Master of Fine Arts in Dance
The Master of Fine Arts in Dance focuses on individual and collaboration in movement practice, choreography, dance research and teaching. The program will help you develop focused expertise in choreography and performance with a specialization in technology including motion tracking, projection and other technological advances. The program bridges the role of the performer and choreographer within dance technology for the stage as well as connecting the performer to virtual and augmented realities.
The program also has a unique focus on dance wellness and pedagogy. You can pursue areas of dance wellness such as the connections between dance and psychology, injury prevention, Pilates and conditioning, among other areas of interest. Students interested in teaching in higher education can study pedagogy with a focus on the health and well-being of dancers, including anatomy for dancers, conditioning for dance practice, dance for community and the application of research into studio practice.
Areas of Emphasis
- Choreography with an emphasis on technology
- Performance in virtual and augmented realities
- Dance science and wellness
- Higher education in dance
Curriculum
The Master of Fine Arts in Dance curriculum allows you to tailor your studies to your interest and career aspirations. You’ll develop and compile a body of work in coordination with your personalized courses of study.
M.F.A. coursework 60 credit hours
Prerequisite Courses* 0 credit hours
Required Courses 33 credit hours
DCED 610 Conditioning for Dancers (2 credits)
DCED 618 Guest Artist Residency in Dance Technique (1 credit; taken twice)
DCED 621 Understanding Technology in Creative Practice (3 credits)
DCED 624 Producing Dance (3 credits)
DCED 631 Theory and Practice in Dance Technique (3 credits)
DCED 633 Research Application into Studio Practice (3 credits)
DCED 636 Professional Practice: The Project (6 credits)
DCED 637 Professional Practice: Written (2 credits)
PVFA 631 The Arts in Higher Education (3 credits)
PVFA 635 Research Methods in the Arts (3 credits)
Prescribed Electives 27 credit hours
DCED 410 Dance Teams in Secondary Education (3 credits)
DCED 620 Music Praxes in Dance (3 credits)
DCED 623 Choreography in Media Arts (3 credits)
DCED 625 Screendance (3 credits)
DCED 632 Screening Techniques and Assessments (3 credits)
DCED 638 Teaching Functional Anatomy for Dance (3 credits)
DCED 640 Improvisation and Partnering (2 credits)
DCED 642 Contact Improvisation (2 credits)
DCED 650 Contemporary Ballet (2 credits)
DCED 651 Pointe and Variation (2 credits)
DCED 660 Ballet I (2 credits)
DCED 661 Ballet II (2 credits)
DCED 662 Ballet III (2 credits)
DCED 671 Modern Dance I (2 credits)
DCED 672 Modern Dance II (2 credits)
DCED 673 Modern Dance III (2 credits)
DCED 686 Jazz Dance I (2 credits)
DCED 687 Jazz Dance II (2 credits)
DCED 688 Jazz Dance III (2 credits)
DCED 697 Hip Hop I (2 credits)
DCED 698 Hip Hop II (2 credits)
DCED 689 Special Topics in Dance (1-4 credits)
PERF 308 Performing Arts Administration (3 credits)
PERF 310 History of Performance in the Ancient World (3 credits)
PERF 338 Performing Communities (3 credits)
PVFA 310 Performance in Virtual and Augmented Realities (3 credits)
PVFA 621 Collaborative Composition (3 credits)
PVFA 634 Understanding Communities in the Arts (3 credits)
PVFA 639 Analyzing Research in the Arts (3 credits)
PVFA 626 Writing for Publication in the Arts (3 credits)
THEA 307 Stage Management (3 credits)
THEA 355 Creative Costuming (3 credits)
THEA 360 Art of Light (3 credits)
Low Residency and Traditional Options
The M.F.A. is a terminal degree, which allows you to teach at the university level or work professionally in the field. Students enrolled in the program have three options for delivery, two traditional formats and one low residency option.
Traditional delivery: On campus, in person, condensed into two years of continuous study (includes summers).
Low residency option: Low residency students attend both in person and through online formats over two years of continuous study. Students will attend Summer I sessions in-person, on campus. Summer II sessions will be hybrid, with two three-day in-person sessions. All fall and spring semesters will be hybrid or online courses for low residency students.
Funding
Students enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts in Dance program are eligible for a full tuition and fees (required) waiver. Students receiving funding assistance through this program will also be a graduate assistant with a required 20 hours of work per week.
Applying to the M.F.A. Program
Students wishing to enter our master’s program must have a four-year bachelor’s degree in dance or a related field.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the admission process work?
Submit your application at Texas A&M GradCas along with a nonrefundable application fee. The fee may be waived only in exceptional cases for low-income applicants. Once in GradCas, your application should include the following:
- A 300-500 word statement of purpose.
- Resume: Should include your employment history, educational record, performances, publications, awards, conferences and any community/volunteer experiences you may have.
- Contact information for three references.
- Two videos sampling showcasing performance, choreography and/or instruction of a lecture about dance. One video must be of choreography or performance.
Upon initial review, potential candidates will be invited to attend an in-person or digital audition.
Current undergraduate Texas A&M University students or former dance students at Texas A&M University may be selected for automatic admission into the M.F.A. in Dance program based on the following criteria:
- Undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology: Dance Science track OR Bachelor of Science in Dance Science with a minor in Choreography.
- Minimum 3.25 GPA at Texas A&M University.
What are the admissions deadlines?
Evaluation of applications will begin on Jan. 1 and continue until the cohort is filled. Applications will close March 31.
Is a GRE score required for admission?
No, the M.F.A. program does not require the GRE score at this point.
What kind of financial aid does the program offer?
For the 2025-26 academic year, we have been able to secure full tuition and fee waivers along with graduate assistantships for in-person students. We are currently working on additional funding for low residency students, and more information will be added as funds are secured.
For more information about financial aid, please visit financialaid.tamu.edu.
Who can I go to for questions?
For more information about our graduate program, please contact Associate Professor Carisa Armstrong at carisa-armstrong@tamu.edu or Johnna Lee, graduate advisor at johnna2018@tamu.edu.