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Dance (Dance Education) ,BFA

Dance (Dance Education), BFA

Academic programs / Undergraduate degrees / Dance (Dance Education)

Dance Education, Education, Teach, Teacher, artistic, arts, teaching

Are you passionate about teaching dance and interested in furthering your skills as a dance artist? Join our community of artists and deepen your practice as a dancer and educator in this undergraduate program.

Program description

The BFA in dance with a concentration in dance education prepares students for certification to teach dance in K-12 schools in the state of Arizona as well as for certification in other states through a multistate reciprocity agreement.

The School of Music, Dance and Theatre provides a dynamic and culturally diverse learning environment where students develop as creative artists, scholars and educators. The student experience is enriched by a diverse range of studies, including dance cultures, music, digital media, dance history, philosophy and criticism, movement science, somatics, and stage and screen production. The curriculum emphasizes creativity and research while striving to build bridges between knowledge and community through a wide range of academic experiences, including student teaching internships. The dance program also includes coursework in technique of a range of dance forms and mind-body practices, including Afro-Latin, contemporary ballet, hip hop, contemporary modern and somatic movement practice.

At a glance
  • Second language requirement: No
  • STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
  • First required math course: MAT 142 - College Mathematics
    or any math course that meets the MATH designation.
  • Math intensity: Generalprogram math intensity general

Required courses (Major Map)
Concurrent program options
Students pursuing concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”) earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with their academic advisors, students can create their own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Admission requirements

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission

Additional requirements:

Students are strongly encouraged to attend the dance festival days held in the fall or spring semester to learn about the dance program at ASU. Dance scholarships are available to all applicants. Details on how to register for a dance festival day and dance scholarships are found on the School of Music, Dance and Theatre website.

Transfer admission requirements:

Direct transfer of courses from other accredited institutions to the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is subject to the existence of parallel and equal courses in the college's curriculum and to departmental or school evaluation of studio courses with respect to performance standards.

Every candidate for the bachelor's degree must earn a minimum of 30 hours in resident credit at ASU. Transfer students enrolled in the institute must complete a minimum of 15 hours of resident credit in the major as approved by the faculty.

Students should review School of Music, Dance and Theatre website for more details.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Change of Major requirements

An ASU student who would like to change majors to one offered by the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.

Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.

Transfer options

ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.

ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.

Program learning outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:

  • Apply creative perspectives and skills in their art-making that reflect broad understandings of current dance and digital media practices.
  • Develop pedagogical approaches and curricular content for PreK-12 and community dance education settings.
  • Apply knowledge of past and current dance practices, traditions and trends in one or more global or historical dance forms.
Global opportunities
Global experience

Dance transcends language, so students can explore their art in various countries, no matter the language. When studying abroad, students expand their view of dance through an international lens while exploring various dance forms at their origins, gaining knowledge that will help them become educators of the art.

Career opportunities

The concentration in dance education lays the foundation for a career in teaching in public and private settings, as a dance educator in K-12 settings, as a teacher in private studio or community environments, or as a dance artist and performer in independent work. Students earn an Arizona teaching certification while pursuing the dance education degree, and they can expect to find employment in one of many thriving middle school and high school dance programs throughout the state, community settings or dance studios.

Example job titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.


Career *Growth *Median salary
5.0%
$50,990
Dancer   Bright Outlook
5.3%
Not available
3.7%
$66,930
13.7%
$45,380
3.3%
$72,650
1.0%
$62,360
0.8%
$61,810
-3.0%
$49,690
1.1%
$101,320
* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

Bright OutlookBright Outlook

Professional licensure

ASU programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification are intended to prepare students for potential licensure or certification in Arizona. Completion of an ASU program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in another state. For more information, students should visit the ASU professional licensure webpage.

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program in which residents of western states (other than Arizona) may be eligible for reduced nonresident tuition. See more information and eligibility requirements on the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.

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