Admission Frequently Asked Questions

What is required for admission into the SCCD?

Admission to the SCCD is a two-step process:

• Application and acceptance to TCU
• Audition and acceptance to the SCCD

How much prior training is required for acceptance?

Since you are considering a major in ballet or modern dance at the university level, we expect that you have experienced a level of training that supports technical and artistic skill at a high level.  Women auditioning as ballet majors must have strong pointe technique.

What majors do you offer?

We offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts with majors in Ballet, Modern Dance, or Ballet and Modern Dance.

Why would I audition for “either” Ballet or Modern Dance?

Auditioning as “either” a ballet or modern dance major enables our faculty to consider your application for both of these forms.  The result may be an offer to join the program in a specific major, you may be offered the opportunity to either choose your major or elect to pursue the double major in Ballet and Modern Dance.  You will be required to submit the video and photographic materials for both majors.

Do you allow non-majors to take the dance courses?

The SCCD faculty is committed to a small student-faculty ratio.  Enrollment in most of the BFA classes, including ballet and modern dance technique, is limited to dance majors.

We regularly offer a variety of non-major classes each semester.  In addition to dance forms such as jazz, hip-hop, ballroom, or international dance forms, we often offer either beginning or intermediate Ballet or Modern Dance technique classes for non-majors.  Some of these non-major classes require an audition to ensure sufficient skill and knowledge for the class level.

Do you offer a minor in dance?

We do not offer a minor in dance but encourage dancers wishing to continue training to participate in the courses available for non-majors.

Can I double major or minor in degrees outside of dance?

Many of our BFA majors add a minor to their BFA degree track and several are involved in the Honors College and work toward departmental or university honors.  With regard to a double major, the short answer is “it depends.” The BFA is a comprehensive and time intensive professional degree track that also provides a thorough liberal arts education.  A second major will require additional degree hours and will most likely require more than 18 hours in some semesters, summer school, an additional semester, or an additional year. Timetables and schedule planning for double majors are impacted by many considerations:

1. The field of the second major – some majors, particularly other studio or clinical majors, are not possible to combine with the BFA. (i.e., Art, Nursing).
2. Advanced placement credits or testing credits brought from high school that might accelerate a student’s completion of the University Core Curriculum.
3. The student’s ability to manage time and responsibilities consistently.

The SCCD advisors and faculty support the pursuit of a double major when it is possible.  Students pursuing a double major will have advisors in both majors.  Students receiving financial aid or scholarships from dance must list dance as the first major.

Recent successful double majors with a BFA track include:  Communications, Strategic Communications, Political Science, Math, History

Recent combinations of a minor plus the BFA include:  Movement Science, Arts Leadership and Entrepreneurship, General Business, Psychology, Nutrition, and many others.

Do you accept transfers from other schools?

TCU accepts certain academic transfer credits. Visit the Registrar’s Office for more information.

The SCCDance faculty will review any dance transfer credits and determine their potential applicability inside the BFA track.  Dance transfer credits may not reduce the time required for the BFA track, and all transfer students should be prepared to complete the entire 4-year BFA track as outlined.  Dance course documents (ie: syllabi) will be required as part of the faculty review process.  Transfer students must audition for entrance to the SCCDance.  Acceptance to the SCCDance via audition does not indicate a decision about any dance transfer credit applicability.

How many students are in the program, how many students audition, and how many do you accept from each audition?

Our student body varies from year to year based on the number of offers we extend and the number accepted.  On average, technique class sizes range from approximately 15-20 students with a total of approximately 70-75 students in the program.  The BFA program is both selective and rigorous and we generally limit the size of our first-year class to between 20-25 new majors.  We offer invitations based on talent and potential rather than on filling a specific BFA track.

Do you have dance scholarships available?

Over 70% of our dance majors hold dance scholarships at various award levels.  Many students in the SCCD also hold academic scholarships or other levels of grant aid that they are able to combine with any dance awards they might receive.  Click here to visit our scholarships page which describes the endowed dance scholarships available.  Visit the TCU Scholarships and Financial Aid website for further information about TCU level aid.

What performing opportunities are available to students?

The SCCD offers approximately 7-8 various dance productions each year.  These performance opportunities include:  Fall and Spring semester Faculty/Guest Artist mainstage dance concert, Senior Choreography Concert, Senior Capstone Concert, informal Brown Bag Concert each semester, XTE AIDS Outreach Center Benefit Concert, and annual travel to the American College Dance Association Conference.  Other performance opportunities may come available based on a particular academic schedule.  All students in the SCCD are eligible to participate in these productions.

Do you bring in guest artists?

Throughout each year we bring in a variety of guest artists in both ballet and contemporary/modern dance.  Sometimes these guests will teach master classes while others remain for extended residencies and stage choreography for our major performances.  Click here for a link to our Guest Artist page.

What is a typical day for a first year dance major?

Each day you will have three hours of technique class (ballet and modern dance) plus two to four additional dance courses during the week.  The additional courses included in the first year for all BFA majors are:   Dance Production, Career Preparation, Working Body (intro anatomy), Pilates, Music for Dancers and Improvisation.  Ballet majors will also have Pointe or Classical Partnering classes.  First year students also perform in either the fall or spring Faculty/Guest Artist Concert for DanceTCU performance credit.

Do you offer the opportunity to study abroad?

Absolutely!  We have historically worked to integrate international studies into our curriculum.  We offer the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Roehampton, the UK’s top-rated dance program, where our students can attend a semester of study abroad in dance while remaining on-track for graduation with the BFA.