565 Composition: Collaboration and the Creative Process
DNCE BC 2567 Music for Dance
DNCE BC 3601, 3602, 3603, 3604, 3605, 3607 Rehearsal and Performance in Dance (for 3 points)
3. One elective (Choose any 3- or 4 -point course from among offerings in Dance Studies, Composition, Movement Science, and Rehearsal & Performance)
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