Bachelor of Arts in Dance Roadmap

120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 45

This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterUnits
DANC 170 Integrated Dance Technique I (Major Core) 3
DANC 311 Alignment/Pilates Mat (Major Core) 1
ENG 114 Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) 1 3
GE Area A 2 3
GE Area B: Quantitative Reasoning (B4) 3 3
GE Area C 3
 Units16
Second Semester
DANC/TH A 123 Music Fundamentals for Theatre and Dance Artists (Major Core) 3
Select 3 Units (Major Core): 3
African-Haitian Dance I
Dance in Cultural Context
Cultural History of Dance (C1, AERM)
Folklore of Dance: African-Haitian
GE Area A 3
GE Area B: Life Science (B2) and Laboratory Science (B3) 4 3-4
GE Area E 3
 Units15-16
Third Semester
DANC 232 Dance Composition: Choreography I (Major Core) 3
Select One (Major Core): 2
Ballet II
Modern Dance II
Jazz Dance II
GE Area C 3
GE Area D 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 3
 Units14
Fourth Semester
Select One (Major Core): 3
Scenery and Props Laboratory and Crew
Costume and Makeup Laboratory and Crew
Lighting and Sound Laboratory and Crew
Area of Focus (15 units total) - Take One 6 3
GE Area B: Physical Science (B1) and Laboratory Science (B3) 4 3-4
GE Area C 3
GE Area D 3
 Units15-16
Fifth Semester
DANC 301GW Dance Research Methods and Theory (Major Core) 3
Area of Focus (15 units total) - Take One 6 3
GE Area F ± 3
GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 3
 Units15
Sixth Semester
DANC 304 Issues in Dance Medicine I (Major Core) 3
Area of Focus (15 units total) - Take One 6 3
U.S. and California Government 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Two 5 6
 Units15
Seventh Semester
DANC 350 Dance Aesthetics: Cultural/Historical Perspectives (Major Core, UD-C, GP) 3
Area of Focus (15 units total) - Take One 6 3
GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective – Take Two 5 6
 Units15
Eighth Semester
Select One (Major Core): 3
Historical Survey of Dance in the Western World (UD-C)
Ethnography of Dance
Area of Focus (15 units total) - Take One 6 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Three 5 9
 Units15
 Total Units120-122
1

ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses.

2

To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.

3

To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.

4

Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill B3 if not already satisfied. 

5

Complementary Studies

Bachelor of Arts students must complete at least 12 units of Complementary Studies outside of the primary prefix for the major. (Note: Students may not use an alternate prefix that is cross-listed with the primary prefix for the major.)

Students who complete two majors or a major and a minor automatically complete the Complementary Studies requirement. Additional ways to complete Complementary Studies for students in the Dance major can, with the approval of a Dance Program advisor, satisfy Complementary Studies in the major with 12 units in a single foreign language of their choosing, 12 units from courses taken in a study abroad program, 12 units of courses taken as partial completion of a second major, minor or certificate, or 12 units of courses in related disciplines.

Related disciplines typically include theater, music, cinema, broadcast and electronic communications, creative writing, journalism, kinesiology, physical education, health education, holistic health, biology, elementary education, English, history, anthropology, business, and journalism. The Dance program allows up to 12 units of dance-related disciplines to count toward the Dance major.

6

Areas of Focus (15 units)

These courses are optimally organized for areas of focus in Performance/Choreography and Dance Studies. Students should meet with an advisor to choose an area of focus.

The area of focus in Performance/Choreography includes 4 units of foundational coursework, 5 units of upper-division dance technique, and 6 units of upper-division coursework in dance composition and performance. Students should meet with an advisor to select courses that align with educational and career goals. 4 units of technique courses numbered 300 or above may be repeated in this section for credit.

Performance/Choreography

Foundation (4 units)

DANC 312 Alignment Study/Pilates Mat II-III (1 unit)

DANC 434 Dance Composition: Choreography II (3 units)

Upper-Division Technique (5 units)

Select 5 units from the following:

DANC 312 Alignment Study/Pilates Mat II-III (1 unit)

DANC 363 Ballet III (2 units)

DANC 374 Modern Dance III (2 units)

DANC 376 Jazz Dance III (2 units)

DANC 400 Workshop in Contemporary Dance (1 unit)

DANC 401 Ballet Pointe and Partnering (1 unit)

DANC 434 Dance Composition: Choreography II (3 units)

DANC 465 Ballet IV (2 units)

DANC 474 Modern Dance IV (2 units)

DANC 476 Jazz Dance IV (2 units)

Upper-Division Electives (6 units)

Select 6 units from the following:

DANC 340 Dance Pedagogy (3 units)

DANC 399 University Dance Theatre (2 units)

DANC 461 Advanced Choreography and Production (3 units)

DANC 463 Performance in Dance Production (1 unit)

DANC 490/TH A 490 Dance Theatre Workshop (1-3 units)

Dance Studies

The area of focus in Dance Studies includes 3 units of additional coursework in dance studies, 6 units of coursework in theatre studies, and 6 units of electives (not already used to satisfy core requirements) in dance technique, composition (choreography), or performance. Students should meet with an advisor to select courses that align with educational and career goals. 4 units of dance technique courses may be repeated in this section for credit.

Additional Dance Studies Coursework (3 units)

Choose the course not already used to satisfy core requirements:

DANC 430 Historical Survey of Dance in the Western World (3 units) (UD-C)

DANC 657/ANTH 657 Ethnography of Dance (3 units) (UD-C, GP)

Theatre Studies Coursework (6 units)

Select 6 units from the following:

TH A 404 Musical Theatre History and Literature (3 units)

TH A 408/DANC 408 Performance in Asia and the Asian Diaspora (3 units) (UD-C, GP)

TH A 504 Historical Styles of Decor and Clothing (3 units)

TH A 559/MUS 559 Women in Jazz (3 units) (UD-C, AERM, USH)

Electives (6 units)

Select 6 units, not already used to satisfy core requirements, from the following:

DANC 207 Dance in Cultural Context (1 unit)

DANC 208 Cultural History of Dance (3 units)

DANC 236 Folklore of Dance: African-Haitian (2 units)

DANC 263 Ballet II (2 units)

DANC 275 Modern Dance II (2 units)

DANC 276 Jazz Dance II (2 units)

DANC 312 Alignment Study/Pilates Mat II-III (1 unit)

DANC 340 Dance Pedagogy (3 units)

DANC 363 Ballet III (2 units)

DANC 374 Modern Dance III (2 units)

DANC 376 Jazz Dance III (2 units)

DANC 399 University Dance Theatre (2 units)

DANC 400 Workshop in Contemporary Dance (1 unit)

DANC 401 Ballet Pointe and Partnering (1 unit)

DANC 434 Dance Composition: Choreography II (3 units)

DANC 461 Advanced Choreography and Production (3 units)

DANC 463 Performance in Dance Production (1 unit)

DANC 465 Ballet IV (2 units)

DANC 474 Modern Dance IV (2 units)

DANC 476 Jazz Dance IV (2 units)

DANC 490/TH A 490 Dance Theatre Workshop (1-3 units)

±

Given catalog rights, fall 2023 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course.