Program: Dance MFA - University at Buffalo

Apr 03, 2025

2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

The Department of Theatre and Dance seeks dance artists with diverse interests and backgrounds to apply for our new practice-based, creative research oriented MFA. Students will focus on embodied inquiry through choreographic creation and performance, while engaging with a comprehensive core curriculum of practice and theory courses that emphasize the development of the whole artist, body and mind. With close faculty mentorship and numerous opportunities to create and present work, students will cultivate the knowledge and skills necessary to become the next generation of innovative dance makers, leaders, teaching-artists, and artist-scholars.

Required Core (32 credits)

Physical Practice (10 credits)

Select 5 credits in 1 technique area and 5 additional credits as approved by advisor.

Examples of course offerings:

DAC 500SEM - Improvisation Credits: 1 - 2
DAC 507SEM - Graduate Tap Dance Credits: 1 - 2
DAC 510SEM - Graduate Modern Dance 1 Credits: 1 - 2
DAC 511SEM - Graduate Modern Dance 2 Credits: 1 - 2
DAC 520SEM - Graduate Ballet 1 Credits: 1 - 2
DAC 521SEM - Graduate Ballet 2 Credits: 1 - 2
DAC 517SEM - Graduate Jazz Dance 1 Credits: 1 - 2
DAC 518SEM - Graduate Jazz Dance 2 Credits: 1 - 2
DAC 544TUT - Graduate Studio: Physical Practice Credits: 1

History, Research & Theory (12 credits)

DAC 513SEM - Graduate Seminar 1 Credits: 3
TH 610SEM - Performance Research Credits: 3
DAC 531LEC - Political and Cultural Approaches to Dance Credits: 3
DAC 582SEM - Creative Practice and Embodied Research Credits: 3

Applied Anatomy & Theories of the Body (3 credits)

Select 1 from:

DAC 515SEM - Mind-Body Integration Credits: 3
DAC 532LEC - Kines/Anatomy for Dancers Credits: 3
DAC 550SEM - Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis Credits: 3

Teaching (5 credits)

DAC 554SEM - Dance Pedagogy in Higher Education Credits: 3
And
DAC 606SEM - Supervised Teaching Credits: 1 - 4 (1 credit taken 2x)
OR
Elective - any DAC grad offering for 2 credits

Electives (12 credits)

Select 6 credits in secondary area of study as approved by advisor.
Select 6 credits outside of the department as approved by advisor.

Culminating Experience: Project (18 credits)

Complete all 4:

DAC 540SEM - Dance Making I: Resources Credits: 3
DAC 541SEM - Dance Making II: Workshop Credits: 3
DAC 542SEM - Collaborative Practice Credits: 3
DAC 602SEM - Masters Project Credits: 3 - 9

Total Credit Hours: 60

3.0 Degree GPA required

Instruction Method

In Person (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Full/Part Time Options

Full Time

Credits Required

60 Hours

Time-To-Degree

3 Years

Application Fee

$75

Special Requirements

Audition required

Program Contact

Catherine Gaston
832 Clemens Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260
Email: cgaston@buffalo.edu
Phone: 716-645-9042

SED Statement

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

Online programs/courses may require students to come to campus on occasion. Time-to-degree and number of credit hours may vary based on full/part time status, degree, track and/or certification option chosen. Time-to-degree is based on calendar year(s). Contact the department for details.