Master of Arts in Dance - American Dance Studies

The focus of the Master of Arts (American Dance Studies) is on the critical study of dance through publicly engaged scholarship. Committed to scholarly and embodied research, the program investigates the significance of emergent and historical movement practices across stage, street, screen, and social dance forms. From the study of dance history and historiography to cultural criticism and dance ethnography, coursework emphasizes diverse approaches to the role of dance in cultures across the hemispheric Americas. The curriculum highlights FSU's unique location in the American South and Florida panhandlea nexus of African, European, First Nations, and Caribbean movement vocabularies. The program engages students with dance's wide-ranging global contexts through investigations grounded in diaspora and transnationalism, foregrounding questions related to power, culture, identity, contemporaneity, sustainability, and social movements. American Dance Studies prepares students for careers or continued studies in diverse areas of the dance field. Whether toward a future PhD Degree in dance or professional work in related areas of dance administration, dance archival studies, arts library science, dramaturgy, or performance, both capstone and thesis tracks pursue a rigorous course of study and development of independent, creative research projects geared toward student interests.

The MA in Dance (American Dance Studies) degree candidate should have an extensive background in dance and an undergraduate degree in an appropriate area of study such as (but not limited to) fine or performing arts, history, American studies, cultural studies, anthropology, or humanities. At least a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average or an appropriate score on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination is required for admission. Admission into the degree program will be determined on the basis of these university-wide requirements, three required letters of recommendation, and the applicant's required essay. The student's progress is assessed continuously throughout their graduate study and there is a formal review of the candidate by the ADS faculty in semester two. A probationary period may be established if a student is having difficulty and needs special attention. The amount of work required, in addition to the minimum dance curricular requirements and the minimum University-wide requirements, depends upon the student's undergraduate preparation.
A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's degree
the School of Dance will offer in-person auditions for our MFA and MA Studio and Related Studies (MA/SRS) programs in our Montgomery Hall location on the campus of Florida State University. To initiate this process, please begin by completing the School of Dance Graduate Audition Application below. Please note that the application requires a resume with links to video of the applicant performing a two-minute solo and two work samples highlighting the applicant's dance research interest. The solo is intended to showcase the applicant's unique skill and artistry as a performer and choreographer, and it can be in whichever style the applicant chooses.
Two work samples should highlight the applicant's research interests in choreography, performance, dance on film, teaching, or other. Applicants should provide a maximum of three videos in total (i.e., 1 solo + 2 work samples). Applicants are encouraged to include a brief statement at the beginning of each video in which they discuss the content of the video, specifically addressing the genre/style and their relevant training and experience. Applicants are also required to upload a resume within the audition application specifically highlighting dance training and creative experience. The videos requested above should be uploaded to forums such as Youtube or Vimeo, and links to these videos must be provided in the applicant's resume. Please be sure the video links provided in your resume open properly prior to submission.
Please note that the FSU graduate application requires the following materials: 1) a statement of purpose (this is a 1-2 page letter in which you articulate your motivation for attending our program), 2) a writing sample (an essay, an academic or narrative paper, an article, or other writing assignment), 3) three letters of recommendation composed on official institutional letterhead, 4) official college/university transcripts, and 5) a resume/CV (the resume/CV must be uploaded both in the university application and the audition application). Our program does not require the GRE nor any other graduate admissions examination.
In order to be considered for admission to our program, it is impe