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Dance – Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Dance Education (K-12) Concentration
McCausland College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Theatre and Dance
Bulletin Year: 2026-2027

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Important: This course plan is a recommended sequence for this major. Courses designated as critical (!) may have a deadline for completion and/or affect time to graduation. Please see the program notes section for details regarding “critical courses” for this particular Program of Study.

Semester One (15 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
! ENGL 101 Critical Reading and Composition (CC-CMW) 3 C    
  DANC 150 Introduction to Dance3 (CR) 3 C+    
    Dance Company4 (MR) 1 C+    
    Ballet Technique Course5 (MR) 1 C+    
    Modern Technique Course5 (MR) 1 C+    
    Carolina Core Requirement6 (CC) 3      
    Foreign language7 or other Carolina Core Req.6 (CC-GFL) 3      

Semester Two (17 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
! ENGL 102 Rhetoric and Composition (CC-CMW, CC-INF) 3 C   C or better in ENGL 101
! DANC 160A Dance Improvisation & Composition8 (MR) 3 C+    
    Ballet Technique Course5 (MR) 1 C+    
    Modern Technique Course5 (MR) 1 C+    
    Education Course9 (MR) 3 C+    
    Carolina Core Requirement6 (CC) 3      
    Foreign language7 or other Carolina Core Req.6 (CC-GFL) 3      

Progression: Prepare for and take Praxis Core exams if SAT or ACT minimum score not met.

Semester Three (15-16 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
  DANC 360 Choreography I (MR, CC-INT) 3 C+   C or better in DANC 160A or 160B; 3 sem. of technique recommended
! DANC 370 Creative Dance10 fall only (MR) 3 C+    
    Dance Company4 (MR) 1 C+    
    Ballet Technique Course5 (MR) 1 C+    
    Contemporary Technique Course5 (MR) 1 C+    
    Education Course9 (MR) 3 C+    
    Foreign language7 or Carolina Core Requirement6 (CR/CC) 3      

Progression: Take and pass the EEDA Assessment on Blackboard.

Semester Four (15-16 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
  DANC 380 Movement & Dance for Musical Theatre (MR) 3 C+    
! DANC 470 Dance Pedagogy for Middle & High School10 spring only (MR) 4 C+   C+ or better in DANC 160A or 160B, 360 & 370
  DANC 103 The Dancer’s Body (MR) 3 C+    
    Ballet Technique Course5 (MR) 1 C+    
    Contemporary Technique Course5 1 C+    
    Education Course9 (MR) 3 C+    

Progression: Apply for Professional Program (all requirements for Professional Program must be met by July 15 prior to fifth semester)1.

Semester Five (12-15 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
  DANC 476 Production Design for Dance Techniques (MR) 3 C+    
  DANC 281 Dance History I3 (CR) 3 C+    
! DANC 478 Integrated Approaches in Dance Ed.10 fall only (MR, CC-INT) 5 C+    
    Dance Company4 (MR) 1 C+    
    Dance Technique5 (MR) 1 C+    
    Carolina Core Requirement6 (CC) 3-4      

Semester Six (16 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
  DANC 282 Dance History II3 (CR) 3 C+    
  DANC 278 or DANC 378 Jazz Dance Technique II or Hip Hop (MR) 1 C+   C or better in DANC 178 (DANC 278)
  DANC 307 West African Dance (MR) 1 C+    
! DANC 270 Introduction to Dance Ed.10 spring only (MR) 2 C+   C+ or better in DANC 150 *160A
    Dance Technique5 (MR) 1 C+    
    History12 (CR) 3      
    Carolina Core Requirement6 (CC) 3      
    Carolina Core Requirement6 (only if needed to meet Carolina Core)(CC/PR) 0-3      

Progression: Apply for Internship and SC Teacher Licensure.

Semester Seven (15-18 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
    Dance Technique5 (MR) 1 C+    
    Education Course9 (MR) 3 C+    
    Social Science (CR) 3      
    Carolina Core Requirement6 (CC) 3-4      
    Carolina Core Requirement6 (CC) 3      
    Carolina Core Requirement6 or Elective11 (only if needed to meet Carolina Core or hours to graduate) (CC/PR) 0-3      

Progression: Take required PLT Certification exams during senior year.

Semester Eight (13 Credit Hours)

Critical Course Code Subject and Title Credit Hours Min. Grade1 Major GPA2 Prerequisites
! DANC 479 Teaching Internship in Dance Ed. (MR, CC-INT) 12 C   Adm. to Professional Program & approved for student teaching & have all program requirements fulfilled except DANC 471
! DANC 471 Internship Seminar in Dance Education (MR) 1 C   DANC 479

Progression: Apply for Initial Certification.

Graduation Requirements Summary

Minimum Total Hours Minimum Major Requirements Hours College & Program Requirements Hours Carolina Core Hours5 Minimum Institutional GPA
120 70 15-18 32-35 2.000
  1. Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA. Application and admission to the Professional Program in Education (typically at 60 credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75) and admission to Internship are required for all majors seeking teacher certification.
  2. Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.
  3. DANC 150, 281, and 282 fulfill the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences’ nine hours of Humanities or Fine requirements.
  4. Dance Company (3 hours): DANC 177, 277, 376.
  5. Techniques (11 hours): The Dance Education Certification requires a minimum of 4 ballet techniques and 4 modern/contemporary techniques and 3 additional credit hours of techniques from either.
    • Ballet: DANC 202A, 302, 402
    • Modern/Contemporary: DANC 212A, 312, 412.
    • Additional Technique Courses: Musical Theatre Dance, West African Dance, and one additional technique from either jazz or hip hop
    • Note: Students must meet both the number of credits and distribution of technique requirements listed. Some technique courses are variable credit. To graduate with a major in dance, students must successfully complete DANC 302 and DANC 312 with a C+ or better.
  6. The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students. Although students may take up to 43 hours to meet all Carolina Core requirements, students in the Dance Education program must have at least 3 hours of overlay credit, or test out of 3 hours of foreign language, in order to avoid summer courses or semesters in excess of 15-16 hours and graduate in eight semesters.
  7. Students in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.
  8. Suffix A is for dance majors. DANC 160 may be repeated up to six times for credit.
  9. Education Courses (12 hours): EDFI 300, EDPY 401, PEDU 515, EDRD 500.
  10. Specific course sequence is based on even or odd bulletin entry year. See Undergraduate Director for more information.
  11. No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.
  12. The McCausland College of Arts and Sciences requires one U.S. History and one non-U.S. History course, both of which must be chosen from the approved Carolina Core GHS courses. Whichever is not fulfilled through the Carolina Core GHS requirement must be fulfilled through this college requirement.

Program Notes

  • ENGL 101 & 102 are “critical” courses and must be completed in the student’s first 60 semester hours of work in order for these courses to be credited toward graduation. DANC 160, 270, 370, 470, and 478 must be taken in the semester in which they are listed to meet prerequisites for subsequent required courses and graduate in eight semesters. DANC 471 and 479 may only be taken in the last semester and is only offered in spring semester.
  • All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
  • All teacher education candidates must adhere to all education policies and procedures related to clinical experiences. Information on education application, policies, and procedures is available from the College of Education, Office of Student Affairs at 803-777-6732.
  • The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.

Code Definitions

University Requirements: Bachelor’s degree-seeking students must meet Carolina Core (general education) requirements.

Code Definition
CC Carolina Core
CC-AIU Carolina Core – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding
CC-ARP Carolina Core – Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving
CC-CMS Carolina Core – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component
CC-CMW Carolina Core – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written Component
CC-GFL Carolina Core – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language
CC-GHS Carolina Core – Historical Thinking
CC-GSS Carolina Core – Social Sciences
CC-INF Carolina Core – Information Literacy
CC-INT Carolina Core – Integrative Course
CC-SCI Carolina Core – Scientific Literacy
CC-VSR Carolina Core – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility
CR College Requirement
MR Major Requirement
PR Program Requirement

Disclaimer: Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.


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