Programs at Columbia College, Chicago empower artists, illustrators, and photographers to develop their unique visions while collaborating closely with art historians exploring modern and contemporary art. From mastering traditional techniques to integrating AI in art creation, the curriculum encourages exploration and growth. You’ll have access to a diverse range of curated spaces and galleries, fostering opportunities to showcase your work and engage with a vibrant creative community.
From fashion design that shapes the next generation of designers to advanced degrees in beauty management, journalism, media, music, and film, Columbia provides students with both the practical tools and the visionary outlook needed to succeed.
What makes Columbia unique is its fusion of classroom learning with real-world experience. Students collaborate with industry professionals, gain hands-on exposure through internships and residencies, and build networks that open doors to global opportunities.
Alumni of Columbia can be found at leading brands, production houses and creative agencies, continuing to influence the worlds of style, media, and culture. Think Annie Tighe MFA ’02 – Emmy-winning editor (Top Chef, Project Runway); George Tillman Jr. ’91 – Director, producer (Men of Honor, Barbershop: The Next Cut) and Lena Waithe ’06 – Emmy award-winning writer /actress/ producer (Bones, Master of None, The Chi)
This article highlights Columbia College Chicago’s top creative programs—each carefully designed to nurture talent, encourage experimentation, and inspire students to make their mark on industries that thrive on imagination and change.
Fashion Studies, BA
In Columbia College Chicago’s fashion bachelor’s degree program, the faculty prepares students to enter the rapidly changing fashion industry. The BA program prepares them to shape the future of the industry. Here, students choose from two interwoven concentrations: Merchandising or Product Development, honing their skills with hands-on learning opportunities as they gain a keen perception of the industry mechanisms.
The classes will help students to think critically about fashion and imagine how style can solve problems and contribute to culture. They will gain real-life experience outside the classroom by working with retailers and wholesale showrooms and build on this experience by strengthening their professional skills in marketing, technology, analytics, and design.
There are two concentrations. In Merchandising, students focus on the business aspect of the industry and take courses in marketing, sales, and buying; learn how to spot trends and analyze consumers so they can bring products to market at the right time; and gain experience in pricing, inventory, and supply chains. In Product Development, they transform a garment into a product, using the principles of design thinking and anthropology; develop their aesthetic and create products that fit market needs and standard; learn what will set them apart and enable them to apply their knowledge of style to industries outside conventional fashion.
Fashion Design, BFA
Columbia College Chicago’s Fashion Design BFA degree combines creativity with business savvy. Through the program’s emphasis on inclusivity, body positivity, sustainability, and the emergence of smart textiles and wearable technology, students who want to pursue a career as buyer, digital media specialist, merchandiser, pattern maker, stylist or technical designer gain a broader perspective to inform their design practice.
At Columbia, students can unleash their unique style while gaining essential skills to thrive in the competitive fashion industry, from design and innovation to critical thinking and problem-solving. They can join a vibrant community of fellow fashion enthusiasts and start their journey to becoming a fashion influencer. Students will also explore the processes of conceptualising, creating, and delivering a thesis collection that sits at the intersection of craft and innovation.
Columbia alumni, who work at top fashion brands and retailers, provide mentorship and networking opportunities that are invaluable for a career in fashion design. They often return to campus to share their experiences and insights, helping students to navigate their path in the fashion industry. Alexander Knox ’15 is a womenswear fashion designer based in New York; he began his career as a designer at Marc Jacobs in Manhattan and is currently Senior Designer of women’s ready-to-wear at Coach.
Beauty Management, MA
The Master of Arts in Beauty Management at Columbia College Chicago is designed for professionals who want to elevate their careers in the global beauty and personal care industries. With the beauty sector valued between $200-$500 billion, there are abundant opportunities for growth and innovation. This online program emphasizes sustainable beauty and wellness practices while promoting diversity and inclusivity in beauty management.
In Beauty Management, students engage with a global network of beauty professionals, gain practical experience through international residencies, collaborate with peers in an inclusive environment, and explore sustainable practices and the future of beauty management.
From connecting students to internships to helping them develop door-opening bodies of work to making an important professional connection, Columbia helps students launch their careers. The Career Center provides advice and guidance in finding internships that match their interests and professional goals. And with the help the Career Center and faculty, they can develop a resume, web portfolio, reel, website, and strong social media presence.
Journalism and Communication Major, BA
Ready to kickstart your career in journalism and communication? Learn how to contribute intellectually, culturally, and creatively as skilled journalists and communication professionals with a program that pushes the boundaries of a traditional journalism and communication. At Columbia, students will apply foundational storytelling, media literacy, and production communication skills to solve real-world challenges through project-based learning and practicum projects.
Students can build their creative skills working for the award-winning Columbia Chronicle and college station WCRX-FM. They will leave Columbia having worked on real-world projects, helping them to pursue careers in journalism, public relations, or nonprofit communication — at Columbia, Journalism and Communication students start working on real projects from their first semester, developing a portfolio that impresses future employers.
In this program, students will learn from experienced faculty who bring extensive industry experience, who have worked for news organizations such as The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Chicago Sun-Times. They will also learn in professional facilities such as cutting-edge audio labs and TV studios, and have access to internships at recognised companies, including Leo Burnett, Report for America, Univision, and the Chicago Tribune. And, participate in local national competitions, gaining recognition for their talent. Chicago is home to local and national news organizations, consumer and business-to-business magazines, broadcast outlets, and nonprofit news sources, which serve as incubators for innovation and collaboration.
Media for Social Impact, MA
Transform your passion for media into a force for change with Columbia College Chicago’s MA in Media for Social Impact. This online, three-semester program equips students with the skills to create communication solutions that address pressing social challenges. They will engage with diverse communities, assess their needs, and develop impactful media strategies to foster social change. This program empowers students to become an agent of social change through innovative media practices.
Students learn through a hands-on approach that ensures that they develop the skills necessary to create real change in their chosen community. In the first semester, they will undertake courses such as Civic Media and Participatory Culture, where they will learn to design, implement, and assess community-driven media solutions. The curriculum emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical applications. Their journey includes elective classes in production, social entrepreneurship, and strategic communication. Core courses cover essential topics like Solutions Journalism and Civic Data Analytics.
By graduation, students will have a comprehensive portfolio showcasing their projects and skills. Their work will reflect industry standards, positioning them for success in media careers. The final semester features a capstone project that allows you to apply what you’ve learned in a real-world setting. Choose to develop a media project for a community organization or conduct research on an existing civic media initiative that will culminate in a thesis showcasing your ability to create and evaluate impactful social projects. It will bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Music Composition for the Screen, MFA
Columbia College Chicago’s Music Composition for the Screen MFA program is tailored to prepare students for success in an evolving industry. Recognized as one of the top five programs of its kind by “The Hollywood Reporter,” this two-year, 54-credit degree will immerse students in the art and technical aspects of composing for film, television, video games, and more.
The program is hands-on and collaborative, providing students with the skills and experiences necessary to thrive in the music-for-media landscape. They will engage in immersive learning experience by working on full-length projects, scoring entire films, TV shows, and video games. This approach allows you to understand how music enhances storytelling and prepares you for the real-world demands of the industry.
Students will work closely with composers-in-residence—professionals who will guide them through the scoring process. This unique opportunity allows them to rescore original projects, simulating real challenges while honing their problem-solving skills. Through collaborations facilitated by MFA program, they will have opportunities to score student films and student-produced video games.
Courses cover genres and mediums, ensuring they are proficient in the latest industry standards for media music production. You’ll gain experience in programming digital instruments and conducting live sessions, preparing you for the demands of a professional composer. The program culminates in a five-week capstone in Los Angeles, where they intern with a composer and lead a recording session with a full orchestra. This hands-on experience is invaluable for building their professional network and body of work.
There are many successful alumni — Ani Immaneni MFA ’24, assistant to Emmy-winning composer David Fleming; Meghan Scott MFA ’23, assistant to TV composer James S. Levine; Shireen Ghosh MFA ’23, technical assistant to video game composer Austin Wintory; and Markus Siegel MFA ’22, studio assistant for John Powell. Recent composers-in-residence include: Jongnic Bontemps (Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts); Academy member Heather McIntosh (The L-Word); and Emmy-winner Brandon Campbell (Pacific Rim: The Black).
Film and Television, MFA
As a Master of Fine Arts candidate in the Film and Television program at Columbia College Chicago, students will learn to craft character-driven narratives, lead a crew, and create diverse films grounded in the human experience. Intensive study in screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and sound will prepare them to direct your own scripts and those written by others.
Use our audio and post-production facilities, equipment rental centers, professional sound stages, and TV studios equipped with industry-standard software and technology.
Students will have opportunities to work on both stand-alone short films and series productions, culminating in a thesis project where they will develop and direct a short film or episodic pilot. In the first years, they’ll make several short films, honing collaboration skills and cinematic storytelling while delving into film and television history through engaging graduate seminars and faculty critiques. In the final year, they will work with peers to create an original series and develop a long-form project, either a feature screenplay or a show bible.
The faculty, comprised of current industry professionals in film and television, serve as invaluable resources for job placements and references after graduation. The thesis project will be an original piece of media—either a short film, a short television pilot, or multiple short webisodes—that synthesises everything students have learned. Past MFA thesis projects have screened at festivals and won awards. Students will participate in Chicago film festivals, including opportunities to submit work and volunteer at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Jasmeen Dugal is Associate Editor at FashionABC, contributing her insights on fashion, technology, and sustainability. She brings with herself more than two decades of editorial experience, working for national newspapers and luxury magazines in India.
Jasmeen Dugal has worked with exchange4media as a senior writer contributing articles on the country’s advertising and marketing movements, and then with Condenast India as Net Editor where she helmed Vogue India’s official website in terms of design, layout and daily content. Besides this, she is also an entrepreneur running her own luxury portal, Explosivefashion, which highlights the latest in luxury fashion and hospitality.
