Dance, M.F.A.
Master of Fine ArtsThe Master of Fine Arts in Dance is a terminal degree designed to provide students with coursework in pedagogy, dance science and the integration of technology in choreography. The degree allows students to focus their studies on their specific career goals through a variety of electives. The format of the thesis project is directly related to the student’s area of research: pedagogy, dance science or technology in choreography.
Program Overview
This program is an accelerated two-year degree that requires students to study through both summer sessions. New cohorts are accepted each year to begin in late May (Summer Session 1). All students are required to be in person for Summer Session 1, but may attend hybrid or in person for all other semesters. This is designed to allow working educators and other professionals to advance their educational goals without leaving their full-time positions.
(Hybrid students must be available for class offerings 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. for summer sessions and for class offerings from 4-7 p.m. during the fall and spring semesters.)
Areas of Focus
- Technology in Choreography: screendance, motion tracking, projection, wearable technologies, 360 video, virtual and augmented realities
- Pedagogy: designing curriculum; creation of new pedagogical methods; research about new/existing pedagogical practices that is woven back into training and/or performance
- Dance Science: intervention-based research grounded in training methods; quantitative or qualitative research in performance; implementation of dance science principles into studio practice; screening protocols
Graduation Requirements
All students will be required to conduct an extensive thesis project resulting in a publication, live performance or presentation of dance curriculum development.
Final Thesis Based on Area of Focus
Option One: Dance Science
Students may conduct dance science research including physical, psychological and nutrition. Students may be required to seek complete human research CITI training and IRB approval. Students will be required to conduct their research, complete data analysis and write their findings for external publication submission. Students will present their research findings and present a workshop on how these findings connect to dance training and/or performance.
Option Two: Choreography and Technology
Students will self-produce a live performance including choreography integrating technology; marketing and promotion; production management; lighting and/or costume design.
Option Three: Pedagogy
Students may conduct research in pedagogical methods or design new dance curriculum. The project may include program overview, lesson plans, syllabi creation and other documentation essential to the project. Students will present their project and conduct a workshop connecting how this curriculum enhances the field of dance training and/or performance.
All options will require both a public presentation of their work and a written thesis.
Cumulative Written Exam and Oral Defense
In addition to the final thesis project, students will also be required to complete a cumulative written exam and an oral defense. Program faculty will be given the opportunity to provide detailed questions designed for each specific student in the program based on their research, concert production, teaching curriculum and overall career goals. Students will be given a list of these questions in order to prepare their research and dialogue.
On exam day students will be given a scheduled time limit to answer a selection of these pre-prepared questions. After exam completion, students will be given time to reflect and prepare for their oral defense. The oral defense will be an opportunity for students to discuss and defend their written exam questions and/or their thesis project. The defense committee will be comprised of the student’s graduate committee and all M.F.A. dance faculty.
Degree Objectives
The educational objectives of this degree are to provide a hands-on education which enables graduates to enter professional careers in dance. Students develop competencies in dance composition and technology; create informed aesthetic assessments; teach with an understanding of the connection between dance training and wellness; and apply collaborative approaches to creating creative work. This program sets itself apart by integrating technology into dance composition, along with a focus on how science informs practice and performance and new discoveries in dance pedagogical practices. Graduates will be lifelong learners at the forefront of their chosen fields, capable of advancing technologies and processes.
The elective courses presented below allow students some flexibility in their degree either to increase their technical or choreographic abilities; to expand their research in dance science and wellness; or to increase their pedagogical abilities. This flexibility will allow students to graduate with an advanced degree tailored to their individual career goals.
Admission for Current Texas A&M Dance Program Students
Students who graduate from Texas A&M University with a BS-KINE-DANS or BS-DANS that are interested in continuing their studies by pursuing the proposed M.F.A. in Dance will have the opportunity for direct acceptance into the program.
For consideration, these students will be expected to:
- Have a 3.25 minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA.
- Complete one of the following courses with a C or better: Dance Pedagogy (DCED 401), Safe Practices (DCED 308), or Drill Team (DCED 410) through the 18 hours of elective credits.
- Completed the minor in choreography or equivalent courses.
Students will also submit a comprehensive resume for faculty review and complete the graduate admission application. Since previously enrolled in the Texas A&M University Dance program, an audition will not be required for admission.
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.
Prerequisite courses are to be taken as directed on admission. They will not count as credits toward the degree.
- DCED 411 Wellness and the Performing Artist (3 credits)
- 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)
- DCED 315 Special Populations in Dance (3 credits)
- 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)
Faculty
Meet the faculty members in the program.
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.
FAQs About the Program
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.
Evaluation of applications will begin on Jan. 1 and continue until the cohort is filled. Applications will close March 31.
No, the M.F.A. program does not require the GRE score at this point.
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.
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.