Program Overview

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Program Overview

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

Program Description

The School of Music, Dance and Theatre provides a dynamic and inclusive learning environment where students develop as creative artists, scholars, and educators. The student experience is enriched by a diverse selection 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 variety of academic experiences, including student teaching internships. The dance program also includes coursework in technique of many different dance forms and mind-body practices, including Afro-Latin, contemporary ballet, hip hop, contemporary modern, and somatic movement practice.

At a Glance

• College/school: Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
• Location: Tempe
• Second language requirement: No
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
• First required math course: MAT 114 - College Mathematics or any math course that meets the MATH designation
• Math intensity: General

Curriculum

View 2025 - 2026 curriculum. View curriculum archives.

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.

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.

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 their major to one offered by the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.

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.

Program Learning Outcomes

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

• 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

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 helps 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.

Career Examples

• Choreographer: 6.1% growth, $55,600 median salary
• Dancer: 4.5% growth, median salary not available
• Education Professor: 2.1% growth, $72,090 median salary
• Fitness Instructor: 11.9% growth, $46,180 median salary
• Health and Physical Education Professor (HPE Professor): 2.4% growth, $75,890 median salary
• High School Teacher: -1.6% growth, $64,580 median salary
• Middle School Teacher: -2.0% growth, $62,970 median salary
• Preschool Director: -2.5% growth, $56,270 median salary
• School Principal: -1.5% growth, $104,070 median salary

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.