2960 Broadway
New York New York 10027
United States
Columbia University School of the Arts welcomes applications for MFA programs in Visual Arts + Sound Art, Film, Theatre, and Writing, and for the MA in Film and Media Studies. Our programs attract exceptional students from around the world, working across disciplines and media, committed to developing their work while engaging with one of the most vital art cities in the world. Faculty are acclaimed working artists, scholars, and writers who bring their own practices into the classroom, guiding students to refine their craft, expand their creative reach, and enter into dialogue with both tradition and innovation.
MFA Visual Arts + Sound Art
The Visual Arts MFA + Sound Art Program offers immersive studio-based training led by internationally celebrated artists working across painting, sculpture, photography, digital media, installation, and sound. The program emphasizes dialogue across disciplines and encourages students to test the boundaries of their practices within a diverse cohort of peers. Columbia artists are engaged with New York’s unparalleled concentration of museums, galleries, and independent art spaces, situating their work within the city’s larger artistic community. Graduates of the Visual Arts and Sound Art programs have become influential artists, educators, and cultural practitioners whose works are exhibited internationally. Register for info session & open studios: November 16.
MFA Film
The MFA in Film is internationally recognized for cultivating directors, screenwriters, television writers, and creative producers whose work has shaped contemporary cinema. Students train with an emphasis on storytelling—developing short and feature-length projects while gaining hands-on experience in production and post-production. The program fosters close mentorship and collaboration across all aspects of filmmaking, creating an environment where students emerge with distinctive voices prepared to enter the film industry. Columbia filmmakers are frequently showcased at festivals including Sundance, Cannes, and Berlin, and alums are regularly nominated for and awarded major prizes across the industry. Register for info session: November 8.
MA Film and Media Studies
The MA in Film and Media Studies offers an intensive engagement with the history, theory, and criticism of film and media. Among our faculty are leading figures in feminist film studies, scholars working at new frontiers of film philosophy, specialists in Black and queer media studies, historians of American and international film and media, and more. With access to Columbia’s research resources and New York City’s archives and institutions, the program prepares graduates for doctoral study as well as for careers in criticism, curation, publishing, arts administration, and beyond. Register for info session: December 4.
MFA Theatre
The MFA in Theatre brings together playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, actors, theatre managers/producers, and stage managers in a collaborative environment that reflects the realities of professional theatre-making. Students are challenged to develop their artistic vision while learning to bring a production from the page to the stage. Our program’s proximity to New York’s theatrical life provides opportunities to engage directly with experimental work, Broadway productions, and everything in between. Faculty are award-winning practitioners who foster risk-taking, inquiry, and collaboration. Columbia-trained theatre artists have gone on to shape the field on stages worldwide, as writers, directors, producers, and artistic leaders. Register for info session: November 15.
MFA Writing
The MFA in Writing is a home for fiction writers, nonfiction writers, poets, and literary translators. Students are challenged and supported by peers and faculty mentors as they refine their craft and cultivate lifelong creative practices. The program provides opportunities to engage with New York’s vibrant literary community through readings, visiting writer series, and a longstanding tradition of student-run publications. Columbia writers develop singular artistic voices while building relationships that sustain their creative and professional lives long after graduation. Alums include acclaimed novelists, poets, essayists, translators, and editors whose work continues to shape contemporary literature. Register for info session: December 5.
Visit our apply page to learn more and start your application.
