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

Offered At
Chandler-Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Scottsdale, South Mountain
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

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

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

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.

Pathway Map Option Details

No pathway map option has been selected. Please select from the pathway map options listed above.

Full-time Sequence

To view course sequences, select one of the pathway map options above.

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.
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.