Requirements for Graduation with Distinction

Students with a grade point average of 3.5 are eligible to apply for Graduation with Distinction with a Dance major, with an interdepartmental major or Program II. The award of Distinction requires the maintenance of this grade point average throughout the study.

There are several key elements to the planning, approval and successful completion of the Graduation with Distinction:

  • During the Spring semester of the junior year, students will declare their Senior Project advisor (Dance faculty) who, in consultation with the student will solicit a committee of two additional full-time faculty members, one of whom would have to be a member of the Dance Program. The Project advisor will serve as chair of the Distinction committee.
  • With the help of the Senior Project advisor, students will prepare a Senior Project Distinction proposal together with a bibliography to be submitted to the Distinction committee by April 1 of their junior year. The Distinction committee will offer recommendations and finally confer if the proposal is acceptable for Distinction. By April 15 the committee approved proposal must be submitted to the DUS.
  • If interviews with human subjects are involved with the Distinction project, an IRB certification may be necessary. Please inquire with the Duke Office of Research Support (IRB). Students must acquire IRB certification, if necessary, before August 20 of the Summer of their Junior year. In non-clinical instances, IRB processing may take over one month after submission of the application.
  • In the Fall of the Senior year, majors will be required to take a capstone Research Methods course (Dance 487.01) during which they will study research methods, interview methods (if applicable), complete their research, compile a bibliography for the Senior Project and submit a research paper (25-30 pages).
  • In the Spring of the Senior year, majors will enroll in a second capstone Research Independent Study (Dance 499) with their Senior Project advisor. Students will have weekly meetings with the Project advisor and complete the Senior Project in a timely manner - before the last week of class.
    • ​Graduation with Distinction Thesis:
      • Majors will submit the final draft of the thesis to the Distinction committee at least by two weeks before the last day of class of their Senior year. The Project should present a significant achievement in research and demonstrate a clear mastery of the research field, a substantial historical, analytical, empirical or theoretical paper of 30-50 pages in length.
    • Graduation with Distinction Choreography/Performance:​​
      • Majors seeking distinction in dance through choreography and/or performance will present a major project and an accompanying process paper of 15-25 pages in length that analyzes and elucidates the project's conceptual, thematic and technical aspects. The performance and choreographic Senior Project must be presented to the public at least a week before the last day of class.
      • ​The Distinction Project is a substantial creative work - solo or group - that is a minimum of twenty minutes of performance or choreography. This project can take many forms. For example:
        • Lecture/demonstration - a presentation that combines research and creation.
        • Technology and performance - may include video/computer/technology components but contains physical expression.
        • Site specific work.
        • Evening of choreography and/or performance with some thematic or organizational component.
        • Interdisciplinary project that contains physical expression.
      • A process paper of 15-25 pages in length that analyzes and elucidates the project's conceptual, thematic and technical aspects.
        • It should not only document the creative actions and decisions taken during the project, but also serve as a reflection of the usefulness of your preparatory research and of things learned.
        • It should include an analysis of how the process and presentation of this project has informed or may inform the development of future work.
        • It may include influences and inspirations from any field that have contributed to your creativity and process for this original project.
  • Presentation of the Senior Project:
    • Distinction Thesis students will present their work on the Friday before the last day of class in April as part of a Distinction Seminar following the format of a professional conference presentation, with the Project advisor serving as discussant.
    • Choreographic and/or performance projects will be presented at least a week before the last day of class in April. An earlier presentation in the semester is encouraged. The process paper will be submitted to the Distinction committee within 48 hours after the presentation. In addition, majors will make an oral defense of their Distinction Project during the last week of classes. The Distinction grade is due on the last day of class.
  • Faculty committee will confer after the presentation and adjudicate if the Project has been approved for Distinction. Minimum grade of A – [A minus] is necessary for Distinction. The Senior Project advisor/Chair of the Distinction committee will submit the Distinction grade before the last day of class.