Program: Theatre - Dance Concentration, (B.F.A.) - University of Memphis - Modern Campus Catalog™

Jun 21, 2025

2025-2026 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is a program specifically designed for students whose certain interests and abilities strongly suggest the potential for pursuing careers as artists in the resident, professional, community, or academic theatre.

To expand the student’s creative powers and deepen the commitment to a vocation in the theatre, the B.F.A. program offers the student (1) a basic probing of all the arts and crafts of the theatre and dance; (2) an exploration in depth of one area of special interest; (3) the opportunity to participate creatively as a theatre or dance artist through extensive production experience.

Five concentrations are offered: (1) Performance, (2) Musical Theatre, (3) Dance, (4) Dance Science, (5) Design and Technical Production. Students entering the B.F.A. program will elect one of these concentrations. The University of Memphis is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

University General Education Program (41 hours)

See Graduation from the University for the University General Education Program requirements. Note that DANC 1151 or THEA 1030 and THEA 4548 or THEA 4549 will satisfy the General Education Humanities requirement. However, a minimum grade of “C-” is required in all departmental courses applicable to the major. Dance majors are required to take MUS 1030 as a second Humanities/Fine Arts requirement.

The Major (79 hours)

Major Core (9 hours)

THEA 2511 - Intro Theatre Production Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3412 - Directing Experiments Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 4541 - Internship Credit Hours: (1-3)

Concentration (70 hours)

Dance (47 hours)

DANC 1151 - Introduction to Dance Credit Hours: (3) (hours counted in General Education)
DANC 2101 - Dance Improvisation Credit Hours: 2
DANC 3101 - History of Dance I Credit Hours: (3)
DANC 3201 - Dance Movement Analysis Credit Hours: (3)
Twelve credit hours of:
DANC 2825 - Ballet II Credit Hours: 2
or
DANC 3825 - Ballet III Credit Hours: 2
Twelve credit hours of:
DANC 3829 - Contemporary Dance III Credit Hours: 2
DANC 4101 - Dance Repertory Credit Hours: (1)
DANC 4201 - Dance Composition l Credit Hours: (3)
DANC 4202 - Dance Composition ll Credit Hours: (3)
DANC 4402 - Dance Ed/Diverse Settng Credit Hours: (3)
DANC 4404 - Dance Teaching Methods Credit Hours: (3)
Choose two (2) “lab” hours from among:
THEA 3601 - Management/Publicity Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3602 - Costumes Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3603 - Lighting and Sound Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3605 - Scenery Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3606 - Props Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3608 - Dance/Dance Science Production Lab Credit Hours: 1
THEA 3609 - Stage Management Lab Credit Hours: 1

Design and Technical Production Elective (3 hours)

Choose one course from among:

THEA 3511 - Stagecraft Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3515 - Costume Construction Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3561 - Principles Scene Design Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3562 - Principles Costume Dsgn Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3563 - Principles of Light & Sound Design Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3620 - Stage Management Skills Credit Hours: (3)

Dance and Theatre Electives (14 hours)

Dance and Theatre electives are DANC and THEA classes. Preferred courses are:

DANC 1827 - Jazz I Credit Hours: 2
DANC 1831 - Tap I Credit Hours: 2
DANC 2827 - Jazz II Credit Hours: 2
DANC 3301 - World Dance Credit Hours: 2
DANC 3826 - Musical Theatre Dance I Credit Hours: (2)
DANC 3827 - Musical Theatre Dance II Credit Hours: (2)
DANC 4204 - Strength / Conditioning for Dancers Credit Hours: (2)
DANC 4406 - Hip Hop Credit Hours: 2
DANC 4408 - Pilates Mat Work and Instructor Certification Preparation Credit Hours: 3
THEA 2504 - Singing for the Actor Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 2530 - Acting/Non-Majors Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3200 - Musical Theatre Applied Voice Credit Hours: (1-2)
THEA 4591 - Professional Theatre Practice Credit Hours: (3)

General Electives (6 hours)

The free electives can be non-departmental courses as well as Dance and Theatre courses. Courses should be approved by the student’s advisor.

Typical 4-Year Dance Concentration Sequence

Freshman Year

Fall

ENGL 1010 - English Composition** Credit Hours: (3)
MUS 1030 - Introduction to Music** Credit Hours: (3)
Social / Behavioral Science * Credits / Units: 3
DANC 1151 - Introduction to Dance Credit Hours: (3)
DANC 2825 - Ballet II Credit Hours: 2
or
DANC 3825 - Ballet III Credit Hours: 2
Theatre Lab Course Credits / Units: 1

Spring

ENGL 1020 - English Comp/Analysis** Credit Hours: (3)
Social / Behavioral Science * Credits / Units: 3
THEA 2511 - Intro Theatre Production Credit Hours: (3)
THEA 3412 - Directing Experiments Credit Hours: (3)
Theatre Lab Course Credits / Units: 1
Dance and Theatre Elective Credits / Units: 3

Semester Totals 31 hours

Sophomore Year

Fall

ENGL 2201 - Literary Heritage ** Credit Hours: (3)
or
ENGL 2202 - Lit Heritage: African-American ** Credit Hours: (3)
MATH *
DANC 2101 - Dance Improvisation Credit Hours: 2
DANC 2825 - Ballet II Credit Hours: 2
or
DANC 3825 - Ballet III Credit Hours: 2
DANC 3829 - Contemporary Dance III Credit Hours: 2
DANC 4201 - Dance Composition l Credit Hours: (3)

Spring

COMM 2381 - Oral Communication Credit Hours: (3)
History * Credits / Units: 3
DANC 3829 - Contemporary Dance III Credit Hours: 2
DANC 4202 - Dance Composition ll Credit Hours: (3)
Dance and Theatre Elective Credits / Units: 3

Semester Totals 29 hours

Junior Year

Fall

DANC 2825 - Ballet II Credit Hours: 2
or
DANC 3825 - Ballet III Credit Hours: 2
DANC 3101 - History of Dance I Credit Hours: (3)
DANC 3829 - Contemporary Dance III Credit Hours: 2
DANC 4101 - Dance Repertory Credit Hours: (1)
Dance and Theatre Elective Credits / Units: 3
Dance and Theatre Elective Credits / Units: 3

Spring

DANC 2825 - Ballet II Credit Hours: 2
or
DANC 3825 - Ballet III Credit Hours: 2
Natural Science / Lab *
DANC 3829 - Contemporary Dance III Credit Hours: 2
DANC 4404 - Dance Teaching Methods Credit Hours: (3)
Dance and Theatre Elective Credits / Units: 3
Dance and Theatre Elective Credits / Units: 2

Semester Totals 30 hours

Senior Year

Fall

DANC 2825 - Ballet II Credit Hours: 2
or
DANC 3825 - Ballet III Credit Hours: 2
History *
DANC 3201 - Dance Movement Analysis Credit Hours: (3)
DANC 3829 - Contemporary Dance III Credit Hours: 2
THEA 4541 - Internship Credit Hours: (1-3)
General Elective Credits / Units: 3

Spring

DANC 2825 - Ballet II Credit Hours: 2
or
DANC 3825 - Ballet III Credit Hours: 2
Natural Science / Lab
DANC 3829 - Contemporary Dance III Credit Hours: 2
DANC 4402 - Dance Ed/Diverse Settng Credit Hours: (3)
General Elective Credits / Units: 3

Semester Totals 30 hours

Total Hours: 120

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement