Research Assignments (historical, ethnographical, philosophical, and pedagogical)

The active process of conducting research underpins and continually shapes coursework within the dance major. The student is introduced to the research process in the Dance 107 (Introduction to Dance) course and continues to be guided by the dance and general CC faculty throughout her four years at Columbia College. During the final semester of the dance major’s senior year (to include BA’s, BA’s with certification, and BFA’s) the student is required to do an in-depth independent research project (Senior Capstone Experience) geared to further her transition into the world of dance professionalism.

Skills necessary to conduct effective qualitative research within the dance major (specifically the dance pedagogy, history, aesthetic, and education courses) include the following:

• Knowledge of and ability to discern quality dance resources located within the various library databases, on the shelves, and through interlibrary loan
  
• Ability to describe, analyze, interpret, and present individual ideas and dance practices within cultural, political, and historical contexts
  
• Ability to present ideas and practices from multiple perspectives
  
• Ability to determine the researcher’s individual cultural assumptions and biases and present them in relation to the subject studied
  
• Ability to connect ideas discovered within the research process to the student’s dance performance and choreography, dance education practices, and sense of self within a diverse community

Assignments will stress the student's ability to communicae ideas effectively through the use of:

• innovative insights,
  
• appropriate citations within and at the end of the text,
  
• discipline-specific conventions, and
  
• correct grammar and text construction.

Most important, research assignments provide the student with a vehicle for expressing her individual voice within the ever-changing world of dance.