Academics

Overview

Interdisciplinary Arts is an exciting major that includes art, music, performance, literature and linguistics. You will gain a rich understanding of your chosen field and the wider creative process by exploring these disciplines from practical, theoretical and historical perspectives.

Interdisciplinary arts is about crossing boundaries, exploring ideas and having new experiences. To facilitate this you can choose from a wide selection of courses that best reflect your interests and support your ambitions. As well as the chance to study creative practice in a variety of fields, you will also gain valuable cultural experience though our study abroad program and by being immersed in Japanese culture and society. If you wish, you can choose to pursue a Japan studies theme through Interdisciplinary Arts, with courses in Japanese theatre, film, art and crafts, manga, anime, literature and culture to help you get the most out of this extraordinary country.

Why study Interdisciplinary Arts?

The Interdisciplinary Arts major at iCLA enables you deepen your artistic skills and broaden your creative options.  After laying the foundations during the first half of your studies, you will have maximum freedom to discover new fields and cultivate your interests. You are encouraged to supplement your core arts studies with courses from other areas to tailor your degree towards your chosen career. The unique blend of courses offered at iCLA gives you the opportunity to develop your own area of practice while gaining inspiration from related disciplines.

What will I study?

The central ideas of iCLA’s Interdisciplinary Arts curriculum:

  • Interdisciplinarity: study across artistic subjects to gain experience of collaboration and wider creative practice
  • Flexibility: choose courses which inspire you and support your ambitions
  • Personal development: learn skills and have experiences which will make you stand out from the crowd
  • From “roots” (foundation courses in years 1 & 2) to “wings” (electives in years 3 & 4)

During the first two years of study “roots”, students take foundation courses from our core curriculum, and are required to explore at least three different fields within Interdisciplinary Arts:

  • Visual Arts (painting, sculpture, graphic design)
  • Music (music technology, sound art)
  • Performing Arts and Film (Western and Japanese film and theatre)
  • Language Arts (literature and linguistics)
  • Japanese Culture

The final two years of study “wings” gives students the freedom to take elective courses and focus on the areas of study which are of most interest and relevance to their own development.

What can I do next?

Creativity is the lifeblood of any business and creative graduates are always in demand. Interdisciplinary Arts prepares you for a rich and rewarding career in a wide range creative industries. The major also prepares students for postgraduate study, with many MA options worldwide which open further career options in teaching, research and academia.

Possible careers for Interdisciplinary Arts majors include:

  • Fine Arts
  • Design
  • The media and web industries
  • Video and film industries
  • Games
  • Sound Design
  • Advertising
  • Publishing
  • Theatre and performance art

For certain careers, supplementing your Interdisciplinary Arts studies with courses from our wider curriculum can be beneficial. For example:

Interdisciplinary Arts + Economics = Gallery or museum curator

Interdisciplinary Arts + Political Science = Journalism

Interdisciplinary Arts + Sociology = Art Therapy