Bachelor of Fine Arts

Dance

Academic Department

Program chair: Maria McCain, Maria.McCain@stthom.edu

If you want to step out of the classroom and onto the stage, there’s no better place to train for your time in the spotlight than with the University of St. Thomas. Whether your dream is to perform with a professional dance company, choreograph for stage and screen, or teach the arts to the next generation of talent, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from UST can help you get there.

You’ll benefit from faculty experienced in all levels of dance, plus UST’s close connections with professional dance companies in Houston. In one of the largest, most diverse metros in the country, you’ll learn from guest artists, form professional connections with industry professionals and lay the groundwork for graduate work in dance, kinesiology and similar fields.

Admission to the BFA Major requires an audition, but all students are welcome to inquire about taking courses as part of their credit hours towards a UST degree.

The Dance major has concentrations in Ballet, Contemporary, and Global & Urban.

Bachelor's Degree Requirements

The following overall requirements are needed in order to earn a bachelor's degree. For a full explanation of the requirements, please see policy A.04.01.

  • Completion of the core curriculum. Specific core plan is dependent upon accepted transfer credit, major, and Honor's Program participation. 
  • Successful completion of at least 120 credit hours, with the final 36 hours taken in Residence at UST. Total credits listed on the page only reflect the major. 
  • Completion of a major.
  • Completion of 36 upper-division credit hours.
  • A cumulative grade point average (GPA) above 2.0
  • A cumulative GPA above 2.0 in your major
  • Freshman Symposium is a one-credit hour, mandatory course exclusively for first-year students at the University of St. Thomas, introducing them to the UST mission and the Basilian Fathers’ core values of goodness, discipline, and knowledge. Freshmen register for it during the Freshmen Registration/Orientation events and can choose a class that aligns with their interests, with course descriptions provided in advance.

Studio Practice

Recommended hours: 15-18 credit hours in Ballet, 15-18 in Modern, and 3-9 in Jazz, Global or Urban Dance Forms.

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
21.00

Dance Studies

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
12.00

Dance Making

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
9.00
Total Credits
66