Dance Major

Summary of Requirements

• Breadth of Study Requirement
  A minimum of five full courses, made up of a combination of full and half courses
  • Two Full Critical Inquiry Courses
  • Two Physical Techniques Courses
  • One Full Creation and Performance Course
  • One Full Somatic Studies Course
• Focused Study Requirement
  Three full courses, two of which must be above the introductory level
• Remaining Requirements
  One half course, one full course, and three zero-credit courses
  • DANC 338 - Dance at Oberlin 
    half course
  • One Full Design and Production Course
  • ​Senior Capstone Requirement
    • DANC 500 - Senior Capstone Project  
      zero-credit course
  • DANC 099 - Production Crew and Service Practicum  
    taken twice, zero-credit course

Declaring the Major

Students planning to major in dance must secure the approval for a program of study from a member of the dance faculty who thereby agrees to act as the student’s academic advisor.

At the time of their major declaration and in consultation with their academic advisors, students will provisionally specify those courses that will meet the focused study requirement.

Transfer of Credit Toward the Major

The dance department will accept up to the equivalent of four full courses of transfer credit to count toward the dance major requirements. Two types of approval are needed. (1) Approval from the Office of the Registrar that the transfer course meets Oberlin’s transfer-of-credit eligibility standards and (2) approval from the department/program chair that the course(s) may count to the major. Current students taking post-matriculation credit must secure this approval before registering for course(s). Students who enter Oberlin as transfer students will have their pre-matriculation credit evaluated by the Office of the Registrar for elective credit, and they can later seek approval from the department/program for applying coursework to major requirements.

Course Sequence Suggestions

Potential dance majors are advised to complete the breadth of study requirement first.

Honors in Dance

In the second semester of the junior year qualified students may be admitted to the Honors Program in Dance. The Dance Honors Program offers senior majors the opportunity to pursue advanced, self-directed research that integrates creative practice and critical inquiry.

Honors work demonstrates not only artistic skill and originality but also academic rigor, methodological awareness, and a contribution to knowledge within dance and related fields.

The honors project may be either:

• A creative research project (e.g., choreography, performance, installation) accompanied by a substantial written essay (20-25 pages); or
• A written thesis in dance studies, theory, criticism, or history (60-90 pages).

At the completion of the honors project, a panel consisting of the honors candidate’s faculty advisor and at least two other faculty members-including a faculty member from outside the department-will examine the student’s work.

Contact the dance department for application and other information concerning honors work.

Detailed Major Requirements