Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

XE: Experimental Humanities & Social Engagement at NYU’s Graduate School of Arts & Science offers a dynamic Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies for students whose research interests are best explored at the intersection of academic disciplines, creative practice, and social action.

Guided by dedicated faculty advisors, XE students design their own curriculum through a range of interdisciplinary seminars, such as “Genre Trouble: Monstrous Texts & Experiments in Writing,” “The Copy: Media and the Culture of Replication,” and “The Body Politic.” Half of an XE student’s courses can be taken in departments across New York University, allowing them to chart their course of study in a way that best matches their research interests. XE also offers an Advanced Certificate in Experimental Writing, which combines the art of creative writing with the practice of academic research.The XE program culminates in a final master’s project where students can produce an academic research paper or a creative project, such as a collection of essays, a documentary film, a photographic portfolio, a graphic novel, a musical composition, or an exhibition proposal.

Faculty incorporate site visits to archives, galleries, and events across New York City into their courses and XE hosts a range of public programs every semester that feature critics, scholars, writers, and artists. Students also host regular events, oversee a peer-reviewed student journal, and intern at institutions such as Oxford University Press, Motto Pictures, and the American Museum of Natural History.

Many alumni pursue PhDs in art history, anthropology, and comparative literature, or work in advertising, arts administration, library science, communications, consulting, law, and policy. They work at The New York Times, the Brooklyn Museum, Symphony Space, and Random House, demonstrating the broad scope and flexibility afforded by an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies.

The fall 2026 priority application deadline is April 1, 2026. Tri-state area K-12 teachers are eligible for a 50% tuition scholarship. All other new students entering the program will receive the Draper Scholarship, which covers 40% of the cost of tuition. For more information, RSVP to attend a virtual information session on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 from 12–1pm ET or visit here.