Columbia University School of the Arts

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The Columbia University School of the Arts , also known simply as the School of the Arts or as SoA, is the division of the university that offers Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in Film, Visual Arts, Theatre Arts, and Writing. It works closely with the Arts Initiative at Columbia University (CUArts) and organizes the Columbia University Film Festival. Founded in 1965, the school is located in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.

1 Divisions
2 Future
3 Notable alumni
4 Notable faculty
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Divisions

[edit] Film

A world-renowned film school, the Film Division at Columbia University's School of the Arts in New York City offers Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees with concentrations in screen-writing, directing, and producing.

The select MFA program accepts only 6% of applicants, having an annual incoming class of 65 out of the 1000+ applicants.

The Film Division use to be considered cousins to NYU's Tisch film program. After claiming the most wins at film festivals such as Sundance and the student Academy Awards, Columbia's Film Division is considered one of the best in the world.

[edit] Theatre Arts

The Theatre Arts Division at Columbia University's School of the Arts in New York City offers Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in Theatre Arts with concentrations in acting, directing, playwriting, dramaturgy, stage management and theatre management and producing. The Division also offers a Ph.D. and joint JD/MFA degree in association with Columbia Law School.

[edit] Visual Arts

In this division, students work in the fields of painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, digital media, drawing, performance and video art.

[edit] Writing

The program offers degrees in creative writing, with concentrations in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. One of its more notable features are "master classes", four-week courses for writers (as opposed to critical scholars) "designed to stimulate provocative discussions about literary craft and artistic choices". Master Class faculty have recently included Helen Vendler, Jonathan Lethem, Colson Whitehead, James Wood, Richard Ford, Han Ong, Susan Choi, and Jonathan Ames. The writing division also employs prestigious writers as seminar and workshop instructors; these have recently included Gary Shteyngart, Nathan Englander, Myla Goldberg, Adam Haslett, Jessica Hagedorn, Phillip Lopate, Marie Howe, Eamon Grennan, Paul LaFarge, David Gates, Francisco Goldman, Darcy Frey, and David Ebershoff.

[edit] Future

As part of Columbia's expansion into the nearby neighborhood of Manhattanville, the School of the Arts will move from its current cramped quarters in Dodge Hall, on the Morningside Heights campus of the university, to a substantial new building, to be located on 125th Street, that will be one of the centrepieces of the new campus there. To be completed in the first phase of the expansion, the new building will be designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano.