Film and New Media at NYUAD integrates the making of film and new media with the study of their histories, conventions, and practices. Students take both practice and studies courses, and finish their degree with a Capstone project that reflects the historical and cultural contexts of their interests and studies. Students can pursue one of the following tracks: Film and New Media Practice or Film and New Media Studies.
The major in Film and New Media emphasizes interdisciplinary and global approaches to film and new media. Students develop critical and interpretive skills for making and understanding documentary, experimental, narrative, and interactive styles of film and new media and learn the methods and theoretical models for analyzing film, new media and their histories. The electives classes can be taken from any area in the curriculum, but students should work with a mentor in the Film and New Media Program to plan a sequence to support a particular interest.
The intermingling of studies and practice and the relatively easy traffic between majors and minors at NYUAD enables Film and New Media majors to connect their study to a broad range of other fields and disciplines, such as Interactive Media, Arab Crossroads, Art and Art History, Literature and Creative Writing, Computer Science, Social Research and Public Policy, and Theater.
The program encourages students to explore other areas of arts by requiring them to take one or more classes in another arts programs in order to deepen and broaden their understanding of their fields. Students also benefit from the Global Network University’s unique resources and are encouraged to study at our worldwide sites, such as Accra and London, and NYU’s other portal campuses in New York and Shanghai.
Every student Film and New Media major will produce a Capstone Project, a year-long endeavor aiming at a significant piece of research or creative work appropriate to the student's goals. Film and New Media majors should aspire to integrate studies and practice, whether they plan to write a research paper or screenplay, curate an exhibition, or make a film or multiplatform new media object.