Spring Break
New Dance major offered at University
By: Alexa Bonacquisti
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: News
Originally published: 5/4/07 at 3:22 AM EST
Last update: 5/4/07 at 3:30 AM EST
Originally published: 5/4/07 at 3:22 AM EST
Last update: 5/4/07 at 3:30 AM EST
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A new undergraduate major in dance will be offered to students at the University in the fall of 2008. This major, which is being offered through the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, allows students to earn a Bachelor of Science degree through a combination of both the performance aspects and the career applications of the dance field.
Currently, there is a dance minor at the University and a Master's program in Dance Movement Therapy through the College of Nursing and Health Professions on the Hahnemann campus, but this is the very first dance-related major available to undergraduate students. Students would be required to complete 185 credits for graduation.
Dr. Miriam Giguere, Director of the Dance Program, was instrumental in creating this new major which took approximately six years to come into fruition. She worked in conjunction with the faculty of the Master's program from CNHP to create the curriculum and develop the purpose of the major and the options for students.
Giguere said, "I think it really fits the model of the Westphal College well in that you study art as a foundation for a very targeted career."
The degree in dance is a four-year degree, which students can obtain alone or they can continue on with two other career options through other programs at the University. The first option is after completing their undergraduate training, students may enroll in the Dance Movement Therapy Master's program that already exists at Hahnemann. The second option available for students is to follow the Dance Education track and enroll in the School of Education to receive a Master's degree in education.
Giguere said that the major is unique because it is comprised of both dance technique studio classes and academic classes in dance such as dance history, dance pedagogy, dance movement therapy, dance aesthetics and the regular science and humanities curriculum which is in line with the rest of the University.
"It's not a conservatory program, because it doesn't focus on turning people into performers," Giguere said. "It focuses on giving people a strong background in dance."
She said that there are a lot of dance students who are interested in having academic challenges in addition to pursuing dance. This major would provide them the opportunity to perform while in college but then be in line for a career after college that is not dependent upon auditioning for performances.
The major will offer a co-op option for all career tracks to fit this degree in with the current philosophy and practices of a Drexel education, Giguere explained.
Currently, there is a dance minor at the University and a Master's program in Dance Movement Therapy through the College of Nursing and Health Professions on the Hahnemann campus, but this is the very first dance-related major available to undergraduate students. Students would be required to complete 185 credits for graduation.
Dr. Miriam Giguere, Director of the Dance Program, was instrumental in creating this new major which took approximately six years to come into fruition. She worked in conjunction with the faculty of the Master's program from CNHP to create the curriculum and develop the purpose of the major and the options for students.
Giguere said, "I think it really fits the model of the Westphal College well in that you study art as a foundation for a very targeted career."
The degree in dance is a four-year degree, which students can obtain alone or they can continue on with two other career options through other programs at the University. The first option is after completing their undergraduate training, students may enroll in the Dance Movement Therapy Master's program that already exists at Hahnemann. The second option available for students is to follow the Dance Education track and enroll in the School of Education to receive a Master's degree in education.
Giguere said that the major is unique because it is comprised of both dance technique studio classes and academic classes in dance such as dance history, dance pedagogy, dance movement therapy, dance aesthetics and the regular science and humanities curriculum which is in line with the rest of the University.
"It's not a conservatory program, because it doesn't focus on turning people into performers," Giguere said. "It focuses on giving people a strong background in dance."
She said that there are a lot of dance students who are interested in having academic challenges in addition to pursuing dance. This major would provide them the opportunity to perform while in college but then be in line for a career after college that is not dependent upon auditioning for performances.
The major will offer a co-op option for all career tracks to fit this degree in with the current philosophy and practices of a Drexel education, Giguere explained.
