Program Overview

Dance PhD Program

The Dance PhD degree in Temple's Boyer College of Music and Dance offers a rigorous curriculum of coursework and research, culminating in an in-depth dissertation project. Critical theory seminars in culture, history, pedagogy, and philosophy are interwoven with experiential methodology studies.

Program Overview

PhD graduates pursue careers in artistic direction, choreography and performance, as well as advocacy, dance administration, entrepreneurship, teaching in higher education, research, and writing. Boyer's Dance PhD degree program is one of four in the country, and its curriculum is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance.

Curriculum

Over four to six years, students study dance as aesthetic behavior, a mode of inquiry and social communication, and a performing art. The curriculum emphasizes:

• Cultural, historical, and philosophical perspectives of dance and the body
• Dance learning and teaching across the life span
• Performance theory and practice

Faculty

Boyer's Dance faculty represent an array of research areas and specialties, including aesthetic, artistic, educational, ethnographic, historical, phenomenological, and sociological modes of inquiry in dance. Faculty have performed at nationally known institutions such as Kariamu & Company: Traditions, the Martha Graham Dance Company, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and Pearl Lang Dance Company.

Classes and Curriculum

Some of the core courses during the term of this degree will have a centralized focus in:

• Black Performance
• Bodies Texts, History
• Dancing the Popular
• Educational Inquiry in Dance
• Experience, Engagement, Multi-Sensory Inquiry
• Neoclassicism and the Baroque Revival in 20th Century Dance & Culture

Related Graduate Degrees

• Dance MA
• Dance MFA

Tuition and Fees

In keeping with Temple's commitment to access and affordability, this Doctor of Philosophy offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support. Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level, course load, in-state or out-of-state residency, and more.

• Pennsylvania resident: $1,282.00 per credit
• Out-of-state: $1,711.00 per credit

Accreditation

The Boyer College of Music and Dance is accredited by the:

• American Music Therapy Association
• National Association of Schools of Music
• National Association of Schools of Dance
• Pennsylvania Department of Education

Additional Program Information

Faculty advisors can help students navigate their program and discuss research opportunities, teaching assistantships, and more. The Boyer College of Music and Dance has a range of research areas and specialties, providing students with a comprehensive and well-rounded education in dance.