Dancing Beyond Degree: Why CSULB is the Step Forward Your Career Needs
When you step onto Cal State Long Beach’s verdant campus—set just miles from the Pacific—you enter more than a university: you join a thriving ecosystem for dance-making, pedagogy, and professional impact.
Since launching its pioneering BA in Dance back in 1970, CSULB has become the only CSU campus offering both the professional, terminal Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and the educator-focused Master of Arts (MA) in Dance. With small cohorts—about 6–9 in MFA and 13–20 in MA—the Department keeps its graduate experience intimate, resource-rich, and deeply personalized.
Is This You?
You're ready to:
- Create and present ambitious, original dance work
- Lead productions, manage budgets, and work with design teams
- Teach at higher levels—college, community, or beyond
- Engage in professional development
- Raise your salary—K-12 teachers, adjunct faculty
- Research, write, and strengthen dance as scholarship and cultural practice
If that resonates, CSULB offers two compelling paths:
- MFA: for a terminal, professional degree in choreography for professional development and preparation to teach in higher education
- MA: for K-12 dance teachers seeking professional development, practical advancement, recognition, and qualifications to teach in community college
MFA in Dance: Craft, Create, Teach
A 60-unit degree designed for choreographers, performers, and academic thinkers. If your goal is to make original work, direct performers, and enter academia, this program is made for you. Alongside theoretical exploration, you’ll get hands-on training in:
- Teaching practice: Lead technique or general ed classes starting your first year
- Production proficiency: Tutorials in lighting, stage management, costume and technical direction
- Choreographic thesis: Complete with performance, feedback, revision—on stage
Generous scholarships support students from day one, including the named Celeste Kennedy Scholarship—plus the opportunity to supplement income through departmental teaching positions.
Graduates emerge ready for tenure-track professorships, company leadership, creative production, research roles, and dance-film innovation.
MA in Dance: Elevate Your Teaching and Practice
Tailored for actively teaching educators, this 31-unit low-residency degree offers summer-intensive sessions plus distance coursework—perfect for professionals in high schools, community colleges, or studio settings.
Instead of crafting a thesis, you’ll demonstrate mastery through comprehensive exams, and the program sharpens both your studio and scholarly skills—from production to pedagogy.
Key benefits:
- Flexible scheduling: Ideal for full-time teachers
- Smart investment: Most credentialed teachers see immediate pay increases after completion
- Deep professional community: Small, cohort-based learning alongside peers and seasoned faculty
Your diploma says “Master of Arts in Dance”—crafted for today’s educator.
At the Heart of It All: CSULB’s Dance Ecosystem
- NASD-accredited: If excellence matters, CSULB’s dance degrees meet national standards.
- Live performance labs: MFA students present in studio concerts, informal theater concerts, and a fully produced MFA Dance Concert, alongside performance opportunities with faculty and guest artists.
- Southern California access: Touring companies, residencies, guest teaching, and festival rotations abound across LA and OC.
- Incubator environment: Programs intentionally limit cohort size to foster mentorship, ensuring access to resources and personalized guidance .
Career Outcomes: More Than a Degree
CSULB grads don’t just dance—they lead:
| Degree | Paths |
|---|---|
| MFA | University faculty, choreographer, company director, dance-film creator, dramaturg, arts leader |
| MA | College lecturer, K–12 curriculum designer, community educator, dance scholar, program coordinator |
Admissions Key Dates
- Both programs applications open Oct 1 – Dec 1, 2025 for Fall 2026 (MFA) and Summer 2026 (MA) cohorts—Apply through Cal State Apply
- MA and MFA applicants audition and interview January 31, 2026.
- MFA offers scholarships—apply early with FAFSA; MA supports federal loan eligibility.
In Summary
At CSULB Dance, graduate study is more than academic credit—it’s a portal to creative influence, educational leadership, and professional sustainability. With expert faculty, accredited rigor, personalized mentorship, and performance platforms, both the MFA and MA in Dance empower you to shape your future on—and beyond—the stage.
Ready to step forward? Visit CSULB’s Dance site to explore audition requirements, faculty bios, and program guides. The stage is set—make your mark.
