BFA Dance at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Programme overview

Students pursuing the BFA in Dance gain in-depth knowledge of dance as an art form and an area of scholarly inquiry. The degree prepares students for careers in professional dance and provides a foundation for teaching in K-12 and higher education, dance entrepreneurship, dance/movement therapy, Pilates, the health and fitness industry, arts administration, as well as many other fields. The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance requires a minimum of 85 major credits and is designed for students who wish to spend more time preparing for a professional career in dance.

Faculty: School of Education | Department: School of Education Degree Requirements | Duration: 120 credits | Study mode: full-time | Location: Madison, WI, United States

What you will study

The degree requires 120 credits in total. Courses listed in the requirements include DANCE 111 Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory I; DANCE 112 Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory II; DANCE 211 Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory III; DANCE 212 Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory IV; DANCE 311 Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory V; DANCE 312 Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory VI.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applies to School of Education, not specific to this major: How to Get In Program Admission Overview All students wishing to major in dance must complete a performance audition to be admitted to the program. Consult the Dance department website for more detailed information about the audition process. Entering the School of Education New and Current UW–Madison Students On-campus students wishing to be admitted to one of the dance program options must audition and also have earned a minimum 2.5 grade point average. On-campus students should obtain and submit a signed Professional Program Application , to the School of Education Student Services office, Room 139 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, at any time during the academic year. The application must be signed by the appropriate dance department advisor.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

First-year entry terms: Fall (Early Action and Regular Decision) and Spring. Transfer entry terms: Fall (Priority and Regular Decision) and Spring.

First-year Fall Early Action: application deadline November 1, materials deadline November 9, decision on or before January 31. Fall Regular Decision: application deadline January 15, materials deadline January 22, decision on or before March 31. Spring Regular Decision: application deadline October 1, materials deadline October 15, decision on or before December 31. First-year fall and spring applications open August 1. Early Action is non-binding.

Transfer Fall Priority: application deadline February 1, materials deadline February 16, decision on or before March 31. Fall Regular: application deadline March 1, materials deadline March 15, decision on or before April 30. Spring Regular: application deadline October 1, materials deadline October 15, decision on or before December 31. Fall transfer applications open December 1; spring transfer applications open August 1.

Apply via the Common Application or the Universities of Wisconsin Application. The application fee is $80 US and is non-refundable; fee waivers are available for applicants with financial hardship. ACT and SAT scores are optional for students applying for admission through the spring 2028 term (application deadline October 1, 2027).

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