BFA Program

BFA Program

The Ohio State University BFA in Dance provides a comprehensive education across the field of contemporary dance with a core focus on the dancing experience. To that end, students are offered a solid foundation during their first two years of study in the following curricular areas: movement practice, performance, choreography, dance analysis, pedagogy, history, kinesiology, production and creative technologies. Expanding upon this foundation, students are afforded the opportunity to focus on individual areas of interest supported by mentoring and interaction with faculty mentors.

The program encourages integration of curricular areas, supports an interdisciplinary approach, promotes the education of the whole person, values cultural and curricular diversity, responds to the individual needs of students, and reflects faculty research, the dance field, and our broader culture. Students leave the program with the skills, perspective and imagination to be visionaries, advocates, and leaders in the field of dance and in their communities.

Defined by a varied and dynamic blend of physical practice, creative practice and embodied theory, The BFA trains students to: 

  • Both deepen and broaden physical training;
  • Develop choreographic skills, explore experimental technologies (IM, Video, Dance Theatre), in service to becoming sophisticated and nuanced artists in general;
  • Cultivate an understanding between performance and culturally inclusive and critically rigorous pedagogy;
  • Deepen and expand one’s understanding of the art and practice of performance (via formal and informal performances, in-progress showings, scholarly lectures etc.);
  • Become an arts activist, arts educator and advocate;
  • And to develop scholarly expertise and sophistication in culture and the arts in general.  

Please see our BFA Dance Checklist that students use to track their course progress to graduation, alongside other university resources, advising staff, and faculty mentors. 

GENERAL EDUCATION (GE) PROGRAM (32-39 credit hours)
Minimum GE grade for graduation is D or better

  • GE Launch Seminar - GenEd 1201 (during 1st 3 semesters) - 1 Credit
  • Foundations: Writing and Info Literacy - 3 Credits
  • Foundations: Math & Quantitative Reason/Data Analysis - 3-5 Credits
  • Foundations: Literary, Visual and Performing Arts - 3 Credits
  • Foundations: Historical & Cultural Studies - 3 Credits
  • Foundations: Natural Science - 4-5 Credits
  • Foundations: Social & Behavioral Sciences - 3 Credits
  • Foundations: Race, Ethnic and Gender Diversity - 3 Credits
  • Theme: Citizenship for a Diverse & Just World - 4-6 Credits
  • Theme of Choice (choose one):  - 4-6 Credits
    • Lived Environments
    • Health and Well Being
    • Sustainability
    • Migration, Mobility, and Immobility
    • Number, Nature, Mind
    • Traditions, Cultures, and Transformation
  • GE Reflection Seminar - GenEd 4001 - 1 Credit

 

UNIVERSITY ELECTIVES (4-11 credit hours) 
World languages, minor, double major/dual degree, graduate/professional program prerequisites

 

MOVEMENT PRACTICE (MP) COURSES (30 credit hours) - minimum Dance grade for graduation is C- or better

Contemporary (16 credit hours total - one per Autumn and Spring semester for 4 years) 

  • 3101 - 2 Credits
  • 3102 - 2 Credits
  • 4101 - 2 Credits
  • 4102 - 2 Credits
  • 4101 or 5101 - 2 Credits
  • 4102 or 5102 - 2 Credits
  • 4101 or 5101 - 2 Credits
  • 4102 or 5102 - 2 Credits 

African and Afro-diasporic (6 credit hours - one per Autumn and Spring semester for first 2 years, then at least two more times in the second 2 years) 

  • 3003 - 1 Credit
  • 3003 - 1 Credit
  • 4003 - 1 Credit
  • 4003 - 1 Credit
  • 5003 or 5004 - 1 Credit
  • 5003 or 5004  - 1 Credit 

Ballet (6 credit hours - one per Autumn and Spring semester for first 2 years, then at least two more times in the second 2 years)

  • 3111 - 1 Credit
  • 3112 - 1 Credit
  • 4111 - 1 Credit
  • 4112 - 1 Credit
  • 5111 - 1 Credit
  • 5112 - 1 Credit 

Somatic (2 credit hours any year, recommend in 1st/2nd years)

  • 5171 Pilates Mat
  • 5173 Pilates Reformer
  • 5175 Yoga
  • 5176 Bartenieff Fundamentals
  • 5177 Alexander Technique

 

FOUNDATION COURSES (32 credit hours) - minimum Dance grade for graduation is C- or better

  • 2601 Production - 2 Credits
    • 1 credit for lecture in 1st year
    • 1 credit for crew in any year
  • 2701 Music Skills for Dance - 2 Credits
  • 2702 Creative Technologies for Dance -  2 Credits  
  • 2801 Introductory Seminar I (or XXX 1100 for major change/ transfers) - 1 Credit
  • 2802 Introductory Seminar II - 1 Credit  
  • 3201 Composition I - 3 Credits
  • 3202 Composition II - 3 Credits  
  • 3301 Analysis - 3 Credits  
  • 3412 History/Theory/Literature II - 3 Credits  
  • 3501 Education - 3 Credits
  • 3490 / 4490 HTL Special Topics* -  3 Credits
    • OR 3411 HTL I*
    • OR 3401 Pop Culture*
    • OR 3402 Global Contexts*
  • 3801 Kinesiology - 3 Credits
  • 4700 Repertory* - 2 Credits
  • 5602 Lighting Design* - 1 Credit
    • OR 5614 Sound*
    • OR 5615 Costume*
    • OR 5611 Isadora*

*additional or repeated enrollments are part of Focus Electives

 

FOCUS COURSES (22 credit hours) - minimum Dance grade for graduation is C- or better

  • 4801 Senior Seminar I - 1 Credit
  • 4802 Senior Seminar II - 1 Credit
  • 4998/H Senior Project in 4th Year - 2 Credits
    • OR 4999/H Distinction Project - 4 Credits
  • Focus Electives (select from list) 2nd-4th Years -18 Credits 

 

FOCUS ELECTIVES LIST (select at least 18 credit hours) - minimum Dance grade for graduation is C- or better

Composition 

  • 4200 Choreographic Workshop
  • 4202 Music in Dance Composition
  • 4203 Group Forms
  • 4290 Composition: Special Topics
  • 5121 Improvisation
  • 5191 Eurhythmics
  • 5211 Dance Film I
  • 5212 Dance Film II
  • 5213 Intermedia Performance
  • 5505S Citizen Artist

History/Theory/Literature (HTL) (beyond Foundation)

  • 2500 Anti-Racism in Performing Arts (if not GE)
  • 3401 Dance in Popular Culture (if not GE)
  • 3402 Dance in Global Contexts (if not GE)
  • 3490/4490 HTL: Special Topics (beyond Foundation)
  • 5500 Anti-Racism in the Performing Arts

Education 

  • 4500 Directed Teaching
  • 4502 Methods and Materials
  • 4590 Education: Special Topics
  • 5191 Eurhythmics

Production/Technology (beyond Foundation) 
also see theatre.osu.edu and accad.osu.edu

  • 5601 Production: Practicum
  • 5603 Costume: Practicum
  • 5611 Technology: Practicum
  • 5612 Digital Video Editing: Practicum
  • 5614 Sound Design for Dance
  • 5615 Costume Design for Dance

Repertory and Performance Repertory 
beyond the Foundation requirement and/or Somatics and Elective Movement Practice beyond the Movement Practice requirements

  • 4700 Repertory (beyond Foundation)
  • 4701 Performance 
  • 4790 Repertory: Special Topics 
  • 5200 Concert Workshop (student works)
  • 2103 Contemporary III
  • 2113 Ballet III
  • 2143 Jazz III
  • 2152 Hip Hop II
  • 2162 Tap II
  • 2181 Social Dance
  • 2190/ 5190 Movement Practice: Special Topics
  • 5115/6 Ballet Practice
  • 5105/6 Contemporary Practice
  • 5173 Pilates Reformer
  • 5175 Yoga
  • 5176 Bartenieff Fundamentals
  • 5177 Alexander Technique
  • 5178 Floorwork

Additional Options

  • 3999H Research Creativity in Dance
  • 4189 Field Experience (2 credit limit)
  • 4193/4193H Independent Study (2 credit limit)
  • 4804 Interdisciplinary Workshop
  • 4990 Research: Special Topics
  • 4194/5194 Group Studies
  • 5798 Study Abroad

External Course(s) (upon Dance USC approval by petition)

 

TOTAL CREDIT HOURS - 127 
Transfer students need to complete at least 42 credit hours at OSU for BFA and at least 60 for Honors/Distinction. 

Minimum Overall GPA - 2.0 

Minimum GPA in Major - 3.0 

 

Our BFA students share their journeys through our program on their E-Portfolio blogs. 

Our A Day in the Life video shares a typical day as a student in the BFA in Dance program.