Getting Started

College: HFA

Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.

How to Explore the Major

Suggested General Education Courses

All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.

Any that fit the student’s schedule; recommendation is roughly two per semester. Some General Education courses also satisfy dance core requirements.

Suggested Major and Pre-requisite Courses

The following fall courses are open to first-year student Dance majors only:

DANCE 114, Modern Dance I
DANCE 121, Ballet I
DANCE 131, Jazz I
DANCE 192D, Improvisation and Movement Exploration

Some first-year students may be assigned to different technique courses by the department. Specific assignments and other materials will be given to first-year student Dance majors by the summer advisor.

If beginning in the spring semester, first-year students should sign up for:

DANCE 114, Modern Dance II
DANCE 121, Ballet II
DANCE 131, Jazz II
DANCE 151, Elementary Composition
DANCE 171, Dance History

How to Declare/Change into the Major

For current & admitted students: This major is restricted, which means students must apply through an on-campus process to be accepted into the major. The major may have criteria for admission/acceptance into the major (e.g., specific courses, GPA)

STUDENTS MUST AUDITION FOR ACCEPTANCE INTO BFA PROGRAM. There is no audition requirement for the BA DANCE MAJOR. Registration forms are available in the office in 352 Bartlett and online at the Department of Music & Dance website at www.umass.edu/dance

The B.F.A. program prepares students for careers as performing and creative artists, while the B.A. is a liberal arts program that allows students to pursue another area of focus, such as dance education, dance science, historical dance studies, or dance technology. The B.A. is recommended for those students interested in pursuing a double major.

Consult with the Department for appropriate placement in Modern, Jazz, Ballet (levels I-IV), and Improvisation/Composition. Placement into advanced level technique classes (V, VI) is possible only by Five College Advanced Placement audition classes held in both Fall and Spring

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total # of credits required: 78 credits (B.F.A.), 49 credits (B.A.)

Questions regarding specifics of the dance major requirements are answered by an assigned dance faculty advisor. Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

NOTE: Language proficiency through the 240 (Intermediate II) level is required for the B.A. but not for the B.F.A.

Is there a minor?
No, a dance minor is not available at UMass Amherst.

For further information, contact:
Thomas Vacanti
Dance Program Director
352 Bartlett; 413-545-6064
tvacanti@dance.umass.edu

Cathy Maclutsky
Administrative Assistant
352 Bartlett; 413-545-6064
maclutsky@dance.umass.edu