TheColumbia University School of the Arts (also known asSchool of the Arts orSoA) is thefine artsgraduate school ofColumbia University inMorningside Heights,New York. It offersMaster of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in Film, Visual Arts, Theatre and Writing, as well as theMaster of Arts (MA) degree in Film Studies. It also works closely with the Arts Initiative at Columbia University (CUArts) and organizes the Columbia University Film Festival (CUFF), a week-long program of screenings, screenplay, and teleplay readings.[1]
The history of the School of Arts can be traced back to the first courses in drawing offered at Columbia in 1881. In 1900, drama criticBrander Matthews was appointed professor of Dramatic Literature, first chair of drama at any university in the country.[3] Courses in creative writing, film, and painting followed. In 1921, the Department of Fine Arts was established for the study of architecture, painting, sculpture and scholarly works in those fields. The university's first sculpture classes were offered in 1936, followed two years later by graphic art classes. In 1947, the School of Painting and Sculpture, and the School of Dramatic Arts were established.[4]
In December 1965, the Trustees of Columbia established the School of the Arts to train both graduate and undergraduate students. In 1970, the school began offering only graduate courses. A year later, it moved into Dodge Hall at Broadway and 116th Street andPrentis Hall on 125th Street, where the school’s classrooms, rehearsal spaces and administrative offices are located. In 1988, the Miller Theatre, constructed in 1924, was established as Columbia's performing arts producer following renovations to the previous space known as the McMillin Academic Theatre.[5] In 2017, construction was completed onRenzo Piano's 60,000-square-foot Lenfest Center for the Arts, a multidisciplinary academic and performance space on Columbia'sManhattanville campus. The Lenfest also houses the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery.[6][7]
In 2021, the School of Arts was the subject of aWall Street Journal investigative report into prestigious universities that run programs that have lopsided costs for students relative to their expected earnings in the field. According to theJournal, "Columbia has more high-debt master's degree programs in low-paying fields than any other Ivy League university." The article further stated alumni carry a median debt of $181,000 USD, "the highest debt compared with earnings among graduates of any major university master’s program in the U.S."[8][9]
The School of the Arts' Film Program is well-regarded in the field and offersMaster of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees with concentrations in Screenwriting/Directing, Writing for Film & Television and Creative Producing. The program also offers aMaster of Arts (M.A.) in Film Studies.
In 2016, the MFA film program accepted 72 students out of approximately 600 applicants.[10]The Hollywood Reporter ranked it number four in the top 25 American film schools of 2020.[11]
Entrance to the Miller Theatre on the Columbia University Morningside Heights campus.
The School of Arts's Theatre Program offers Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degrees in theater with concentrations in acting, directing, playwriting, dramaturgy, stage management, and theater management and producing. The playwriting concentration has been heralded by two-timePulitzer Prize-winnerLynn Nottage andTony Award winnerDavid Henry Hwang.
In 2018, applications to the acting concentration doubled with the appointment of formerYale School of Drama acting professor Ron Van Lieu. The acting concentration has emerged as one of the highest ranking graduate acting programs in the world[12] and is helmed by casting director James Calleri.
In the Visual Arts Program at the School of Arts, students work in the fields of painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, digital media, drawing, performance, and video art.
Florin Serban (2008) - screenwriter, film director,If I Want to Whistle I Whistle (winner of the Jury Grand Prix & Alfred Bauer Prize at theBerlin Film Festival)
Clive Matson (1989) - poet, author of nine collections of poetry includingSquish Boots andChalcedony's Ten Songs
Robert McDowell (1976) - poet, novelist, critic, translator, editor (of The Reaper, with Mark Jarman), publisher (co-founder, Story Line Press), and ghostwriter
Dinaw Mengestu (2005) - fiction writer, novelist, author ofThe Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears
Beth Raymer (2007) - fiction writer, non-fiction writer author ofLay the Favorite: A Memoir of Gambling (turning into the filmLay the Favorite) and novel, 'Sweetheart Deals
Karen Russell (2006) - fiction writer, author ofSwamplandia!
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