Professional dance colleges usually offer a full-time curriculum; students can major in one style of dance while taking electives in other styles. There are professional dance colleges for ballet, jazz, and modern dance, some of which allow students to take courses in baton. Professional dance colleges offer several-year programs that can lead successful graduates to professional careers in dance and choreography, or to teaching positions in dance programs.
Some colleges offer baton and/or dance as a minor. Most of these schools are performing arts colleges, where students can opt to major in acting, music, or directing. A dance minor may give a student the option of choosing among different dance courses, which may include baton.
Some performing arts colleges also offer dance as a major, along with courses in acting, improv, and other performance art forms. These courses can be sufficient to lead a student to a professional career in dance.
Some community colleges offer dance and baton programs. These programs usually do not qualify participants for professional careers with major dance companies, but may provide the foundations for a career as a dance teacher to young kids. Dance and baton programs at community colleges are one to two years in duration, and involve in-class instruction in addition to written work.
Part-time dance and baton programs are offered by many dance colleges and academies, for adults to who want to pursue dance recreationally. These programs do not usually end with the granting of a degree or diploma. Rather, they give students the opportunity to continue taking dance classes for pleasure or exercise. Students who progress far enough in these classes may eventually obtain jobs as dance teachers.