Applicable only to students admitted during the 2014-2015 academic year.

World Arts and Cultures/Dance

School of the Arts and Architecture

Graduate Degrees

The Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance offers the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree in Dance and the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Culture and Performance.

Dance

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The M.F.A. degree in Dance is organized around the relationship between the individual student, the student’s advisor, the full M.F.A. faculty, and once advanced to candidacy, the M.F.A. Comprehensive Examination Committee.  Entering students will be assigned a faculty advisor from among the department’s ladder faculty for the first year; this advisor will take primary responsibility for academic counseling.  Advisors may be changed depending on the student’s focus of studies. Before requesting a change, however, the student must speak with her/his current faculty advisor.  Students meet with their respective facutly advisor each quarter to plan their program of study for the subsequent quarter.  Progress is assessed periodically by the full M.F.A. faculty.

Areas of Study

The M.F.A. degree is designed for students who wish to pursue a professional choreographic career. Students are encouraged to investigate theories of culture and performance as they relate to creative work. Interests in interculturalism and multi-disciplinarity also are encouraged. These interests may be pursued in consultation with the faculty academic advisors.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must successfully complete a total of 72 units. The 72 units of coursework required for the degree must include a minimum of 32 units of graduate and professional courses (200 and 400 series). Courses must be taken for a letter grade (unless a course is offered as S/U only) to count towards degree progress and with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average. No more than four units of WL Arts 596A may be applied toward the degree, and must be designed in consultation with the faculty advisor.

The required courses are distributed as follows:

(1) Creative practice – 20 units (Dance 211A-D; additional units may be elected from from 211E-F, 490)
(2) Theoretical/critical studies seminars – 12 units chosen in consultation with student’s faculty advisor (Dance or WL Arts 200-series courses)
(3) Production/practicum experience – 12 units (production/design courses, Dance C243, 441)
(4) Electives in all areas (e.g., education, dance science/movement studies, internship, field work, movement practices) – 28 units

Students are expected to be actively engaged in movement practice(s) throughout their studies. Successful completion of the first-year curriculum with a minimum grade of B or higher for each core requirements (211A-D), including all prerequisites, determines whether students may continue in the program.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be registered and enrolled at all times unless they are on official leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

Teaching experience is not a requirement. However, it is highly recommended for those who plan to teach in their area of specialization.

Field Experience

Field Experience is not required. However, engagement with the community is encouraged.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The M.F.A. degree follows the Comprehensive Examination Plan towards completion of degree. A preliminary examination evaluated by the candidate’s proposed three-member Comprehensive Examination Committee is required. The preliminary examination consists of a research paper, a written proposal of the student’s final project and presentation of the proposed works. The research paper is completed prior to submission of the final project written proposal and presentation. The final project written proposal must include fundamental concepts, objectives, and production plans for the final project. M.F.A candidates prepare a major concert in the third year, or a series of concerts for their respective final projects.  Students may obtain specific guidelines for the completion of the research paper, written proposal, and the final project presentation from the department.

After passing the preliminary examination, the candidate’s proposed three-member M.F.A. comprehensive examination committee is formalized to advise students in developing the final project. Students may obtain specific guidelines for nominating the comprehensive examination committee from the department. The student is advanced to candidacy when the required coursework is completed and all portions of the preliminary examination are passed. Students are allowed one year after advancement to candidacy to complete their M.F.A. comprehensive examination (final project). An oral defense of the final project concert material is held with the candidate’s M.F.A. comprehensive examination committee.

A written production book with analysis and critique must be completed after the performance(s). Students may obtain specific guidelines from the department. The production book is filed in the department archives along with video documentation of the candidate’s final project.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time-to-degree is nine quarters. The number of required quarters is dependent on the student’s need to complete prerequisites or additional coursework on choreographic investigations.