Columbia University Undergraduate Arts and New York City Resources Study Guide

Extracurricular and Organizational Landscape

  • Student Organizations Count: There are over 500500 student organizations available at the university.
  • Arts-Specific Organizations: Approximately 2020 of these organizations are specifically focused on the arts, including disciplines such as dance.
  • The Variety Show: A significant production on campus that involves a substantial amount of acting. Participation requires a tryout or audition process.
  • Professional and Internship Connections: Through programs like the Sotheby's Summer Institute, the university maintains numerous connections with other internship programs. These opportunities are particularly geared toward college students living in New York City.

Utilizing New York City Resources and the Arts Curriculum

  • New York City as a Classroom: The university emphasizes the utilization of the city for both performing and visual arts. Students engage in in-depth exploration of the city's museum landscape.
  • Specific Arts Courses: Columbia offering two foundational courses designated as "Music for Humanities" and "Arts for Humanities."
  • Field-Based Learning Sites: The curriculum allows students to see class topics in "real life" by visiting institutions such as:
    • The Lincoln Jazz Center.
    • The Metropolitan Opera.
    • The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
    • The Guggenheim Museum.
    • The Museum of Moving Pictures.
  • The Physical Experience of Art: The speaker highlights that experiencing art in person is indispensable; for example, seeing a painting on the Sotheby's website or during an online auction is never exactly the same experience as viewing the work in person.

Undergraduate Enrollment and Academic Divisions

  • Total Undergraduate Population: There are approximately 6,7006,700 undergraduate students in total.
  • Division Breakdown: Inside the undergraduate population, 5,0005,000 students are enrolled in Columbia College.
  • The School Choice Requirement: Applicants must choose between applying to Columbia Engineering or Columbia College. One cannot apply to both Columbia College and Columbia Engineering simultaneously.
  • Interdisciplinary Interests: It is common for engineering students to pursue minors in humanities-based subjects such as Art History or Music.
  • Application Combinations: Applicants are permitted to apply to:
    • Columbia College and Barnard College (if applicable).
    • Columbia Engineering and Barnard College.

The Arts Initiative and Student Support

  • The Arts Initiative: A dedicated program facilitating access to New York's cultural scene. It operates through a lottery-based system for free tickets.
  • Access to Broadway: The system is highly effective; the speaker notes they have never met a senior student who had not attended at least one free Broadway show during their undergraduate tenure.
  • Broad Scope of the Arts Initiative: Beyond Broadway, the initiative covers the Metropolitan Opera (the Met), jazz events, and sporting events, such as New York Knicks games.
  • Student Affordability and Accessibility: The university recognizes that New York City is an expensive environment. The undergraduate support system aims to make cultural opportunities affordable and accessible. The speaker asserts that the "best time to be in New York City is as a student" because of the unique resources and discounts provided specifically to the student population.

Academic Majors and Career Paths

  • Majors in Art: There are 99 specifically defined majors within the arts.
  • Minors and Double Majors: Students can choose to minor in art-related fields or combine interests to find a specialized path. An example provided is majoring in Art History while minoring or double-majoring in East Asian Studies.
  • Non-Traditional Art Careers: Careers in the art industry, such as auction houses, are not limited to artists. The speaker highlights the existence of "legal teams" and other departments. Students do not necessarily need to major or minor in art to work in the industry; they can enter the field with an undergraduate interest and tailored guidance.

Questions & Discussion

  • Question: How does getting funding for research work at Columbia, especially for fields that are getting less funding like Art History or the humanities?
  • Response: The university maintains a strong commitment to funding the arts and humanities.
    • Admissions and Support: There is a dedicated Admissions-related team for Arts and Humanities (referred to as the AHL team).
    • Research Definition: Columbia views research broadly. It is not limited to a "lab with a pipette"; it explicitly includes work with manuscripts and books at the university's dedicated libraries.
    • Funding Specifics: Students can apply for research grants that provide up to 3,0003,000 per semester.
    • Opportunities for Support: Funding is available for research positions, summer projects, and through work-study programs. The speaker emphasizes that the university is still "mightily funding" these areas.