Dance, BA & Kinesiology, BS

Overview

for the dual degree of Bachelor of Arts in Dance and the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology


The BA/BS dual degree is designed for students who want to pursue an integrated approach to dance performance, choreography, and/or history and the study of human anatomy and kinesiology, specifically as applied to dance. In this program, students engage in an interdisciplinary curriculum of diverse dance styles and forms, learning how the body works, researching our art form’s expansive history, and defining their own voices as performers and choreographers. Students will create a BA Capstone Project their senior year as a synthesis of the two majors.

Students pursuing a BA/BS in Dance and Kinesiology degree at Illinois must pass the required dance audition as well as qualify for admission to both the College of Fine and Applied Arts and the College of Health and Kinesiology. Students may apply as an incoming first-year student directly to both degrees.

Department of Dance

overview of college admissions & requirements:
Fine & Applied Arts college
Department Faculty

dance@illinois.edu

The dance curriculum leads to a bachelor of arts degree designed to provide an integrated and individualized approach to undergraduate studies of dance. The degree is designed for students who want to explore interdisciplinary approaches to art-making, and/or simultaneously pursue a minor or major in another discipline. Students will study three core areas in Dance: Physical Practice, Creative Process, and Context. Under the mentorship of a faculty member, students will create a BA Capstone Project in their senior year as a synthesis of the studies within dance and kinesiology.

Department of Health & Kinesiology

Department Faculty
College Website

The Kinesiology curriculum leads to a bachelor of science degree that will prepare students for careers in human movement-related fields and/or advanced professional or graduate study. The undergraduate program provides the student with a broad general education, a departmental core integral to the understanding of the diverse aspects of human movement, and content specific to the student's area of concentration within Kinesiology. Concentration areas include health sciences, applied exercise science, biobehavioral health science, and teacher education prek-12.

Degree Requirements

for the dual degree of Bachelor of Arts in Dance and the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology


Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 150 hours.

Students are expected to follow all the degree requirements of each degree and may double-count courses, provided the total number of credit hours earned is 150.
Dance coursework grade point average minimum: 2.75

University Requirements

Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

Composition I4-6
Advanced Composition3
Humanities & the Arts (6 hours)6
fulfilled by DANC 100 and any other course approved as Humanities & the Arts
Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours)6
fulfilled by HK 150 and any other course approved as Natural Sciences & Technology
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)6
fulfilled by HK 140 and HK 250
Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) 3
fulfilled by DANC 100
Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I)6-10
fulfilled by HK 201 and any other course approved as Quantitative Reasoning I
Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required)0-15

Dance Requirements

Foundation Course
DANC 150The Green Room1
Physical Practice18
DANC 160Dancing Techniques I (variable & repeatable)4
DANC 260Dancing Techniques II (variable & repeatable)6
or DANC 316 Dancing Techniques Elective
DANC 245Mindful Movement1
Courses from Physical Practice Elective list, see BA Dance7
Creative Process6
DANC 259Dance Improvisation I2
DANC 262Choreographic Process I2
DANC 362Choreographic Process II2
Performance
DANC 232Repertory Company2
Production2
Choose two of the following:
Production Practicum I
Production Practicum II
Dance Documentation
Production Practicum III
Production Practicum IV
Context19
DANC 100Intro to Contemporary Dance3
DANC 162Viewing Dance1
DANC 475Dance Research Methods3
Courses from Context Elective list, see BA Dance12
Synthesis5
DANC 375Thesis Think Tank1
DANC 496BA Senior Thesis Research2
DANC 497BA Senior Thesis Symposium2
Focused Electives in Secondary Area of Study0
Met by Kinesiology (HK) courses below
Total Hours53

Kinesiology Requirements

Major Requirements
HK 125Orientation to Health & Kinesiology1
HK 140Social Sci of Human Movement3
HK 150Bioscience of Human Movement3
HK 154Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Health3
HK 160Foundations and Careers in Kinesiology3
HK 201Health Sciences Research Methods3
HK 250Motor Development and Control3
MCB 244
MCB 245
Human Anatomy & Physiology I
and Human Anat & Physiol Lab I
5
MCB 246
MCB 247
Human Anatomy & Physiology II
and Human Anat & Physiol Lab II
5
Required Concentration. Choose one below:
Health Sciences21
Applied Exercise Science21
Biobehavioral Health Science21
Teacher Education preK-1248

Summary of Degree Requirements

General Education courses, beyond Dance/Kinesiology requirements
Dance courses53
Kinesiology courses50 (Minimum)
Free Electives
A minimum of 40 credits at the 300 or 400 course level are required
Total Minimum Hours for Dual Degrees150

Sample Sequence

for the dual degree of Bachelor of Arts in Dance and the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology


This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.

Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.

First Year

First Semester

RequirementsHours
DANC 150 - The Green Room1
DANC 160 - Dancing Techniques I2
Free Elective course1
HK 125 - Orientation to Health & Kinesiology1
HK 140 - Social Sci of Human Movement3
Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
General Education course3
Free Elective course2
Semester Hours17

Second Semester

RequirementsHours
DANC 160 - Dancing Techniques I2
DANC 162 - Viewing Dance1
DANC 100 - Intro to Contemporary Dance3
HK 154 - Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Health3
HK 150 - Bioscience of Human Movement3
Composition I or Language Other Than English (3rd level)4
Free Elective course2
Semester Hours18

Summer Semester

RequirementsHours
General Education course 3
General Education course 3
Semester Hours6

Second Year 

First Semester

RequirementsHours
DANC 260 - Dancing Techniques II or DANC 316 - Dancing Techniques Elective2
DANC 259 - Dance Improvisation I2
DANC 262 - Choreographic Process I2
HK 160 - Foundations and Careers in Kinesiology3
MCB 244 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I3
MCB 245 - Human Anat & Physiol Lab I2
DANC 131 - Production Practicum I1
DANC 232 - Repertory Company2
Semester Hours17

Second Semester

RequirementsHours
DANC 260 - Dancing Techniques II or DANC 316 - Dancing Techniques Elective2
DANC 245 - Mindful Movement1
HK 201 - Health Sciences Research Methods3
HK 250 - Motor Development and Control3
MCB 246 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II3
MCB 247 - Human Anat & Physiol Lab II2
Free Elective course3
Semester Hours17

Summer Semester

RequirementsHours
General Education course3
Semester Hours3

Third Year 

First Semester

RequirementsHours
DANC 475 - Dance Research Methods3
DANC 260 - Dancing Techniques II or DANC 316 - Dancing Techniques Elective2
DANC 362 - Choreographic Process II2
HK Concentration course3
HK Concentration course3
Physical Practice course from '7 hours' list2
Context course from 'choose 12 hours' list3
Semester Hours18

Second Semester

RequirementsHours
DANC 375 - Thesis Think Tank1
Physical Practice course from '7 hours' list2
Context course from '12 hours' list3
HK Concentration course3
HK Concentration course3
General Education course3
DANC 231 - Production Practicum II1
Free Elective course2
Semester Hours18

Fourth Year 

First Semester

RequirementsHours
DANC 496 - BA Senior Thesis Research2
Context course from 'choose 12 hours' list3
Physical Practice course from '7 hours' list2
HK Concentration Elective3
HK Concentration Elective3
General Education course3
Free Elective course2
Semester Hours18

Second Semester

RequirementsHours
DANC 497 - BA Senior Thesis Symposium2
Context course from 'choose 12 hours' list3
Physical Practice course from '7 hours' list1
HK Concentration Elective3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Free Elective course3
Semester Hours18

Total Hours

Total hours for all requirements: 150

Learning Outcomes

for the dual degree of Bachelor of Arts in Dance and the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology


Graduates from the Bachelor of Arts in Dance will be able to:

  1. Dance with enthusiasm allied with basic technical and performance skills in more than one dance form.
  2. Appreciate the socio-cultural, political, and historical contexts of the forms in which they dance.
  3. Articulate dance research interests in anatomical, cultural, and/or epistemological terms.
  4. Produce capstone research that reflects a synthesis of studies in dance and other fields.
  5. Employ diverse modes of thinking, both orally and in writing, to communicate ideas relating to dance and other fields.
  6. Demonstrate critical self-reflection, curiosity, self-motivation and entrepreneurialism in all aspects of their engagement with Dance, Research, and Community.
  7. Integrate their Dance Studies with their other chosen field of specialty and produce a capstone project that evidences research skill, depth of inquiry, and relevance to society.

Learning outcomes for the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology are:

  1. Content Knowledge: Students will comprehend and demonstrate the significant theories, models, themes, and ideas in the biomechanical, physiological, behavioral, pedagogical, biological, socioeconomic, environmental, and sociocultural correlates of Kinesiology and Community Health.
  2. Critical Thinking and Discovery: Students will comprehend and demonstrate ethical practices and the application of scientific findings and/or critical analysis in order to interpret, promote inquiry, propose solutions, and/or create new ideas related to health, rehabilitation, and/or human movement.
  3. Awareness and Understanding: Students will demonstrate awareness and appreciation for the diverse socioeconomic, behavioral, sociocultural, biological, environmental, philosophical, and historical factors that influence health, rehabilitation, and human movement.
  4. Programming and Assessment: Students will apply best practices in developing, implementing, assessing, and evaluating programs and interventions related to health promotion, physical activity adoption and adherence, and the prevention and treatment of diseases.
  5. Leadership and Engagement: Students will demonstrate leadership and effective communication skills, showcasing an appreciation and commitment to health and physical activity as they develop and sustain productive relationships and work for the common good at local, national, and global levels.

Contact Information

for the dual degree of Bachelor of Arts in Dance and the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology


For further information regarding the dual degree opportunity or admissions, please contact the Department of Dance.