Published September 15, 2026
NYU’s Collaborative Arts Major: Why Study One When You Can Study All?
Collaborative Arts students participating in a masterclass with a movement artist.
The TL;DR
- Learn about Collaborative Arts and what the program entails.
- Find out about the benefits of an interdisciplinary arts program.
As someone who grew up participating in many different art forms, I struggled when it came time to choose one. Hovering over the drop-down box titled “select major” on my Common App sparked a growing anxiety that only worsened as the impending due dates kept getting closer. I’ve always felt my talents and skills were amplified by my ability to do many, and having to select a major on my application became a daunting task. In my panic, I did tons of research and made hundreds of lists naming the pros and cons of each major at each university. Still though, despite my efforts, I could not decide.
However, through my boundless heaps of useless research, I made one discovery that held immense value. Finding the Collaborative Arts major at NYU felt like finding a diamond in the rough. Instead of specificity, I was given freedom and a space to explore. I’m extremely grateful to have found a University that provides a space for artists like myself who strive to be diverse, multifaceted creators.
What is Collaborative Arts?
Collaborative Arts is an interdisciplinary arts major, meaning that instead of focusing on one field of the arts, you get to study them all at once. Although I’ve only completed my first year, I’ve found it an extremely rewarding and freeing experience. Over the past two semesters, I’ve taken what we call the core classes. These are required for all first-year CA students, and the courses introduce the students to all forms of art regardless of pre-existing knowledge or experience. Some of the core classes I took included screenwriting, film, dance, acting, music production, studio art, and much more. While I definitely didn’t start as a master in all these fields, Collaborative Arts welcomes unfamiliarity with open arms and encourages students to always try. The fourth floor of the Tisch building is a space where we are allowed to succeed, fail, and grow without boundaries.
Favorite Classes: Year One
Although the core classes were introductory, I still feel like I’ve acquired so many skills I never thought I would. I came in as someone whose main focus was based in performance, and now I have learned how to make films, produce music, and program lights. One of my favorite classes that really took me out of my comfort zone was called Tech in Action. The class was a total of six hours spread across two consecutive days, and if I’m being honest, I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it. I don’t have much experience in tech-related art, and I expected the workload to be heavy. However, I’m so glad I went in with an open mind because it ended up being my favorite class from the Spring semester. While not all the projects came easily, I became determined to learn each skill and put my full effort into creating something I was proud of. Despite being skeptical about the class, I can now say I know how to use Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, TouchDesigner, program lights in EOS, solder LEDs, use a laser cutter, 3D print, and so much more!
Applying Skills to Projects Outside the Major
I was even able to use these skills in non-collaborative arts projects as well! For one of my other classes, we had to create a short film based on an essay about Miles Davis we read in class. I used my TouchDesigner skills to create colored graphics that reacted to different parts of the Miles Davis song we used. We then used a projector to overlay the animation on our actors. The finished project ended up being extremely successful, and I saw in real time how the skills I learned in Tech in Action can be applied in the real world.
Behind the scenes with Touch Designer
Another one of my favorite classes that completely surprised me was Cinematic Narratives. I honestly wasn’t initially excited about this class either. It was another long six hour course and I was completely uninterested in filmmaking. Yet again, I am so glad I went in with an open mind. Every project continued to cause me to fall more and more in love with visual storytelling and I absolutely adore every part of the filmmaking process. From running around New York City looking for shooting locations to pulling all nighters editing all of our footage, the short films I created in that class are the projects I am the most proud of from my first year.
Right Where I Belong
Finding this major during application season truly felt like a blessing, and now that I’m part of the program, that feeling has only been amplified. Collaborative arts truly enables its students to create without boundaries. The fourth floor of Tisch is always blooming with creativity and curiosity. Even as you walk through its halls, the space is constantly changing as professors and students alike add murals, wood pieces, paper mache, and other oddities to its walls. If you find yourself yearning to create beyond what you could’ve imagined, then I would highly encourage you to look into NYU’s unique and unrivaled Collaborative Arts program.
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