Interdisciplinary Arts MA

30 Credit Hours
Application Deadline: January 13, 2012

Please Note: Applications for Fall 2012 will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis through the summer.

Practice the Art of Fearlessness

Interdisciplinarity, as a means of connecting and integrating distinct creative methodologies, is a defining characteristic of contemporary art practice. At Columbia, the Interdisciplinary Arts department encourages its Interdisciplinary Arts MA students to confront traditional ideas about creative practice by working across disciplines—such as visual art, dance, music, theater, or literary arts—to catalyze radically new inquiries, methods, and forms of art-making. Students become fearless innovators in contemporary art by approaching interdisciplinarity as a fluid term—it may mean that they ground their work in research, tools or techniques from disciplines outside the field of art, work with artists from other art mediums or non-artists, or create artwork that is itself interdisciplinary: an artist book, an installation, a sculptural work incorporating sound, an interactive video, etc.

students become fearless innovators in contemporary art by approaching interdisciplinarity as a fluid term

MA in Interdisciplinary Arts

The Interdisciplinary Arts MA program guides and supports artists and educators who wish to expand their creative practices and deepen their understanding of interdisciplinary art theory, history, and technique. Students are immersed in an innovative curriculum focused on building connections among visual art, movement, sound, writing, and drama. Graduates of the Interdisciplinary Arts MA program emerge with a broader and more coherent understanding of contemporary art practice, new and expanded technical skills, and a professional portfolio that will accelerate their creative careers. Designed to be completed in one calendar year, this energizing and transformative program is organized as an accessible and viable option for working professionals.

students are immersed in an innovative curriculum focused on building connections among visual art, movement, sound, writing, and drama

Dialogue With the Contemporary Art World

The Interdisciplinary Arts MA student’s classroom and studio experience is enriched by a Visiting Artist program that allows for meaningful interaction—through seminars, workshops, lectures, and individual critiques—with internationally renowned practitioners. Recent visiting artists include: John Boesche, Arnold Dreyblatt, Keith Hennessey, Eungie Joo, Alison Knowles, Margot Lovejoy, Mary Lucier, Christina McPhee, Bill Viola, Diane Willow, and Paul Wong. Furthering its commitment to the critical discourse on contemporary art, in 2010-11 the program welcomes Trevor Paglen, Tim Barrett, and collaborators David Stout & Cory Metcalf of Noisefold.

The student's classroom and studio experience is enriched by a Visiting Artist program that allows for meaningful interaction with internationally renowned practitioners.