University of California, Los Angeles

Program Information

Degree Offered

M.F.A.- Dance

Format: Campus

Program Description:

The M.F.A. program in Dance provides a unique emphasis on the ethics and aesthetics of
dance-making, exploring the cultural and political issues that arise for any contemporary artist,
especially with regards to interculturality and interdisciplinarity. Our M.F.A. is organized around
a series of intensive courses that encourage students to develop an individual artistic voice, create
innovative and challenging work, and explore the relationships among intuition, analysis, politics,
and performance. Students are guided in their investigations of possible streams or concentrations
that they might engage in – critical studies, studies in an allied discipline such as music, film, or
digital arts, or studies of a specific artistic practice, community, or historical period, and other
kinds of experiences that will serve to enhance their choreographic work. M.F.A. students may
also choose to participate in a variety of movement genres from a rich palette of dance practices
and traditions from around the world (e.g. North American/European, African, South Asian
diasporic practices among others). These course offerings are further enriched by a continual flow
of distinguished visiting artists and scholars of dance, and by a range of opportunities for the
public performance of original choreographic work.

Eligibility Requirements:

A preliminary examination evaluated by a faculty panel 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.

After passing the preliminary examination, a three-member M.F.A. comprehensive examination committee is selected to advise students in developing the final project.

Choreographers prepare a major concert in the third year, or a series of concerts, depending on their proposed project. An oral defense of the concert material is held with the M.F.A. comprehensive examination committee.

A written production book with analysis and critique should 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 a videotape of the candidate's final project.

International Student Requirements:

Students whose native language is not English are required to submit scores received on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as part of their application. A TOEFL score of at least 560 on the written exam (220 on the computer-based test), or an IELTS Overall Band score of at least 7.0 are the minimum requirements for applicants. Because processing, sending, and receiving TOEFL and IELTS test scores often takes several weeks, international students must schedule their examination no later than October in order to meet the Departmental deadlines. TOEFL scores should be sent directly to the Department Admissions Office. IELTS scores should be sent to the Department Admissions Office and the Graduate Division.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: No

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Large City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above