Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Choreography

The Reinhardt University Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Choreography provides the opportunity for artists-dancers to expand career opportunities in areas including performance, design, arts administration, or education. The six-semester, hybrid structure allows flexibility for working adults During each summer residency, students experience workshops and lectures by guest artists as well as studio time to increase performance skill and self-discipline. During the fall and spring semesters, students will take online, asynchronous courses in scholarly topics about education, dance movement (like kinesiology or somatic research) and arts management (like grant writing or production/ direction).

Graduates, then, have an academic credential to teach in high school or college ss well as certification from the Institute for the Study of Somatic Communication (ISSC),

Program Director

Jamie McCord Trial, MFA - Choreography Assistant Professor of Dance
Email: jamie.trial@reinhardt.edu

Accreditation

Reinhardt University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, and masters. Questions about the accreditation of Reinhardt University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA  30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Admission Requirements

All admission documents should be sent to the following address:

Office of Admissions 
Reinhardt University 
7300 Reinhardt Circle
Waleska, GA 30183
e-mail: admissions@reinhardt.edu

General admission to Reinhardt University graduate studies:

• The Graduate Admission Application form—complete and submit the Online Application for Admission or contact the Office of Admissions.
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended; proof of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution should be on one transcript. If a transcript includes any graduate classes, the applicant should have left the graduate program in good standing.

Official transcripts must be mailed from the granting institution, or delivered in a sealed envelope from the institution, or sent via a professional electronic transcript sending service.

Additional admission requirements for the Reinhardt MFA- Choreography:

• A bachelor’s degree in Dance or a related discipline from a regionally accredited institution with an overall undergrad GPA of 2.75 minimum (on a 4.0 scale)
• Video submission of your best 5-10 minutes of choreography
• A 250–500-word summary of your choreographic process
• Artist statement and written explanation of how the MFA is applicable to furthering their career as an artist
• Two letters of recommendation
• Follow-up interview may be necessary before candidate is accepted

Transfer Credit

A maximum of nine (9) credit hours of graduate work earned at a regionally accredited Commission on Colleges (COC) institution may be transferred in to Reinhardt University’s MFA program. The acceptance of any transfer credit is contingent upon approval of the MFA Director and/or the Dean of the School of the Arts. Transferred courses must correspond to those courses offered in Reinhardt’s MFA curriculum. Students will need to provide official transcripts of course work, course descriptions and course syllabi, and the amount of transfer credit awarded will be determined by the MFA Program Director.

Transfer credit will not be given for 1) course work that is more than five years old, 2) any course in which a grade of less than a “B” was earned, 3) course work already applied toward another degree, and 4) course work that was not applicable toward a graduate degree at the institution where the credit was earned. See Transfer Credit (p. 32) under “Academic Policies” for stipulations of Reinhardt University graduate transfer credit.

MFA-Choreography Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, MFA students will

1. Develop skills necessary to write and verbalize their understanding of the conceptual and formal aspects of their creative dance process.
2. Develop an understanding of somatic research and how it can inform their choreography.
3. Develop the ability to think critically about their artwork and the artwork of others.
4. Create a choreographic work for submission as their final thesis.

Attendance

Graduate Students are expected to attend all class meetings and are required to follow the attendance policies of each individual professor.

Academic Performance

MFA-Choreography students are expected to earn grades of “A” or “B” in their course work. Only one

(1) course grade of “C” may be included in the computation for degree completion. A second course grade of “C” will result in Academic Probation. The course must be retaken to count toward degree completion. A third course grade of “C” or a first course grade of “F” will result in Academic Dismissal.

A student may appeal a dismissal by submitting a letter to the Vice President for Academic Affairs describing the condition and identifying the reasons for seeking a positive decision of the appeal.

See also Grade Appeals and Enrollment Related Appeals under Appeals and Petitions.

Academic Dismissal

If a student receives a third course grade of “C” or a first “F”, the student will be dismissed from the graduate program. Students receiving notification of Academic Dismissal (p. 29) shall be notified by the University Registrar and shall not be eligible for graduate study or readmission at Reinhardt University.

Graduation Requirements:

• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and no more than (1) one “C” in the program, regardless of the GPA.
• Completion of Thesis presentation (20- minute dance work or performance event that is based on a unique research project) Students are responsible for all logistics related to production, including venue, production rights, and other    potential practicalities for production.
• Submission of written component (approximately 20-30 pages) that provides the critical and methodological context for the work. Because every project is different, the specific requirements for the project will be determined in consultation with the major advisor/chair and other members of the graduate faculty
• Submission of Graduation Application and fee by the semester deadline before expected degree completion. See the Graduate Academic Calendar.