Bachelor of Dance at Drexel University

Drexel University

United States of America, Philadelphia

University Rank:#711

Drexel University offers the Bachelor of Dance as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Philadelphia, United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 4 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for dance and related professional fields. The next available intake begins on September 26, 2027.

About Bachelor of Dance

The dance program at Drexel University provides intensive exploration of dance in its physical, intellectual, creative and therapeutic aspects. The major is designed for students to focus on one of the following four tracks:

Dance/Movement Therapy
Dance in Education
Physical Therapy
Performance

The dance major at Drexel University has a unique curriculum design and focus. This program combines rigorous academic coursework with extensive stage and studio dance experiences to prepare students for four possible career paths within dance: dance/movement therapy, dance in education, physical therapy and performance. Students participating in this major will earn a BS degree in dance with an optional minor in psychology.

Students focused on dance/movement therapy will prepare for jobs as dance/movement therapists. These are psychological counselors working in a variety of settings including hospitals, out-patient clinics and residential treatment centers. Students pursuing this option will earn a BS degree in dance at the Westphal College, through the Department of Performing Arts, for the first four years of study. They will then have the option to continue on to two years of study in the College of Nursing and Health Professions to earn an MA in Creative Arts in Therapy and become a licensed dance therapist.

The second career focus, dance in education, prepares students for jobs as elementary school teachers (grades Pre-K through 4) who may also serve as school dance specialists. Students choosing this option will earn a BS degree in dance through the Department of Performing Arts and may elect to continue for a fifth year of study to earn an MS in the Teaching, Learning & Curriculum through the School of Education. Students who successfully complete the five year BS/MS option in education will then be recommended to the State for a Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate in the area of Elementary Education for Pre-K to 4 certification, general education.

The third career focus, physical therapy, prepares students to work as physical therapists in a variety of settings, including hospitals, treatment centers, schools, and private practice. Students interested in the physical therapy option will complete the four-year BS degree in dance, along with a series of recommended electives in the physical sciences. After completion of the BS degree, students will continue their education for an additional three years in the College of Nursing and Health Professions to earn a DPT and become a licensed physical therapist.

The fourth option, custom design, allows students to work closely with faculty to create a personalized career in dance. Many students in this focus select performance, which prepares them to work as performers and/or choreographers in a variety of settings. Students interested in the performance option will complete the four-year BS degree in dance, with an emphasis on collaborative and interdisciplinary work.

The student who enters the dance major at Drexel University is an academically achieving student who has a deep curiosity for non-traditional careers in the field of dance. He or she is looking for extensive experiences to improve as a dancer, choreographer and performer while being stimulated academically. This student wants to study dance–-both physically and cognitively–in college while being offered the possibility of gainful employment after graduation.

For more information about this major, visit the Westphal College's Dance webpage.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of Dance at Drexel University

Entry Requirements

Current High School Students

Official transcript from years 9, 10, and 11. If the transcript is issued in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by an English translation.

High School Graduates

Official final transcript from years 9, 10, 11, and 12. If the transcript is issued in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by an English translation. An official copy of the General Secondary Examination results (Tawjihi) in Arabic and in English.

English Requirements

PTEMin 53
IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 80

Career Opportunities after Completing Bachelor of Dance

The dance major is designed for students to focus on one of four career options. Several of the tracks lead to graduate study at Drexel or may be completed at the end of four years. Each also includes a co-op experience that allows for extended interaction with professionals in dance therapy, physical therapy, education, and performance. Students wishing to change career focus throughout the course of the undergraduate curriculum will have the option to do so.

Students focusing on dance/movement therapy participate in a six month co-op experience during the spring and summer terms of their junior year. These students may participate in co-op with a practicing dance/movement therapist, community dance artist, or mental health professional in a mental health, social service, rehabilitation, medical, special education or community arts setting.

Students focusing on physical therapy, will participate in a six month co-op in which they work in a setting with a physical therapist, such as a hospital, treatment center, school, or private practice. Co-op experiences where students are able to work with physical therapists working on dancers as clients will be encouraged.

Students focusing on dance in education participate in after school dance programs, artist in residence school partnerships and auditorium lecture demonstration programs as part of a touring dance company run by the dance program at Drexel, or other dance education focused activities in a school or studio setting, during the fall and winter of their junior year as their co-op experience.

Students focusing on custom design or performance may participate in a six month co-op including performance, administration, production, event planning and grant writing. Students interested in performance will work with professional choreographers to experience multiple aspects of creating a sustainable life in performance and/or choreography.

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Tuition and Fee Information for Bachelor of Dance at Drexel University

Application Fee 65

How to Apply for Bachelor of Dance at Drexel University

1. Review Drexel's Admission Prerequisites and Application Deadlines

Before beginning your application to Drexel, please review our Admission Prerequisites and Application Deadlines.

If you are a returning student who has previously enrolled in undergraduate coursework at Drexel, please refer to the Readmission Instructions for requirements. Part-time and non-matriculated students should refer to the Part-Time Application Instructions.

2. Read the Application Instructions

Be sure to submit all required materials before your application deadline.

First-Year Instructions
First-Year Winter Entry Instructions
Transfer Instructions
International Gateway Program Instructions
Part-Time Instructions
Readmission Instructions

3. Complete Your Application

We accept the following applications:

First-Year Applicants

Drexel accepts both of the applications listed below for first-year students. Please submit either application.

Common Application

Coalition Application, Powered by Scoir

Full-Time Transfer Applicants

Drexel accepts both of the applications listed below for transfer students who wish to apply for full-time programs. Students may only have one active application on file at a time..

Drexel University's Admission Application

Common Application

Nursing Accelerated Career Entry

Note: To be considered for our accelerated BSN program, you must already have a bachelor's degree. To apply for this program, select "Accelerated Career Entry Nursing" as your application. You should not use the Common Application, but instead use the link below. If you do not already have a bachelor's degree or are seeking our traditional BSN program, select "Undergraduate Transfer Full-Time" as your application.

Drexel University's Admission Application

Part-Time Applicants

Part-time and non-matriculated students can apply using the following application.

Drexel University's Admission Application

4. Submit Your Supplemental Materials

Refer to the application instructions for specific requirements.

We strongly recommend that all official transcripts and supporting documentation are submitted electronically to [email protected]. If your school is not able to send official transcripts electronically, please request that official documents be sent by mail or courier service. Drexel Admissions will process application documents received through the U.S. Postal Service and courier services (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.), although there is a slight delay in processing these documents. Please allow 3–4 weeks for transcripts and supporting documents sent by mail or courier to be processed. Documents submitted by the applicant via email are not considered official, and therefore cannot be accepted.

5. Check Your Application Status

After your admission application has been processed, you will receive an email that gives you access to the Discover Drexel portal to check the status of your application.

Bachelor of Dance at Drexel University

Drexel University

United States of America, Philadelphia