Criteria for Departmental Distinction in Dance
Pre-requisites: 
- Graduation major in dance
- G.P.A. of 3.25 or higher in dance courses
Successful completion of one of the following projects:
1. Thesis - To be written under Independent Research 398.
An oral defense of the thesis must be completed before the department
faculty. The dance faculty advisor will be selected by the student
and the Dance faculty based on his/her expertise in the subject
matter of the thesis.
2. Choreography - To be created under Independent Research
398. The composition must be for a large group or small ensemble
of dancers and must be performed. In addition, a written review
of the choreographic process must be submitted to the dance faculty.
The dance faculty advisor will be selected by the student and the
Dance faculty based on his/her expertise in the subject matter.
3. Performance ö A concert of performance works will be created
under Independent Research 398. In addition, a written review of
the performance process must be submitted to the dance faculty.
The dance faculty advisor will be selected by the student and the
Dance faculty based on his/her expertise in the subject matter.
4. Project -A project to be created under Independent Research
398 which explores dance/movement beyond a performance setting linking
it into other fields, disciplines, community bases. Dance/movement
must be the propelling component of the project. The dance faculty
advisor will be selected by the student and the Dance faculty based
on his/her expertise in the subject matter.
Deadlines
1. A letter of proposal to apply for distinction must be filed with
the dance faculty by May 15th of the year preceding the student's
graduation. This letter will include a description of the project
and a thorough explanation of why the applicant would like to do
this project.
2. A detailed application must be filed with the dance faculty by
September 21 of the academic year in which the student expects to
graduate.
3. The thesis, performance, choreography or other project will be
due in sufficient time for the faculty to examine the candidate
and make its decision by May 1 of the studentās graduation year.
4. Final approval or disapproval of distinction will be decided
by the faculty by May 1 of the spring in which the student plans
to graduate and notification will go to the Registrar by that deadline.
Criteria for Judging Work Presented
Faculty will be guided by the Catalogue statement, which reads:
"Department Distinction is awarded to students who have the qualities
most valued in their discipline. The definitive criterion is the
student's demonstrated ability to produce independent work of the
highest scholarly or artistic standard consonant with his or her
training."
