The course catalogue for fall 2012 is slated to receive an additional major for Pacific University’s College of Arts and Sciences.
According to Assistant Professor in Theater Jennifer Camp, the dance minor currently available to students will be transformed into a major in the next year.
She said that both she and Ellen Margolis, also an assistant professor in theater, proposed the major last spring and it has been in a developmental stage since its approval.
Camp said that she has been at Pacific for nine years and incorporating a dance major into the university’s course catalogue has always been her goal.
“The thing about dance is that it’s not just a hobby, it’s academic as well,” said Camp. “It is an important component to any liberal arts institution.”
Some dance classes that will be added for the major include history of dance from the twentieth century on, improvisation, ballet and kinesiology.
“These classes will not only open the door for fields in dance science but they complement other majors as well,” said Camp.
According to Camp, having a dance major at Pacific will also make this institution one of four colleges in Oregon to have a dance major. She said that it gives Pacific a more competitive edge with other liberal arts colleges.
“The thing about Pacific is that it’s on the outskirts of Portland, which is a mecca for dance,” said Camp. “There are so many opportunities that dancers can have access to because of where this school is located.”
Other colleges that have a dance major are Reed College, Western Oregon University and University of Oregon.
Currently there are three dance minors at Pacific and once the major takes off next year, Camp said any student who is at sophomore standing now could pursue a dance major.
Leave a Reply