Umbilic by Graduate Student Jared Doster and performed with undergraduate Joel Rivera;
This work was selected for performance at the National Dance Festival in Washington, DC
and for Jacob Pillow's Inside/Out series! Photo by Lynn Lane.
Program Overview
The Master of Fine Arts program in the Department of Dance at Sam Houston State University is a dynamic, challenging education that integrates creativity, performance, and scholarly pursuits. In addition to an intensive studio experience with substantive choreographic and performance opportunities, the MFA program offers exposure to pedagogical, theoretical, and research orientations to dance as an art form. Courses in composition, dance theory, production, dance technology, and Laban Movement Analysis broaden the scope of study.
The MFA is a 60 credit terminal degree in dance taking three years of residency in the Department of Dance. For qualifying applicants with extensive professional experience it is possible to complete the degree in 4-5 semesters. The degree culminates in a creative thesis project designed by the candidate that expands the student’s area of interest through specified research and creative investigation. Graduates from the Department of Dance are successfully employed around the nation in a variety of careers including performing arts and higher education teaching, performance, choreography, administration, and production.
The Department of Dance also offers a returning professional track that allows artists who have substantial experience in the field to return to school on an accelerated time table to assist them with the next step in their professional careers. This program is supportive of candidates who are interested in shifting the focus of their dance career - such as from performing to teaching.
Dance MFA students have regularly been recognized for exceptional teaching on campus through The Graduate School and The Sammys (recognizing SHSU's outstanding student leaders and organizations). Examples of recent acknowledgments:
Outstanding Teaching Assistantship Awards (awarded to only two graduate students campus-wide a year)
- Jared Doster (MFA, 2018)
- Evelyn Toh (MFA, 2020)
Outstanding Graduate/Doctoral Student Award (awarded to only one graduate student campus-wide a year)
- Shohei Iwahama (MFA, 2022)
Entrance and Retention Requirements
An Interview/Audition Process is required for admission to the Dance MFA degree program.
Admission is based upon an aggregated evaluation of all application components.
Applications are accepted until August 1, 2025 or until incoming class is filled.
Please contact the MFA in Dance Graduate Advisor Dionne Noble at dln008@shsu.edu for questions about the program or audition process.
The 2024-25 audition dates for the MFA program are:
Friday, November 15, 2024 from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday, February 7, 2025 from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Click Here for more information about the MFA Audition.
TRANSFER CREDIT. Up to 18 hours of graduate credit may be transferred toward the Master of Fine Arts in Dance degree. 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 60 semester credit hours. A grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained. Requirements of the degree must be completed within a period of six years.
Husk by Andy Noble; Photo by Lynn Lane
A thesis performance is required of all MFA candidates. Defense of thesis and oral examination are also required. The thesis will be a formal concert or alternative creative project of the student's work, accompanied by a supporting thesis portfolio. A Defense of Thesis is conducted following the conclusion of thesis study. 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 division faculty. After the oral examination has been passed and the thesis performance and supporting thesis portfolio have been approved by the graduate committee, the candidate is recommended for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Dance. A record of the thesis will be supplied by the candidate to be retained permanently by the university.
MFA in Dance Student Handbook - All Dance majors are required to follow the guidelines laid out in the MFA Student Handbook.
Graduate Assistantships
The Department of Dance awards competitive graduate assistantships each year to students based on qualifications and academic standing. The Graduate Assistantships are generally awarded to second and/or third year students. Assistantship responsibilities include fulfilling six credit hours of assignments in support of the department’s activities equivalent of .50 FTE. Assignments are determined based on department needs. Once Graduate Assistants have completed 18 hours of course work, they may be listed as the instructor of record for courses and assigned classes to teach as part of their load.
Assistantship criteria:
- Remain enrolled as a Graduate Student in the Department of Dance at Sam Houston State University throughout the academic year.
- Fulfill all requirements of assistantship responsibilities including consistent teaching of courses, completion of tasks, and display of professional, positive, leadership qualities.
- Fulfill academic requirements as specified by the graduate course of study and graduate faculty.
- Maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
- As a recipient of a Graduate Assistantship, understand that you are representing the Department of Dance. The award may be reevaluated or revoked at any time based upon the review and discretion of dance faculty.
To apply for a Graduate Assistantship from the Department of Dance the following must be submitted to Dionne Noble, Graduate Advisor. Due date for Fall 2025 consideration is March 19, 2025.
- Graduate Assistantship Application
- Teaching resume
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one from a non SHSU employee)
- Unofficial transcripts
Please note that you will be asked to upload the additional documents with the application. Recommenders may email their letter to Dionne Noble at dln008@shsu.edu or you can upload your letters to the application.
For information about the assistantships contact Dionne Noble, Graduate Advisor for Dance at dln008@shsu.edu or 936-294-1588.
Department of Dance
815 17th Street, Suite 150, Huntsville, TX 77340
Phone: (936) 294-3342 or (936) 294-1875 | E-mail: shsudance@shsu.edu