What Dance Programs and Degrees Are Offered by the UW Department of Dance?

Updated

The University of Washington Department of Dance offers four programs listed on its site: a Dance Major, a Dance Minor, an Honors Program, and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA). If you are choosing where to study dance, these four options cover undergraduate major and minor study, an undergraduate honors track, and a graduate-level terminal degree. The department describes its curriculum as a "rigorous balance between creative work and academic study," so the programs are built for students who want technique and performance training alongside academic coursework rather than one without the other.

The four programs at a glance

Program Level What it is
Dance Major Undergraduate The core degree path in the department
Dance Minor Undergraduate A secondary course of study alongside another major
Honors Program Undergraduate An honors track within undergraduate dance study
Master of Fine Arts Graduate The terminal graduate degree in dance

The site presents these as separate program pages, so the department treats each as a distinct path with its own requirements rather than variations of a single degree.

What the curriculum covers

The department states that its courses range across "contemporary ballet and modern dance to street styles and West African," describing an immersion in "diverse traditions and techniques." That breadth matters if you are comparing programs: a department centered on one tradition will train you differently than one that distributes coursework across ballet, modern, street styles, and West African forms.

The stated pedagogical stance is also worth noting. The department says it uses "pedagogical perspectives, research approaches, dance-making methods, and performance philosophies that are historically and culturally informed," and that it values "play, creativity, critical thinking, and embodied knowledge." In practice, that signals a program where you should expect written and research work, not only studio time.

How to decide which path fits

  • If you want dance as your primary degree, the Dance Major is the starting point.
  • If your main degree is in another field but you want sustained dance training, the Dance Minor is designed to sit alongside it.
  • If you are an undergraduate seeking additional academic distinction within dance, look at the Honors Program.
  • If you already hold an undergraduate degree and want graduate-level study, the MFA is the relevant program. The site lists an MFA application deadline of November 1, 2026, which gives you a concrete date to plan around.

Where to get the details that decide it

The homepage does not list admission requirements, audition procedures, credit counts, or tuition for any of the four programs. Those specifics live on the individual program pages linked from the site, so treat the homepage as a map rather than a source of requirements. Before applying, check the specific program page for application materials and deadlines, and confirm whether an audition or portfolio is required, since the site excerpt does not state this.

The department also runs public events and masterclasses with visiting artists, and it hosts a Dance Graduate Student Research Symposium (listed for October 14, 2026) plus a "body space time" residency application window (listed for November 2, 2026). If you are still deciding, attending a concert or masterclass is a low-commitment way to see the department's work before applying.