Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Fine Arts in Dance

The Master of Fine Arts in Dance at Temple's Boyer College of Music and Dance is designed for dance students and artists seeking a deeper understanding of dance as a performing art and mode of inquiry. Through its interdisciplinary curriculum, students advance their artistic practice while interacting with cultural, political, and social perspectives of dance.

Program Overview

Graduates of the program pursue careers in artistic direction and choreography, as well as dance administration, advocacy, entrepreneurship, research, writing, and teaching in higher education. The curriculum is offered on a full-time or part-time basis and is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance.

Curriculum and Research

• The program enables students to challenge their artistic viewpoints and directions
  • Create, interpret, and present dance works
  • Participate fully in choreographic research and production
  • Refine their critical thinking skills in relation to current discourses in dance
• All students create a final master's presentation of choreographic research, as well as a written thesis that documents and reflects on their research process and final work
• Students work closely with a primary concert advisor and committee, made up of internationally known artists and scholars

Comparison with the Master of Arts in Dance

The Master of Fine Arts in Dance emphasizes dance as a performing art, where experienced and emerging professionals hone their vision and skills as performing artists and teachers. In contrast, the Master of Arts in Dance is uniquely designed for students interested in a one-year intensive graduate program that emphasizes creativity, research, and teaching, also serving as a pathway to doctoral programs for those seeking to further their study of dance.