¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

Dance Major Program

School for the Contemporary Arts | Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar 2013 Spring

The bachelor of fine arts (BFA) with a major in dance approaches dance as an art form and integrates theory with creative and technical studio courses. Emphasis is given to contemporary dance technique, composition and experimentation. Courses are also offered in body conditioning practices, ballet, history and criticism, and movement analysis. Course work in other artistic disciplines is encouraged, and opportunities for participation in a variety of productions are available. The program is intended for students who desire to study dance in relation to other contemporary art disciplines and academic fields.

Students are encouraged to plan their program in consultation with the school’s advisor.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements

Program and course admission is contingent upon University admission. Contact Student Services for admission procedures, requirements and deadlines. Entry to all programs and to many courses is by audition, interview or application. Contact the school’s office for information on procedures and deadlines.

Although the University operates on a trimester system, most FPA courses are planned in a two term (fall and spring) sequence. Consequently, students enter in the fall term (September) and are advised to contact the school in the preceding January for program entry and requirements information.

Entry to FPA 122 Contemporary Dance I is by audition/interview usually in early spring or late summer. Contact the school to make an appointment.

Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing

Unassigned or general elective (type 2 and 3, respectively) transfer credit awarded for courses completed at other recognized post-secondary institutions will not automatically entitle students to advanced standing in the school’s programs. Advanced standing is generally given on an individual basis as a result of an audition or interview.

About the School's Course Offerings

Students are encouraged to take advantage of interdisciplinary offerings within the school. As many programs depend on a continuing sequence of courses completed in order, students should plan carefully to gain the maximum benefit and efficiency from their study.

Note that not all courses are offered every term and several are offered on a rotational basis, i.e. every third or fourth term. An advisor is available to help plan study programs.

Students are reminded that the school is an interdisciplinary fine and performing arts department, and are strongly advised to acquaint themselves with the many disciplinary courses that are available.

Special Topics Courses

The subject matter (and prerequisites) of special or selected topics courses vary by term.

Prior Approval Prerequisite

Where a prerequisite is or includes 'prior approval,' approval must be obtained before enrolling in the course. Contact the school for further information.

Program Requirements

Students complete 120 units, as specified below.

Students complete a minimum of 120 units, 24 of which must satisfy the writing, quantitative and breadth (WQB) requirements and 45 units must be in upper division courses.

Lower Division Requirements

Continuation in the dance major is contingent upon the successful completion of FPA 122, 123, 124 and 129 and the approval of the Dance Area and approval will be based on the student?s potential, progress, academic record and suitability for the program.

Students complete a minimum of 42 units including all of

  • FPA 111-3 Issues in Fine and Performing Arts
  • FPA 122-5 Contemporary Dance I *
  • FPA 123-5 Contemporary Dance II
  • FPA 124-3 Dance Improvisation
  • FPA 129-3 Movement Fundamentals
  • FPA 220-4 Contemporary Dance III
  • FPA 221-4 Contemporary Dance IV
  • FPA 224-3 Dance Composition I
  • FPA 227-3 History of Dance: From the 20th Century to the Present
  • FPA 228W-3 Dance Aesthetics

and six additional units in lower division FPA courses outside of dance as follows, including one of

  • FPA 147-3 Introduction to Electroacoustic Music
  • FPA 150-3 Introduction to Acting I
  • FPA 160-3 Introductory Studio in Visual Art I
  • FPA 170-3 Introduction to Production Technology
  • FPA 171-3 Introduction to Stage and Production Management
  • FPA 290-3 Video Production I

and one of

  • FPA 136-3 The History and Aesthetics of Cinema I
  • FPA 137-3 The History and Aesthetics of Cinema II
  • FPA 140-3 Music after 1900
  • FPA 167-3 Visual Art and Culture I
  • FPA 168-3 Visual Art and Culture II
  • FPA 210-3 Artworks, Theories, Contexts
  • FPA 247-3 Electroacoustic Music I
  • FPA 270-3 Production Ensemble I
  • FPA 271-3 Production Ensemble II

*entry is by audition/interview, usually in early spring or late summer; contact the school to make an appointment

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 34 units including all of

  • FPA 320-4 Contemporary Dance V
  • FPA 321-4 Contemporary Dance VI
  • FPA 324-3 New Dance Composition

and 14 units selected from the following**

  • FPA 322-3 Ballet I
  • FPA 323-3 Ballet II
  • FPA 325-3 Special Project in Dance Composition
  • FPA 326-4 Repertory I
  • FPA 327-4 Repertory II
  • FPA 420-4 Contemporary Dance VII
  • FPA 421-4 Contemporary Dance VIII
  • FPA 425-4 Intensive Studies in Performance
  • FPA 426-3 Dance/Movement Analysis
  • FPA 427-3 Ballet III
  • FPA 428-3 Ballet IV

**other dance related courses may be substituted with permission of the school

and nine upper division FPA units including one upper division history or theory courses

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit.
Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV within the student’s major subject
Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth Must be outside the student’s major subject, and may be lower or upper division
6 units Social Sciences: B-Soc
6 units Humanities: B-Hum
6 units Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

6 units outside the student’s major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements)
Additional breadth units must be from outside the student's major and may be B-designated (B-Hum, B-Soc, B-Sci courses). Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

The University’s residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 units as upper division work.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.

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