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NEW IMA PROGRAM STRUCTURE

This program structure applies to most students joining IMA from Fall 2022 and beyond.

With over one-third of the curriculum requirements devoted to writing, humanities, sciences, and social sciences, we are making sure that all IMA BFA students explore the intellectual world around them.

IMA students are required to take liberal arts courses offered at NYU’s College of Arts & Sciences. The IMA curriculum has a core set of foundation courses and then students can choose from a wide range of elective classes. Students can also expand beyond liberal arts to take courses in fine arts, business, social work, engineering, or other programs at NYU’s various colleges and schools.

IMA foundational courses introduce students to the fundamentals of computational media through the lenses of design, technology, and culture. Students will have fundamental skills and the capacity and flexibility to discover and pursue their own interests through electives ranging from collaborative game production to critical analysis, from adaptive design to specialized elements of visual and audio design.

The IMA BFA concludes with Capstone in the last semester, which can be a group collaboration or an individual project.

Authoritative curriculum information can be found exclusively in the University Bulletin. All other content, including this web-page is for informational purposes only. You can find the IMA curriculum on this page in the Bulletin. Incoming students can learn more about registering here.

Breakdown of Requirements

128 Credits Total
  • Liberal Arts & Sciences: 48 credits
  • General/Free Electives: 20 credits
  • IMA Major: 60 credits

LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES – CORE

16 CREDITS 

LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES – ELECTIVES

32 CREDITS 

Students may select from departmentally pre-approved listings of liberal arts courses. 32 credits total – 8 courses, including 1 course in each area listed below:

Many CAS courses can count towards Liberal Arts Electives. See the Liberal Arts & Sciences category in the Interchange. If a course is not listed in the Interchange, email ima-advise@itp.nyu.edu.

UNRESTRICTED GENERAL ELECTIVES

20 CREDITS

General or free electives from any program department. These courses may also be used towards double major or minor credits.

IMA MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

60 CREDITS 

IMA Elective Courses

These are general IMA major courses or courses outside of the program that we have identified as counting towards IMA credits. Students must take 6 courses that fulfill this category (24 credits total). This is a listing of IMA electives. Exact offerings will be available on a semester basis.

IMA Major Distribution 

See courses below. These are primary IMA electives. Students must take a minimum of 4 credits in each category (24 credits total). One course will fulfill most categories. If a course does not amount to 4 credits, students will need to take an extra course to complete the 4 credit requirement.

Design & Fabrication
Media Arts
Physical Computing
Programming & Data
Project Development & Research
Tech & Society

Sample Schedule

Only classes marked with (*) must be taken during the assigned semester. Other class requirements may be taken at any semester according to class availability and student preference.

YEAR ONE

Fall Semester  
Creative Computing *4
Communications Lab *4
IMA Cohort: Community is a Practice *0
Writing the Essay: Art and the World *4
Liberal Arts Elective4
Credit Total:16
Spring Semester   
Writing the Essay: The World Through Art *4
Tech & Society4
Media Arts4
Societies & the Social Sciences4
Credit Total:16

YEAR TWO

Fall Semester  
Programming & Data4
Project Development & Research4
Texts and Ideas4
Liberal Arts Elective4
Credit Total:16
Spring Semester   
Design & Fabrication4
Physical Computing4
Quantitative Reasoning4
Liberal Arts Elective4
Credit Total:16

YEAR THREE

Fall Semester  (Maybe Study Abroad)
IMA Elective4
IMA Elective4
Cultures & Contexts4
General Elective4
Credit Total:16
Spring Semester   
IMA Elective4
IMA Elective4
Physical/Life Science4
General Elective4
Credit Total:16

YEAR FOUR

Fall Semester
IMA Elective4
Expressive Culture4
General Elective4
General Elective4
Credit Total:16
Spring Semester   
Capstone Studio *4
IMA Elective4
Liberal Arts Elective4
General Elective4
Credit Total:16