2960 Broadway
New York New York 10027
United States
Create what comes next. Study with world-renowned faculty in New York City. Columbia University School of the Arts welcomes applications for MFA programs in Film, Theatre, Visual Arts + Sound Art, and Writing, and for the MA in Film and Media Studies.
Our programs attract exceptional artists, writers, filmmakers, and theatre practitioners from around the globe—students who are committed to developing their work, expanding their creative reach, and engaging deeply with one of the most vibrant art cities in the world. Faculty are acclaimed working artists, scholars, and writers at the forefront of their industries, all of whom are committed to guiding students through their own artistic journeys.
MFA Film
Immerse yourself in a program internationally recognized for cultivating directors, screenwriters, television writers, and creative producers whose work has shaped contemporary media. 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 you’ll emerge with a distinctive voice 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.
Concentrations in Screenwriting & Directing, Creative Producing, and Writing for Film & Television.
MA Film and Media Studies
Engage deeply with the history, theory, and criticism of film and media alongside leading scholars and critics. 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.
Concentrations in Cinema/Media and Emergent Media.
MFA Theatre
Join a collaborative community of playwrights, directors, dramaturgs, actors, stage managers, theatre managers and producers in an environment that reflects the nuances 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.
Concentrations in Acting, Directing, Playwriting, Dramaturgy, Stage Management, and Theatre Management & Producing.
MFA Visual Arts + Sound Art
Immerse yourself in our interdisciplinary, studio-based training led by internationally celebrated artists. 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 and preparing them for the professional transition into the art world after graduation.
Concentrations in Painting, Expanded Practice/Sculpture, Photography, Moving Image, Printmaking, and Sound Art.
MFA Writing
Step into a community of writers who will help you refine your craft and cultivate lifelong creative practices. The program provides opportunities to engage with New York City’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.
Concentrations in Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry, with a joint course of study in Writing and Literary Translation.
Learn more about all School of the Arts MFA and MA programs at our Info Session on November 15, 2026. Visit our apply page to learn more and start your application.
