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Studies & Degrees in Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance

Interdisciplinary arts and performance is a field of study in which students work across several art forms instead of specialising in one. Arizona State University (ASU), which offers a bachelor's degree under exactly this name, describes it as practical and theoretical studies of visual, sonic, performance, game and interactive arts. ASU contrasts this with arts programmes that ask students to commit to a single focus such as theatre, music, dance, film or visual arts.

Students make their own work, for example performances, short films, sound pieces, installations and digital games, and study the history and theory behind it. The learning outcomes that ASU lists give a fair picture of the subject: showing how sound art, visual art, performance and media art relate to each other, applying current technology to original interdisciplinary art production, and telling apart historical and contemporary artistic practices in their cultural contexts.

Qualifications and levels

Few universities use the exact title. Most teach the subject under related names, and the content differs from one programme to the next.

  • Bachelor's degrees in the United States. The Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance, BA at ASU has 120 credit hours and is offered at the West Valley campus and online. Sample courses include Foundations of Sound, Digital Arts, and Games and Traditions of the Avant-Garde and Experimental Art. The B.A. in Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies at the University of North Texas (UNT) combines art and design with coursework in fields such as anthropology, film, communications, psychology, art history and sociology. It is divided into three concentrations (Arts Management, Design Management and an open track), and the Arts Management concentration consists of 120 semester credit hours.
  • Canada. The University of British Columbia (UBC) presents Media Studies among its interdisciplinary programmes: students explore eight arts disciplines and computer science. Its Visual Arts programme includes digital media projects such as video, sound art and animation.
  • Mexico. At the Universidad de Guadalajara, the Centro Universitario de Arte, Arquitectura y Diseño teaches separate licenciaturas in performing arts (Artes Escénicas para la Expresión Teatral and Artes Escénicas para la Expresión Dancística) and a Licenciatura en Diseño, Arte y Tecnologías Interactivas. The latter trains professionals to integrate art, design and technology; it was approved on 29 October 2018 and first offered in the 2019-A cycle.
  • Spain. Official university degrees follow a fixed structure: a bachelor's degree (grado) of 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
  • Postgraduate study. One postgraduate route in North America is the Master of Fine Arts (MFA). The US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that stage directors may complete a degree in theatre and that some go on to earn an MFA.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 6 active schools for interdisciplinary arts and performance. Three are in the United States, and Spain, Mexico and Canada have one each. The list includes Arizona State University in Tempe, the University of North Texas in Denton, the State University of New York (SUNY), the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, the Universidad de Guadalajara and the Universitat de Barcelona.

Because programme names vary, compare the course lists and not only the titles: one programme may centre on performance and sound, another on arts management or interactive media. Ask each school which language the programme is taught in and whether admission requires a portfolio or an audition. ASU states that all students must meet its general university admission requirements.

Careers

Graduates work as performers, directors, media and sound artists, arts administrators and educators, often combining several of these roles. ASU says its graduates are ready to produce across performance, arts administration, media and education. UNT designs its Arts Management concentration for careers in galleries, museums, auction houses, cultural centres and community arts centres.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects overall employment in arts and design occupations to grow slower than the average for all occupations from 2025 to 2035, and employment in entertainment and sports occupations to grow about as fast as the average. Within those groups it projects 4 percent growth for producers and directors and a 1 percent decline for craft and fine artists. It also notes that most fine artists pursue postsecondary education to improve their skills and job prospects.

Frequently asked questions

How is interdisciplinary arts different from a fine arts or theatre degree?

A fine arts, music or theatre degree concentrates on one art form. An interdisciplinary programme combines several, such as visual art, sound, performance, games and digital media, in one degree.

How long does a bachelor's degree take?

The programmes at ASU and UNT have 120 credit hours. In Spain an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits.

Can interdisciplinary arts and performance be studied online?

Some programmes can. ASU offers its Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance, BA both at its West Valley campus and online.

What jobs does the degree lead to?

Typical fields are performance, arts administration, media and education. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4 percent employment growth for producers and directors from 2025 to 2035.