Texas A&M University - College Station

What you'll study

The programme combines advanced technique and performance training with creative choreography, pedagogical practice and research methods in dance. Coursework typically includes advanced modern and contemporary technique, improvisation and partnering, choreographic process and composition, repertory studies, somatic approaches (such as Pilates, Feldenkrais or Alexander-based work), dance history and theory, and research methods for performance. Students usually engage in directed studio practica, collaborative interdisciplinary projects, and community-engaged performance work. The degree culminates in a major creative thesis or performance project accompanied by a written component that situates the artistic work within critical and historical frameworks.

• Advanced technique and repertory classes
• Choreography and composition workshops
• Improvisation, partnering and contact work
• Somatics and body conditioning for performance
• Dance history, theory and criticism
• Research methods and practice-as-research seminars
• Teaching practicum and curriculum design for dance
• Capstone performance/thesis project

Structure and learning approach

Learning is studio-intensive and often includes ensemble work, individual mentorship, and opportunities to present work in campus venues and community settings. Assessment blends practical performance, choreographic portfolios, reflective writing and a culminating thesis/performance. Opportunities for collaboration with theatre, music, film and other departments support interdisciplinary work.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in dance or a closely related field, and to demonstrate substantial technical and creative experience. Typical admissions materials include:

• An application form and academic transcripts from previous tertiary study
• A curriculum vitae outlining performance and teaching experience
• A choreographic portfolio or documentation of recent creative work (videos of performances or choreography)
• An audition or live/recorded movement audition, demonstrating technique and artistic range
• A personal statement describing artistic goals, research interests and reasons for pursuing the MFA
• Letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees
• For international applicants, proof of English proficiency where required by university policy

Some applicants with strong professional experience but from non-dance academic backgrounds may be considered; such candidates should contact the programme coordinator about preparatory work or bridge expectations. Admissions decisions take into account artistic promise, potential for development, and fit with faculty expertise.

Career prospects

Graduates of an MFA in Dance pursue a range of careers in the arts. Common pathways include employment as professional performers, choreographers and artistic directors of companies; university and conservatory teaching roles (the MFA is a terminal degree for many teaching positions in the United States); community arts leadership and programme development; dance dramaturgy and curation; movement direction for theatre, film and media; and roles in arts administration, education outreach and grant-funded project management. Graduates also move into related areas such as somatic therapy, movement research, and interdisciplinary creative practices.

Why study at Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas A&M provides a supportive environment for rigorous studio practice and interdisciplinary research. Students benefit from experienced faculty who maintain active professional profiles in choreography, performance and scholarship, and from access to on-campus performance venues and rehearsal studios. The university’s broader resources — including collaboration possibilities across theatre, music and the humanities, research facilities, and community partnerships in the Brazos Valley — offer practical presentation and outreach opportunities. Funding options such as teaching and graduate assistantships may be available to qualified students, and the programme’s balance of practice and research prepares graduates for diverse careers in higher education and the professional arts sector.