Programs

The Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance offers an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree and a graduate program leading to the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree. Prospective students are invited to apply to one of the two programs:

BFA Program in Dance
MFA Program in Dance

Coursework for both programs is drawn from a range of more than 30 classes offered by the School each semester. The BFA candidates are required to take liberal arts courses in the School of Critical Studies. Dance students may also take advantage of numerous elective courses offered by the CalArts Schools of Art, Critical Studies, Film/Video, Music and Theater. In addition, qualified graduate-level applicants to the School may apply to be considered for a supplemental concentration in Integrated Media (IM)—a course of study for interdisciplinary work with digital media. To graduate, students must fulfill all program and course requirements and pass regular faculty reviews of their artistic and academic progress. For detailed program requirements and current course descriptions, visit Course Catalogs and Schedules.

Critical Studies BFA Requirements

A CalArts education is based on both artistic and intellectual rigor. To ensure that each undergraduate has the broad knowledge and cultural sophistication needed for successful arts careers in today's world, all candidates for the BFA degree must complete the Critical Studies undergraduate requirements in addition to coursework in their individual programs.

The School of Critical Studies enables students to excel in their métier by generating productive links between critical, intellectual, imaginative and creative inquiry. Classes provide a foundational starting point to learning that includes a breadth of study areas and approaches to study across the arts, humanities and sciences. Following this, students are encouraged to develop their Critical Studies work by making strong connections with their chosen métier projects by taking Critical Studies Minors as well as Independent Study options.

BFA candidates are expected to take either three or four Critical Studies classes (6-8 units) per semester as part of the total 46 units required for graduation. Typically, this amounts to 40 percent of each student's overall course load. The CalArts Critical Studies residency requirement applies to all students.

School of Critical Studies
Critical Studies Course Requirements