BFA Four-Year Degree Plan: Dance

The comprehensive BFA dance option can be completed in four years or eight semesters. The four-year degree plan does not take into account dual credit or transfer credit that may be considered upon admission to the university.

Sample schedule

The schedule below should only serve as a guide and does not replace regular meetings with your advisor.

The following degree plan, last reviewed 08-09-2023, is based on the 2023-24 catalog and Missouri State general education requirements.

First semester (Fall)

Courses Hours
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GEN ED: ENG 110 or COM 115 3
GEN ED: MTH 130 or higher 3
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Choose 1 or 2 from DAN 216, 245, and/or DAN 230 3-6
Dance Practicum (3 hours required for BFA) 0-3
Total hours 15-18

Second semester (Spring; First BFA Review)

Courses Hours
GEN ED: Life Science (BIO 101, with/without BIO 111, or BIO 121) 3-4
GEN ED: ENG 110 or COM 115 3
GEN ED: The Arts (DAN 180; Introduction to the Dance suggested) 3
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Choose 1 or 2 from (DAN 216, 245, 225, and/or DAN 230) 3-6
Dance Practicum (3 hours required for BFA) 0-3
Total hours 17-20

Third semester (Fall)

Courses Hours
GEN ED: Writing II 3
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Choose 1 or 2 from (DAN 216/316, 245/345, 225/325, and/or DAN 230/330) 3
Choose from (THE 250/251 Stagecraft and Construction & Lab or THE 255/256: Lighting Design & Lab or THE 260/261 Costume Construction & Lab) 3
Dance Practicum (3 hours required for BFA) 0-3
Total hours 15-18

Fourth semester (Spring)

Courses Hours
GEN ED: HST 121 or HST 122 3
GEN ED: Humanities (MUS 241 suggested) or PED 250 (Applied Human Anatomy) 3
Choose from 1 or 2 from (DAN 216/316, 245/345, 225/325, and/or DAN 230/330 and/or Dance Elective) 3-6
Dance Practicum (3 hours required for BFA) 0-3
Total hours 14-20

Fifth semester (Fall)

Courses Hours
GEN ED: PLS 101 3
Choose 1 or 2 from: (DAN 216/316/416, 245/345/445, 225/325/425, and/or DAN 230/330/430 and/or Dance Elective) 3-6
Choose 1 from: (THE 250/251 Stagecraft and Construction & Lab or THE 255/256 Lighting Design & Lab or THE 260/261 Costume Construction & Lab) 3
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Dance Practicum (3 hours required for BFA) 0-3
Total hours 12-18

Sixth semester (Spring)

Courses Hours
GEN ED: Cultural Competence 3
GEN ED: Social & Behavioral Sciences 3
Choose 1 or 2 from: (DAN 216/316/416, 245/345/445, 225/325/425, and/or DAN 230/330/430 and/or Dance Elective) 3-6
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Dance Practicum (3 hours required for BFA) 0-3
Total hours 15-18

Seventh semester (Fall)

Courses Hours
GEN ED: Social & Behavioral Sciences 3
GEN ED: Physical Science 3
Choose 1 or 2 from: (DAN 216/316/416, 245/345/445, 225/325/425, and/or DAN 230/330/430 and/or Dance Elective) 3-6
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Dance Practicum (3 hours required for BFA) 0-3
Total hours 12-18

Eighth semester (Spring)

Courses Hours
GEN ED: Public Issues 3
GEN ED: Physical Science 3-4
Choose 1 or 2 from: (DAN 216/316/416, 245/345/445, 225/325/425, and/or DAN 230/330/430 and/or Dance Elective) 3-6
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Dance Practicum (3 hours required for BFA) 0-3
Total hours 11-18

Total hours need to graduate = 125, no fewer than 40 hours at the 300+ level.

Additional information and recommendations

  • Placement in technique class levels is at the discretion of the instructors. DAN 100 is repeatable up to six credit hours. All class levels of 200 or above are repeatable up to 12 credits.

  • The Bachelor of Science in Dance requires at least one class in contemporary, jazz, ballet, and tap, and at least nine credit hours of additional technique of your choosing.

  • Dance faculty strongly suggests that all dance majors enroll in two technique classes each semester, so that they take at least one dance technique class each day throughout the four-year program.

  • 100 level dance classes count only as electives in the dance degree program, but may be required depending on the dance level at which each major enters the program.

  • Periodicity Warning: Certain classes are offered only during the fall or spring, and some are offered only every other year.