Page 3 of 7, 91 MA Programs in New York, USA for 2024

The MFA Fine Arts program reflects the diversity of New York’s many art worlds. Together, the faculty and students form a community of established and emerging artists from many backgrounds who work across disciplines and modes of practice.

It’s a balance of the academic and practical. Social design is a practice that can be mastered only by practicing it. This is an experience-based program where you’ll learn to think critically, explore, iterate and measure. You’ll also have a robust résumé before you graduate.

The MFA Computer Arts program emphasizes creativity and a multidisciplinary approach to producing innovative animation, motion graphics and experimental art within a collaborative state-of-the-art production environment. Our goal is to develop artists who will continue to challenge norms, question standards, and surprise people long after they leave SVA.

The MA in Labor Studies degree program draws from the fields of sociology, law, history, economics, political science and labor relations to examine the opportunities and challenges facing workers and their organizations. The program strengthens the ability of students to advocate for equity and social justice in their communities and workplaces.

Home to a distinguished tradition of philosophical research and teaching, the Department of Philosophy provides a comprehensive academic atmosphere for pursuing advanced study in a wide range of philosophical subjects and methods—systematic, analytic, and historical. The department has a faculty with an unusually broad range of interests and areas of expertise that span the main periods of the history of western philosophy and nearly every major area of contemporary philosophical debate.

Established in 1997, the MODA program is founded on the conviction that art historians and critics engaged with modern and contemporary art need to understand curatorial strategies that reflect the interrelationship between new mediums and modes of artistic practice, as well as changing institutional and exhibition practices and forms. Similarly, curators need to embark upon the research, organization, and mounting of exhibitions with an extensive knowledge of critical theory and art history. MODA consequently offers a rigorous, scholarly, and expansive program of study, combining an intellectual foundation in modern and contemporary art and theory with exposure to the broader professional art world.

For the MA in Medieval and Renaissance Studies, students must take a combination of courses in art history, religion, history, philosophy, literature or other relevant fields offered by departments in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Students concentrate in one area while also exploring other aspects of the life, thought, and culture of the Middle Ages.

The MA program in Mathematics of Finance is designed for students who want to work in areas of quantitative finance such as quantitative portfolio management, quantitative trading, risk management, derivatives modeling, structuring and trading, and other related quantitative fields.

The MA in Jewish Studies is primarily concerned with the study of Jewish culture and religion in the diaspora and in Israel as well as with the position of Israel in the world historically and today. Departments in which students take courses include History; Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies; and Religion. Students may also take courses at the Jewish Theological Seminary. The program concludes with a thesis on a limited topic within the student's area of concentration.

Drawing on a distinguished history initiated in 1825 by Lorenzo Da Ponte, celebrated librettist of Mozart's operas and first teacher of Italian at Columbia University, the department is known for providing broad coverage of Italian literature and boasts a faculty that represents a diverse spectrum of interests and critical approaches. In addition, students are able to take advantage of the rich cultural and scholarly programs sponsored by the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America. The Paterno Collection, housed in Butler Library, is a unique resource for the study of Italian literature.

The MA in Islamic Studies focuses on the cultural, political, and religious history of Islam and the nations and populations linked to the practice of this faith. Students pursue their interest in the field through the course offerings of several departments at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as well as, to a lesser extent, other schools at Columbia. Courses give students the foundation to specialize in one period or interdisciplinary area as they design an individual program of study in consultation with the program coordinator. The program concludes with a thesis on a limited topic within the student's area of concentration.

The Human Rights Studies MA is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the academic study of human rights theory and practice. Students take courses offered by ISHR, as well as human rights courses offered by other departments, such as Anthropology, History, Political Science, Religion, and Sociology. Students may also take courses offered by other schools at Columbia, including the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia Law School, and the Mailman School of Public Health.

The MA in History and Literature trains students in historical approaches to the study of literature and in the interpretation of texts for the study of history. It is taught at Reid Hall, Columbia's campus in Paris.

Established in 1890, the department offers a broad range of courses on German literature and culture and is designed to provide students with a solid grounding in their areas of interest. Particular strengths include German literature from the 18th century to the present. Faculty members pride themselves on the individual attention they give to their students. While the departmental faculty represents a spectrum of different approaches, the program includes an emphasis on literary and critical theory as well as a concern with reading texts in social and historical context.

The MA in French trains scholars in the literature, culture, and history of France and the Francophone world. Our students take courses on a wide array of literary, theoretical, historical and sociological topics relating to France and the Francophone world. Coursework explores different historical periods, world regions and disciplinary methodologies.