Music Degrees Online

The art, the training, and the degree – they come together in SDSU’s dance program in the School of Music and Dance. Students combine professional-level training with studies that earn them a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance.

The degree in dance is built on a program with a 25-year history of distinguished choreography and technical training.

Philosophically, the program promotes dance as a communicative and expressive medium uniquely effective in the conveyance of meaning, emotion, and cultural values. It is a program that recognizes dance as an art and encourages students to take chances and find their own voices as individual artists.

Dance is a rigorous and specialized area of the performing arts, demanding a high level of physical preparation, as well as a thorough understanding of aesthetics and academics.

Upon graduation, students find that the technical and choreographic dance training opens the door to a large variety of professional careers in dance and dance-related fields.

Modern dance, ballet and innovative choreography are at the core of the SDSU dance curriculum, long recognized for its teaching excellence and contemporary aesthetic. In addition, dance activity courses provided in the School offer experiences for the general student population in modern, jazz, ballet, ethnic, and social forms.

Students have ample opportunity to develop and polish their dance skills in classroom and public performances within the SDSU dance program. As members of the University Dance Company, students perform in choreography and repertory works set by distinguished guest artists and faculty. Each student stages original work in a senior recital.

Saint Mary’s now offers a minor in Dance. The dance minor complements current performing arts majors and provides more options for students in other majors. This 21-credit minor offers courses in dance techniques, dance history, dance composition, nutrition, voice and movement, and anatomy and kinesiology.

Irish Dance Track
Saint Mary’s is also offering an Irish dance track - the only university-associated program in the country - which will prepare students for the certification needed to teach Irish dance.

Most students of Irish dance become less involved with their dance schools as they head off to college. Many would still like to continue with Irish dance but find it difficult since they are away from their dance schools. Saint Mary’s now offers an Irish dance program as part of the Theatre Arts curriculum. Often Irish dancers decide to teach dance after they stop competing and performing. The SMU Irish dance program provides the information and experience necessary for students to prepare to take the T.C.R.G. (teacher certification) exam. Even if the student decides not to pursue the T.C.R.G., the program gives students a comprehensive, broad based perspective of Irish dance. All the pieces they have learned in their past dance training will come together with new information to form a comprehensive Irish dance experience.