Dance, M.F.A.
The M.F.A. program is an intensive program requiring a core of courses in studio and academic areas. The student’s individual area of interest is explored through the thesis project in the second year. Projects or written theses may be pursued in choreography, video choreography, screendance, dance training, dance history and theory, ethnography, dance science, dance reconstruction, and dance and digital technology.
Applicants for admission to the degree program must meet the general requirements for admission to graduate study and hold a Bachelor's Degree (B.A. or B.F.A. in Dance preferred). Candidates must meet the minimum requirements for the B.A. in Dance at UCI. An audition in various dance techniques is required for admission and is held in winter quarter. At this audition, applicants must also present a prepared choreographed piece, which may be a solo performed by the applicant, or a video of the applicant’s choreography. Interviews with faculty are conducted following the audition, and applicants are given a short writing exercise. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation.
General Degree Requirements
Normally two years of residence are required. Each candidate must enroll for three courses each quarter for six quarters, exclusive of summer sessions.
In the second year, satisfactory attainment must be demonstrated by a major thesis; in choreography this consists of the composition and production of a choreographic work; in other areas, such as dance history, dance training, or dance science, this consists of a written thesis or a comprehensive project in a chosen area of study. All theses must be defended in a one-hour oral examination which may also test the candidate’s general knowledge in the area.
The normative time to degree for students in the M.F.A. program is two years. Residence is required. The normative time to degree can be extended to three years only when a student requests extra time for more involved thesis research through a petition to the Chair of the Department. The maximum time to degree is three years. Students who do not complete the degree in three years will be dropped from the program.
Specific Degree Requirements
Seventy-two quarter units in graduate or approved upper-division undergraduate courses must be completed with a grade of at least B in each course. No more than 20 units in upper-division courses may count toward the degree. Fulfillment of the technique course requirements must be approved by the faculty advisor.
| A. Complete the following: | |
| DANCE 201 | Seminar in Kinesiology for Dance |
| DANCE 222 | Musical Resources |
| DANCE 225 | Seminar in the Teaching of Dance Techniques |
| DANCE 261A- 261B | Graduate Studio in Choreography and Graduate Studio in Choreography |
| DANCE 281 | Dance and Video Technology |
| DANCE 282 | Seminar in Movement Analysis |
| DANCE 283 | Critical Issues in Dance |
| DANCE 284 | Bibliography and Research |
| DANCE 286 | Thesis |
| DANCE 296 | Proseminar in Dance History |
| Also required: Six courses chosen from any graduate or upper-division dance technique course. | |
By the end of their first year, students will choose their area of study for their thesis. Students who wish to produce a choreographic thesis must apply to the graduate choreography advisor during winter of their first year. The faculty will review the applications and will consider the quality of the student’s work in DANCE 261, as well as the choreographic proposal, in making their selection.
Graduate students are encouraged to apply for teaching assistantships in areas such as dance science, history, music for dancers, choreography, world dance, social dance, dance video, critical issues, and all technique classes. Students with expertise in any of these areas are given special consideration.