Degree Requirements The Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) in Dance is a liberal arts degree grounded in dance technique, with requirements in ballet and contemporary dance, and a wide range of additional courses which employ dance as a vehicle for study of the human body, the creative process, musical form, the history of world cultures, psychology, educational theory and practice, and technical design for the stage and for multimedia formats. The curriculum enables dancers to explore the scientific, philosophical, and historical foundations of dance; consider the relationship of dance to other art forms; and experience the power of dance as an educational tool. Additionally, students will develop a broad range of skills, strengthen technique proficiency and choreographic ability; and gain experience in performance, production. An audition is required for the dance major. An in-depth description of the program is available from the department. View degree requirements. Career Opportunities Coursework in the liberal arts curriculum is designed to give students a balanced and integrated educational experience. The A.B. program in dance prepares its graduates for a wide range of dance and dance-related/arts-related careers, including arts administration and advocacy, dance therapy, outreach programming, graduate study in both specialized areas relating to dance and other liberal arts fields, as well careers as choreographers and/or performers for the concert and theater stage and for film, video, and other media; dance educators in schools P- 12; dance teachers in and owners of private studios; dance therapists. The program instills in its graduates a resourcefulness which assists them in creating for themselves a means of livelihood in fields related to dance. Students wishing to teach dance in Georgia's public and other accredited schools grades P-12 may choose to participate in the Teacher Certification program. For the Teacher Certification program, students must complete an additional 24 credit hours (9 credits education, 3 kinesiology, and 12 student teaching). The A.B. degree program, along with the 24 semester hours, fulfills all requirements for teacher certification by the Department of Education for the State of Georgia. Students from outside Georgia who wish to teach in the schools of their home states find that certification requirements vary little from state to state. Expectations of Transfer Students All transfer students are required to audition for admission to the dance major program. Interested dancers may contact the Department of Dance at (706) 542-4415 or via the website above for information on annual auditions occurring every year in November and late January or early February. Students must apply to the University of Georgia as the audition process is separate from students’ admissions applications to the UGA Office of Admissions. Transfer students entering UGA with 30-59 transferable hours must have a college GPA of 3.3. Students entering with 60 or more transferable hours must have a GPA of 2.8. The University’s guidelines on transfer admissions are based upon available space and are subject to change at any time by the Faculty Admissions Committee. Any student intending to transfer at the junior level must attend an audition during the previous year. Students admitted as transfer dance majors must be proficient dancers. Due to the demands of the curriculum and to the rotation of required course work, some transfers should expect to spend three years studying in the dance major program. Transfer students will have their transferred dance credits evaluated by the Department of Dance. Scholarships Incoming first-year students are eligible for the Lucy Lampkin Dance Scholarship and other scholarships that may become available. Prospective students are considered for these awards at the time of the audition for the dance major. Returning dance majors may audition for Lucy Lampkin Dance Scholarships and for the FRIENDS OF DANCE Scholarships to assist with tuition and other school expenses. The Young Choreographers Series Scholarship, awarded to dance majors distinguishing themselves in YCS productions, and the Cynthia Jarvis Memorial Scholarship for Summer Study in Dance assist students with costs associated with study in accredited summer dance study programs around the world. Internships Students working to complete State of Georgia requirements for school certification in dance fill one-semester-hour teaching internships and twelve-semester-hour student teaching internships in public and private schools P-12 throughout the state.
