Dance

Students must successfully complete a total of 72 units. The 72 units of course work required for the degree must include a minimum of 44 units of graduate and professional courses (200 and 400 series). Courses must be taken for a letter grade (unless a course is offered as S/U only) to count towards degree progress and students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0. No more than four units of WL Arts 596A may be applied toward the degree, and the course must be designed in consultation with the faculty adviser.

The required courses are distributed as follows:

Students are expected to be actively engaged in movement practice(s) throughout their studies. To continue into the second year of the program, students must successfully complete the first-year curriculum by earning a minimum grade of B in Dance 211A-C.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be registered and enrolled at all times unless they are on official leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

Teaching experience is not a requirement. However, it is highly recommended for those who plan to teach in their area of specialization.

Field Experience

Field Experience is not required. However, engagement with local communities is encouraged.

Capstone Plan

The M.F.A. degree follows the Capstone Plan towards completion of degree. An individual project evaluated by the candidate's proposed three-member Capstone Plan Committee is required. The preliminary requirements of the individual project include a research paper, and a written proposal of the student's final project and presentation of the proposed works. The research paper is completed prior to submission of the final project written proposal and presentation plan. The final project written proposal must include fundamental concepts, objectives, and production plans for the final project. M.F.A. candidates prepare a major concert in the second year, or a series of concerts for their respective final projects. Students may obtain specific guidelines for the completion of the research paper, written proposal, and the final project presentation from the department.

After passing the preliminary requirements of the individual project, the student formalizes their proposed three-member M.F.A. Capstone Plan Committee, which advises the student in developing the final project. Students may obtain specific guidelines for nominating the Capstone Plan committee from the department. The student may form an M.F.A. Capstone Plan Committee when Dance 211A-D are completed and the proposal for the student’s Capstone Plan has been accepted by the M.F.A. faculty. The student is advanced to candidacy once the required course work and all portions of the preliminary requirements of the Capstone Plan are passed. An oral defense of the final project concert material is held with the candidate's M.F.A. Capstone Plan Committee.

A written production book with analysis and critique must be completed after the performance(s). Students may obtain specific guidelines from the department. The production book is filed in the department archives along with video documentation of the candidate's final project.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time-to-degree is six quarters. The number of required quarters is dependent on the student's need to complete prerequisites or additional coursework on choreographic investigations, but may not exceed nine quarters.

MAXIMUM TTD

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

UCLA is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and by numerous special agencies. Information regarding the University's accreditation may be obtained from the Office of Academic Planning and Budget, 2107 Murphy Hall.