Admission Requirements
    Students seeking admission to the Master of Fine Arts program offered by the Dance Program must satisfy all of the requirements listed below. Graduate Record Examination scores are not required for admission to the graduate program in Dance. Specific Dance Program admissions requirements are as follow:

Transfer Credit. Up to eighteen hours of graduate credit may be transferred toward the Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance. However, the MFA Graduate Committee reserves the right to refuse graduate credit from another institution or from Sam Houston State University for any courses not done specifically under the direction of the Dance MFA Graduate Committee.

Period of Study Required. The Master of Fine Arts degree requires a minimum of 48 semester credit hours. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained. The MFA candidate is expected to maintain continuous physical training in ballet and modern technique classes during the time he/she is enrolled. Requirements of the degree must be completed within six years of the beginning of study.

MINIMUM MFA COURSE REQUIREMENTS

27 hours	core curriculum in Dance
6 hours	thesis
6 hours	electives in Dance
9 hours	electives in related fields
48 hours	total

    No more than six hours of graduate credit in dance technique may be earned in less than the advanced placement level. All candidates must achieve advanced placement in dance technique classes in order to be recommended for the Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance.

    A thesis is required of all MFA candidates. The thesis will be a formal concert of the student's works, accompanied by a supporting paper. The works will consist of either the student's performance, creative work, or reconstructed repertory. The proposed content and extent of the thesis must be approved by the graduate committee prior to the presentation of the thesis performance. The written paper must comply with the specifications for the written thesis which are available through the Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences. A record of the performance, either in film, video tape, or notated form, must be included as part of the candidate's accompanying paper.

    The student must also pass an oral examination testing general knowledge of dance concepts, philosophy, and traditions as they relate to his/her thesis work. The oral examination will be conducted by the candidate's graduate committee and selected members of the faculty of the Department of Theatre and Dance and the dean's representative. After the oral examination has been passed and the thesis performance and supporting paper have been approved by the graduate committee, the candidate is recommended for the Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance. A record of the thesis will be supplied by the candidate to be retained permanently by the University.

DANCE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

DNC 577  INDEPENDENT STUDIES. This course is adaptable to the needs and interests of the individual student. Students with specific interests are provided the opportunity to investigate and make application in theoretical, creative or field experience approaches to their area of concentration. May be repeated provided the repetition is in a different area of study. Prerequisites: Permission of Dance Program Coordinator.

DNC 580  CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPOSITION. This course includes the analysis of various components of design and development of basic dance studies into more extended dance works.

DNC 581  ADVANCED COMPOSITION IN CONTEMPORARY DANCE. The purpose of this course is to extend understanding of dance as an art and a craft, and to improve ability to choreograph an extended dance work. Prerequisite: DNC 580 or permission of instructor.

DNC 582  THEORY OF DANCE. An examination is made of the component elements of dance as an art form.

DNC 583  THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED SKILLS IN DANCE. This course includes theoretical concepts and laboratory experiences in modern dance and ballet. Course may be repeated for credit with approval of Dance Program Coordinator.

DNC 584  SEMINAR IN DANCE PRODUCTION. This course emphasizes the values, purposes and problems related to theatre and dance productions including stage scenery, costuming, lighting and other technical aspects of concert dance.

*DNC 585  RESEARCH METHODS IN DANCE. This course acquaints students in dance with research methods specific to dance theory, choreography, and performance. Students are introduced to standard and electronic information resources available in dance. Methods of investigation, review of literature, methodology, writing and organizational skills are evaluated. The course culminates with the development and refinement of a written thesis proposal in dance. Prerequisite: graduate standing in dance or permission of the instructor.

DNC 698  THESIS. This phase of the thesis development involves the selection and design of a suitable performance and/or creative project with the completion of review of related literature and research work necessary. A pilot showing of the work-in-progress must be approved by the thesis committee.

DNC 699  THESIS. The exhibition of the thesis will consist of a formal thesis concert of the student's performance and/or creative work accompanied by a supporting paper. The written paper must comply with the specifications of the written thesis which are available in the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The student must also pass an oral examination, testing general knowledge of dance concepts and traditions that relate to his/her thesis work. (The student must be registered in DNC 699 the semester in which he/she receives the M.F.A. degree.)

* Subject to action by the Board of Regents, The Texas State University System, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.