Honors Majors & Minors
Honors Major or Minors
Majors or Minors in the Honors Program must have received a grade of B+ or better in all dance courses before admission. The choice of focus for a student’s major will be determined in consultation with an adviser from the dance faculty.
October 2025: The New Honors Program (rolled out for the class of 2027) has been slightly updated to reduce the credit load as well as to shift to a new “open” Honors Minor. Students in Honors graduating in 2027 and beyond should follow this updated version of the Honors Program due to the reduced credit load.
The Dance Honors Major is done through work on three preparations. Two of these must be completed through double-credit seminars, a hallmark of the Swarthmore Honors experience.
Requirements for the Honors Major - Dance Studies focus:
1. Two Dance Studies core courses
a. One course from: DANC 021 or 022
b. One course from: DANC 004 or 025
2. Two Double-Credit Honors Seminars in Dance Studies
(Preparations #1 & #2: two dance studies seminars numbered 100 or higher.)
3. Four .5 credit Studio Practice and/or Repertory/Ensemble courses from DANC 040-078*
4. DANC 095 and 096. Senior Thesis
(Preparation #3: With special permission, the second thesis credit may be replaced with a one-credit dance studies course as a pairing.)
Total credits for Major – Dance Studies focus: 9-10
Requirements for the Honors Major - Choreography focus:
1. DANC 011. Dance Lab I: Making Dance
2. DANC 012. Dance Lab II: Making Dance
3. Two Dance Studies core courses
a. One course from: DANC 021 or 022
b. One course from: DANC 004 or 025
4. One Dance Studies Honors Seminar
(Honors Preparation #1: one dance studies seminar numbered 100 or higher)
5. Choreography Seminar
(Honors Preparation #2: DANC 111. Choreography Seminar)
5. Three .5 credit Repertory/Ensemble courses* (DANC 049A-K)
The above credits must represent three different dance or movement forms.
6. Three .5 credit Studio Practice courses* (DANC 040-078, not including DANC 049A-K)
The above credits must represent three different dance or movement forms.
7. DANC 094. Senior Project
(Preparation #3: plus #8, below)
8. Anyone credit course, selected in conversation with your advisor, to be paired with DANC 94. For instance, a one-credit course in dance studies (which can include one of the four core courses: 004, 021, 022, 025), or in theater production and design, film and media, music, visual art – or any other area of the student’s interest in consultation with their faculty advisor.
Total credits for Honors Major – Choreography focus: 12-13
The Dance Honors Minor is done through work on a single preparation – a double-credit seminar, a hallmark of the Swarthmore Honors experience. The honors dance minor does not have tracks, but rather is open to allowing students to pursue a seminar in their area of interest.
Requirements for the Honors Dance Minor
1. DANC 012. Dance Lab II: Making Dance or one Core Dance Studies Course (DANC 004, 021, 022, or 025)
2. One Dance Studies Elective Course
3. One Elective Credit:
Either: Two .5 credit Repertory/Ensemble courses in different dance or movement forms*
Or: One Dance Studies Elective Course
4. Three .5 credit Studio Practice courses in three different dance or movement forms*
5. One Double-Credit Seminar offered by the Dance Dept. of the students’ choice.
(Honors Preparation #4*)
Total credits for Honors Dance Minor: 6.5
*Students pursuing an Honors Dance Minor must have an Honors Major in another discipline, which provides the first three Honors preparations.
Please note that double-credit seminars may also count toward the Course Major and Minor in Dance. If not used in an Honors preparation, these may be taken either as a double-credit or single-credit course.
