Online Bachelor's Degree in Dance Studies

***The online BS in Dance program is not accepting new students at this time. More information to come.***

Your dance career doesn’t stop when the performance ends. Drexel University’s online BS in Dance is designed to help professional dancers transition to a post-performance career. Whether your goal is to find success in other areas of the dance industry, or to continue on to earn an advanced degree, Drexel’s bachelor’s degree in dance program will give you the skills and support you need to prepare for this new stage in your career.

What is a Bachelor's in Dance?

A bachelor’s degree in dance pairs an interdisciplinary undergraduate education with a core curriculum focused on the dance field. Students in Drexel’s online BS in Dance can take classes in topics such as dance pedagogy, dance writing/criticism, and choreography to help prepare you for when your dance performance career has ended. Throughout the bachelor’s degree in dance program, you will learn to:

• Develop choreographic and improvisational skills
• Demonstrate visual literacy and kinesthetic proficiency
• Establish an understanding of physical and emotional self-care practices
• Understand and demonstrate a knowledge of musculoskeletal anatomy, kinesiology, and musicality
• Describe movement using a range of theoretical and somatic frameworks
• Appreciate the value of diversity through a developing awareness of the world and your place in it

Bachelor's in Dance Program Features

• 100% online program
• Up to 50 credit hours of dance movement-based technique courses will be offered based on previous experience
• Develop and demonstrate skills for critical thinking and apply these skills to pedagogy and performance
• Learn from faculty with years of experience and connections in the dance and choreography industries in Philadelphia and beyond
• Transfer up to 135 quarter credits (90 semester credits) from any regionally accredited institution of higher learning, as long as you received a grade of C or better

Archived Webinar

• Online Open House: BS in Dance

Can I Learn Dance Online?

Although this bachelor’s degree in dance program is entirely online, dance is still a central element to the curriculum. The distance learning dance courses in this program include a mix of readings, video viewings, discussions, writings, and some practical components. For dance courses involving a practical component, you will be required to provide video recordings of your own practice and creative work.

What Degree Does a Dancer Need?

For the most part, dancers do not need a degree to perform. However, the short lifespan of the professional dance performance career is widely recognized in the industry, and finding a fulfilling career after performing can be a challenge for some dancers. Drexel’s online BS in Dance is designed to help you transition to a post-performance career. It allows you to complete an undergraduate degree while taking specialized courses that set you up for success in a dance-related field.

Drexel’s online BS in Dance prepares you for careers in:

• Choreography
• Dance Administration
• Dance Criticism
• Dance Education
• Dance Somatic Practice

After completion of a bachelor’s degree in dance, you may consider earning an advanced degree which will prepare you for careers in the following areas:

• Dance/Movement Therapy
  Continue for two years of study in the College of Nursing and Health Professions to earn an MA in Creative Arts in Therapy and become a licensed dance therapist.
• Dance Education
  Complete a five-year bachelor’s/master’s option through the School of Education and qualify for Pennsylvania PreK-4 teaching certification. Through Interstate Reciprocity Agreements, you can become certified to teach in almost any state.
• Physical Therapy
  Continue for an additional three years in the College of Nursing and Health Professions to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy and become a licensed physical therapist.

Can You Major in Dance with No Experience?

This bachelor’s degree in dance program is designed for those with a background in dance. The goal is to help you transition from a career in performance to a career in a dance-related space. When applying to this program, you will be expected to submit a professional resume and a two to five minute video of a professional performance. Please see the Admission Criteria page for a full list of admission requirements.

Drexel's 10,000 Hours Podcast: Sandra Parks

We tend to think of dance as a female-dominated field. But is it? Assistant teaching professor Sandra Parks breaks down the ways the industry keeps women out of leadership positions, and what needs to be done to bring about change.

State restrictions may apply to some programs.