The College of Education (now Education, Health, and Human Sciences) offered dance classes for credit through its physical education program at least from the 1920s. In 1979 UT first offered dance as a major. The major was discontinued in 1988 because of low enrollment, and dance was offered as a concentration in the College of Education. Dance was then offered as a minor in the Sport and Physical Activities Unit of the college, offering minors in dance pedagogy and dance performance.
In June 2008 Interim Chancellor Jan Simek announced that the program would be phased out as part of necessary budget cutting by the institution. At the time of elimination, 37 students were enrolled in the minor concentration.