Majors & Programs by Department

Columbia’s curriculum provides educational opportunities in the arts, communication, and public information fields within the context of a liberal arts education. Course offerings in major subject areas combine conceptual study with practical application, resulting in realistic career preparation.

To balance their professional education, undergraduate students take a range of courses selected from the LAS Core Curriculum. Students select courses in social sciences, humanities, languages, English, science, mathematics, and history. These courses play an essential role for students in the arts and media by integrating their technical expertise with a broader spectrum of knowledge reflected in the cultural history of societies and by providing a basis for life-long learning.

Undergraduate students may elect to chart a fully individualized interdisciplinary course of study that is not among those offered as a major at Columbia. An interdisciplinary major provides a formally recognized and well-advised program that meets student-defined career and academic goals within a selection of courses from general education and major-granting departments or programs.