XE: Experimental Humanities & Social Engagement

For the February 16 information session, RSVP here; for the April 25 open house, RSVP here. XE: Experimental Humanities & Social Engagement is a dynamic program in New York University’s Graduate School of Arts and Science offering an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies.

XE is an excellent fit for students whose research interests are best explored at the intersection of academic disciplines, creative practice, and social action. XE students design their own curriculum and master’s project with strong advisement and support from our faculty.

Curriculum
XE offers courses that integrate innovative scholarship with creative practice and social engagement. Our courses consist of small seminars on topics such as: critical theory, histories and practices of art and media, science and technology studies, digital humanities, ecospheric studies, art and activism, gender and sexuality studies, creative writing, and international human rights. XE faculty are leaders in their fields with a deep commitment to scholarship, social engagement, and public intellectual work. The program is also good preparation for doctoral training, and more than half of XE students plan to go on for a PhD.

Program
XE offers unparalleled flexibility to students to construct their own degrees. Half of an XE student’s courses can be taken at programs and departments across New York University. We also offer sustained mentorship and advisement to help students pursue their academic goals. Students are also provided freedom in choosing the topic and form of their master’s project. They can choose to produce an academic research project or to develop books, films, digital projects, and other forms of scholarship.

Student life
Students benefit from a small, vibrant community within a large research university located in New York City. XE hosts a roster of public programs every semester by guest lecturers and artists. Students host regular events as well as oversee a long-established, peer-reviewed student journal. 

Alumni
Many of our alumni have continued their education in competitive doctoral programs in diverse fields such as history, political science, anthropology, sociology, art history, and ethnomusicology. Others have launched or advanced successful careers as writers, editors, and cultural critics; arts organizers and administrators; elementary, high school, and college teachers; civic activists and human rights consultants; and policy analysts in government and in the private sector.

Dates and scholarship
Students are admitted to XE in the fall and spring. The deadline for fall admission is April 1 (priority) and June 1 (final); for spring admission, November 1. To access the application, please visit the NYU GSAS Online Application. All new students entering the program will receive the Draper Scholarship, which covers 30 percent of the cost of tuition.

Questions
For more details about XE, please see our website or contact us at xe [​at​] nyu.edu/ T (212) 998-8070. We look forward to hearing from you.