Associate in Arts, Fine Arts, Emphasis in Dance

The Associate in Arts, Fine Arts (AAFA), Emphasis in Dance provides the first two years of a four-year curriculum for students who intend to specialize in dance. With an associate degree, students may pursue a number of careers, including but not limited to, dance performance, choreography, and dance instruction. Upon completion of a bachelor's degree, students may pursue additional careers including dance education at the secondary level, arts administration, artistic direction, and dance science specialties. Upon completion of a graduate degree, students may pursue additional careers including dance education at the post-secondary level and dance therapy.

Details

Field of Interest
Visual and Performing Arts
Degree Type
Associate in Arts, Fine Arts (AAFA)
Academic Plan
Associate in Arts, Fine Arts, Emphasis in Dance (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
8312
Total credits required
63-95
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in each course in the program.

Students are expected to meet with a residential dance faculty member for advising each semester prior to enrollment for the following semester. Consult with your faculty advisor to determine which specializations are available at your college.

Students should enroll in two DAN technique courses each semester.

Enrollment in some courses may require an audition and/or permission of instructor.

All applicable DAN technique courses may be repeated for credit.

Pass/No Credit courses cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements.

Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.

What You'll Learn
  • Incorporate body awareness and sound kinesthetic and somatic principles of movement to achieve technical proficiency in dance.
  • Demonstrate artistic elements including intention, movement quality, breath, connection, phrasing, self-awareness, and musicality while performing.
  • Synthesize knowledge of historical and cultural contexts to connect dance theory and practice.
  • Create choreography using artistic elements including space, time, and energy.
  • Assess choreography, technique, and performance to provide, receive, and implement constructive feedback.
  • Develop dance performances that integrate relevant choreographic, production, and other creative and community elements.
  • Practice interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate with others.
  • Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior appropriate to the field of dance.
  • Develop skills, materials, and a plan for achieving educational and career goals in the field of dance.
Career statistics

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

$66,570

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

$55,180

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Pathway Map Options

There are multiple options available for this pathway map. These options vary depending on the available transfer institutions and what degrees you may be able to transfer into.

These pathway map options may share some common coursework. To explore what additional coursework may be required, select your desired option from the list below. Once selected, the list of courses and any associated details will be automatically updated in the course sequence below. The differences between individual pathway map options may only be a few courses.

Note: You will have to select one of the options below to view available course sequences.

The list of courses below has been updated

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

A list of additional requirements for this pathway map
Awareness Areas
  • In addition to the requirements identified in the sequence below, students must complete the following awareness areas if not otherwise met by other program requirements:
    • Cultural [C] and
    • Global [G] or Historical [H]
  • Students are strongly encouraged to visit with an academic advisor to ensure completion of all graduation requirements.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
DAN150 Dance Performance I View requisites Critical course Gateway course 1
DAN102 or
DAN129 or
DAN131 or
DAN132 or
DAN133 or
DAN140
Hip Hop I or Musical Theatre Dance I or Ballet I or Modern Dance I or Jazz Dance I or Tap Dance I Dance Technique Level I. Students may be able to take a higher level course based on assessment by a dance faculty member. 1
DAN102 or
DAN129 or
DAN131 or
DAN132 or
DAN133 or
DAN140
Hip Hop I or Musical Theatre Dance I or Ballet I or Modern Dance I or Jazz Dance I or Tap Dance I Dance Technique Level I. Students may be able to take a higher level course based on assessment by a dance faculty member. 1
DAH100 or
DAH201 or
DAH250 or
DAH255
Introduction to Dance in the United States or Dance, Culture, and Global Contexts or Dance in Popular Culture or Hip Hop: Arts, Aesthetic and Culture View requisites HU or G, HU or C, HU or C, HU, L 3
ENG101 or
ENG107
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL View requisites FYC or FYC 3
MA Mathematics Any approved general education course in the Mathematical Applications [MA] area MA 3–6
FYE101 or
FYE103
Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
DAN264 Choreography I Critical course 3
DAN155 Dance Performance II View requisites 1
DAN103 or
DAN130 or
DAN134 or
DAN135 or
DAN136 or
DAN145
Hip Hop II or Musical Theatre Dance II or Ballet II or Modern Dance II or Jazz Dance II or Tap Dance II View requisites Dance Technique Level II. Students may be able to take a higher level course based on assessment by a dance faculty member. 1
DAN103 or
DAN130 or
DAN134 or
DAN135 or
DAN136 or
DAN145
Hip Hop II or Musical Theatre Dance II or Ballet II or Modern Dance II or Jazz Dance II or Tap Dance II View requisites Dance Technique Level II. Students may be able to take a higher level course based on assessment by a dance faculty member. 1
ENG102 or
ENG108
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL View requisites FYC or FYC 3
CRE101 or
L
College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking or Literacy & Critical Inquiry View requisites L or L 3
BIO160 or
BIO201
Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Anatomy and Physiology I View requisites SQ or SG 4

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
DAN202 or
DAN229 or
DAN231 or
DAN231AA or
DAN232 or
DAN232AA or
DAN233 or
DAN233AA or
DAN237 or
DAN240
Hip Hop III or Musical Theatre Dance III or Ballet III or Ballet III: Intensive or Modern Dance III or Modern Dance III: Intensive or Jazz Dance III or Jazz Dance III: Intensive or Ballet Pointe I or Tap Dance III View requisites Dance Technique Level III. Students may be able to take a higher level course based on assessment by a dance faculty member. 1–2
DAN202 or
DAN229 or
DAN231 or
DAN231AA or
DAN232 or
DAN232AA or
DAN233 or
DAN233AA or
DAN237 or
DAN240
Hip Hop III or Musical Theatre Dance III or Ballet III or Ballet III: Intensive or Modern Dance III or Modern Dance III: Intensive or Jazz Dance III or Jazz Dance III: Intensive or Ballet Pointe I or Tap Dance III View requisites Dance Technique Level III. Students may be able to take a higher level course based on assessment by a dance faculty member. 1–2
DAN141 or
DAN170 or
DAN190 or
DAN191 or
DAN192 or
DAN193 or
DAN210 or
DAN221 or
DAN250 or
DAN255 or
DAN265 or
DAN272 or
DAN275 or
DAN298AA or
DAN298AB or
DAN298AC
Dance Workshop or Dance Kinesiology or Discovering Dance Careers or Viewing Dance or Digital Music for Dancers or Professional Promotion for Dancers or Dance Production I or Rhythmic Awareness I or Dance Performance III or Dance Performance IV or Choreography II or Dance Technology or Choreography for Film and Video or Special Projects or Special Projects or Special Projects View requisites 1–3
DAH100 or
DAH201 or
DAH250 or
DAH255
Introduction to Dance in the United States or Dance, Culture, and Global Contexts or Dance in Popular Culture or Hip Hop: Arts, Aesthetic and Culture View requisites HU or G, HU or C, HU or C, HU, L 3
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences SB 3
SG or
SQ
Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
DAN280 Dance Practicum View requisites Critical course 2
DAN202 or
DAN203 or
DAN229 or
DAN230 or
DAN231 or
DAN231AA or
DAN232 or
DAN232AA or
DAN233 or
DAN233AA or
DAN234 or
DAN234AA or
DAN235 or
DAN235AA or
DAN236 or
DAN236AA or
DAN237 or
DAN240 or
DAN245
Hip Hop III or Hip Hop IV or Musical Theatre Dance III or Musical Theatre Dance IV or Ballet III or Ballet III: Intensive or Modern Dance III or Modern Dance III: Intensive or Jazz Dance III or Jazz Dance III: Intensive or Ballet IV or Ballet IV: Intensive or Modern Dance IV or Modern Dance IV: Intensive or Jazz Dance IV or Jazz Dance IV: Intensive or Ballet Pointe I or Tap Dance III or Tap Dance IV View requisites Dance Technique Level III or IV. 1–2
DAN202 or
DAN203 or
DAN229 or
DAN230 or
DAN231 or
DAN231AA or
DAN232 or
DAN232AA or
DAN233 or
DAN233AA or
DAN234 or
DAN234AA or
DAN235 or
DAN235AA or
DAN236 or
DAN236AA or
DAN237 or
DAN240 or
DAN245
Hip Hop III or Hip Hop IV or Musical Theatre Dance III or Musical Theatre Dance IV or Ballet III or Ballet III: Intensive or Modern Dance III or Modern Dance III: Intensive or Jazz Dance III or Jazz Dance III: Intensive or Ballet IV or Ballet IV: Intensive or Modern Dance IV or Modern Dance IV: Intensive or Jazz Dance IV or Jazz Dance IV: Intensive or Ballet Pointe I or Tap Dance III or Tap Dance IV View requisites Dance Technique Level III or IV. 1–2
DAN141 or
DAN170 or
DAN190 or
DAN191 or
DAN192 or
DAN193 or
DAN210 or
DAN221 or
DAN250 or
DAN255 or
DAN265 or
DAN272 or
DAN275 or
DAN298AA or
DAN298AB or
DAN298AC
Dance Workshop or Dance Kinesiology or Discovering Dance Careers or Viewing Dance or Digital Music for Dancers or Professional Promotion for Dancers or Dance Production I or Rhythmic Awareness I or Dance Performance III or Dance Performance IV or Choreography II or Dance Technology or Choreography for Film and Video or Special Projects or Special Projects or Special Projects View requisites 1–3
CS Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application CS 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230
Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication View requisites SB or SB or L or SB 0–3
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences SB 3
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm10?id=190035).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Associate in Arts, Fine Arts (AAFA) in Associate in Arts, Fine Arts, Emphasis in Dance