Undergraduate Semester Program

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Advocacy and Social Justice

What are the complex causes of today’s most pressing problems, and how should social action be focused to most effectively address them? Our world is rife with inequalities that keep many people from living a life defined by dignity and equality. Yet in the face of these oppressive forces, social movements have brought people together to advocate for policies that support equality and social justice, and in doing so have transformed society. This pathway equips students with the skills and experiences necessary to prepare them to be changemakers in their communities and to build a more just collective future.

Related Majors: American and Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, Economics, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Global and International Studies, History, Human Rights, Law, Political Science, Sociology, Urban Studies

Hear from a recent student:
“The Legal Aid Society’s Video Mitigation Project uses documentary-style videos to humanize clients in the criminal justice system and advocate for reduced sentences and alternatives to incarceration. I assist with video production, including conducting interviews, editing content, and collaborating with attorneys and clients to craft impactful narratives. I’m planning to attend law school and pursue a career in legal advocacy, so this internship will hopefully support my future studies and prepare me for a career focused on equity and social justice.”
— Yolanda, Spring ‘25

Sample Courses:

• Social Media and Activism
• Generation Equality: Gender in International Affairs
• Issues in Global Public Health

Sample Internships:

• AZN Americana
• National Coalition Against Censorship
• Global Justice Center

Sample Cocurricular Events:

• Tell Them You Love Me: Film Screening + Q&A with Director Nick August-Perna
• Alumni/ae Panel on Careers in Law

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Economics and Finance

What is the role of finance in a modern economy? Should the mechanisms that govern economics be reformed, and if so, how? The 2008 Financial Crisis and the resulting Great Recession made clear the importance of financial markets and instruments to the overall health of the economy. Understanding how these systems function—both in theory and in practice—is critical not only for those pursuing careers in finance, but for anyone seeking an understanding of today’s global economic landscape. This pathway gives students firsthand exposure to how markets operate and how economic policy plays out on the ground in the financial capital of the world.

Related Majors: Accounting, Business, Economics, Finance, International Relations, Management, Marketing, Mathematics, Political Science, Public Policy, Statistics

Hear from a recent student: 
“At The European-American Business Organization, Inc., I play a key role in supporting European firms navigating the US market. From conducting market research to organizing trade delegations and B2B matchmaking, I am gaining hands-on experience in transatlantic economic diplomacy. My tasks also include shaping brand strategy, enhancing digital presence, and engaging stakeholders across sectors. New York moves fast, but there’s something powerful in that momentum. It challenges you to stay alert, to really listen. Whether you’re navigating policy or people, the city teaches you to adapt with purpose.”
—Jules, Spring ’25

Sample Courses:

• Corporate Finance
• Globalization, Finance, and Marginalization
• Automation, Artificial Intelligence, and the Labor Market

Sample Internships:

• European-American Business Organization
• GreenMax Capital
• Institute for Economics and Peace

Sample Cocurriculars:

• Talk by President of S&P Global Ratings
• Talk by Will Spisak from the New Economy Project

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International Affairs

How effective are international institutions in managing the 21st century’s most pressing challenges? As the world has grown more interconnected, so too have the problems that the international community faces. From climate change to forced migration to global pandemics, threats are increasingly transnational in nature, requiring a coordinated global response to manage. At the same time, the traditional geopolitical challenges of diplomacy, interstate war, and great power competition remain and threaten the stability of the international order. This pathway draws on the unique opportunities afforded by New York City—the world’s premier global city—to prepare students for a career in global affairs.

Related Majors: Business, Economics, Foreign Languages, Global and International Studies, History, Human Rights, Law, International Relations, Journalism, Political Science, Public Policy

Hear from a recent student:
“I’m currently interning at the Business Council for International Understanding, an organization founded by former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower that bridges connections between governments, institutions such as the World Bank and the UN, and private enterprises. As an International Studies major with a strong interest in business, I was drawn to this opportunity to explore the intersection of global policy and corporate engagement.” 
—Youngseo, Spring ’25

Sample Courses:

• Multilateralism in Crisis: How International Institutions Can Better Manage Global Challenges
• Feminist Foreign Policy
• Peacebuilding: Concepts, Cases, Critiques

Sample Internships:

• Business Council for International Understanding
• Central American Legal Assistance
• Centre on Armed Groups

Sample Cocurriculars:

• Talk by Rana Foroohar and Shannon O’Neil on Globalization and Trade
• Tour of United Nations Headquarters 

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Media and Publishing

How have new forms of digital media changed the media and publishing landscape, and what responsibility does the media and publishing industry have to society? With the rise of new forms of digital media comes a range of new and easily accessible platforms, which many believe have democratized the media landscape. Students in the Media and Publishing pathway study the complex relationship between democracy and communication and how our increasingly networked world is shaped by new forms of media. This pathway is designed for students seeking careers in journalism, writing, digital media, and publishing.

Related Majors: Advertising, Anthropology, Digital Humanities, English, Global and International Studies, Human Rights, Journalism, Literature, Marketing, Media Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Written Arts

Hear from a recent student:
“I’m interning with the Literary Team at PEN America, an organization that works at the intersection of literature and human rights. I mostly help with organizing this year’s World Voices Festival. I’m learning a lot about international literature, human rights regarding the arts, as well as logistics and organization. My favorite part of any academic or professional experience is definitely getting to meet amazing new people. Throughout this experience, I’ve met people from all over the world and been able to learn about their culture and their respective countries"
— Lili, Spring ’22

Sample Courses:

• Film Criticism
• Poetry as Radical Community
• Social Media and Activism

Sample Internships:

• Center for Fiction
• FilmNation
• World Poetry Books

Sample Cocurriculars:

• Living Independent Poetry Event with Winter Editions
• Speaker Event: “Translation: Traveling Beyond Our Own Times, Places, and Minds” by Author Marguerite Feitlowitz

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Performing Arts

How do the performing arts reflect and influence culture and society, and what is involved in the creation and production of a successful performance? An effective performance can show us the diversity of the human experience, serve as a medium for social and political economy, and foster a sense of community and social cohesion. From Broadway to Carnegie Hall, New York City holds a particularly important place in the world of performing arts. This pathway cultivates a critical appreciation for art as a social phenomenon and gives students practical insights into the industry.

Related Majors: Dance, Digital Humanities, Human Rights, Music, Performing Arts, Theater and Performance

Hear from a recent student:
“This semester I am a Costume Shop intern at Playwrights Horizons Theater, which produces works by contemporary American playwrights, composers and lyricists. As someone trying to enter the challenging theater industry in NYC, I know it is rare to get to work at an off-Broadway theater as a first gig during college, but Bard NYC made it happen for me. The professors, admin, and alumni/ae of Bard NYC who helped me find the internship are seriously the best. I am learning so many professional skills, and I’m constantly starstruck by the people I’m meeting.” 
— Rachel, Spring ’25

Sample Courses:

• Theater in New York City
• History of Hip Hop
• Public Art in NYC: Histories and Practice

Sample Internships:

• The Brick Theater
• Playwrights Horizon Theater
• Bond Street Theater

Sample Cocurriculars:

• Broadway musicals (recent examples include Hamilton, Yellowface, English, and more!)
• Speaker Event: Beau Croxton on the New York/Brooklyn music scene with a focus on women musicians

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Sustainability and Climate Action

How can societies meet the needs of the present without endangering the future, and what prevents meaningful climate action on the local, national, and global levels? The last decade saw the warmest global temperatures in recorded history, lending increased urgency to the global call for climate action and the need to build resilience in the face of ever-more-frequent climate disasters. Despite these realities, the climate crisis has continued unabated. This pathway equips students with the tools and experiences necessary to become leaders in building climate resilience in their communities and realizing a sustainable future.

Related Majors: American and Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, Biology, Economics, Law, Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Global and International Studies, Human Rights, Law, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Urban Studies

Hear from a recent student:
“In my rural residential school in India, I was particularly enthusiastic about organic foods, I loved to help around on the farm where I grew corn and harvested onions. Now, I want to make climate education as globally accessible as possible. This semester, I’m thrilled to be interning at UN’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network as an Education and Communications intern. The most exciting part about my work is developing pedagogical resources for the UN at your Doorstep programme—a series of online dialogues that allows the youth to directly engage with policy makers to address climate change and other socio-economic issues like Ecosystem Restoration and Gender Equity.”
—Prisha, Spring ’25

Sample Courses

• Global Environmental Justice
• Planetary Computation and Climate Injustice
• The Sustainable City

Sample Internships

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden
• Third Act
• United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

Sample Cocurriculars:

• Meeting with the Billion Oyster Project
• Climate Week NYC

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Technology and Society

How does technology shape—and how is it shaped by—social, political, and economic factors? Whether on our social media feeds, at our workplaces, in our doctors’ offices, or in the halls of government, technology has assumed a ubiquitous presence in our public and private lives. Leveraging the benefits of technology while minimizing its challenges will be one of the most important issues shaping the trajectory of the 21st century. New York City offers an unparalleled setting to analyze how technological systems evolve and affect society in real time—thus, this pathway equips students with the skills needed to think critically about the role of technology in combating societal challenges.

Related Majors: Anthropology, Biology, Computer Science, Digital Humanities, Economics, Information Systems, Law, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Statistics

Hear from a recent student:
“The Asian American Federation’s Small Business Technical Assistance program provides support to Asian American business owners throughout New York City, helping to remove any language barriers that may exist between immigrant business owners and the resources and support they require. As an intern, I leverage my analytical skills to monitor digital markets and enhance their visibility and engagement, showcasing the powerful role of data in driving community growth and success. Overall, being in this dynamic environment has enriched my learning experience and helped me grow both personally and professionally.”
—Runtong, Fall ’24

Sample Courses:

• Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
• Deconstructing the Data Industrial Complex
• Power and World Order in the Age of Technology and AI

Sample Internships:

• Phi Network
• HealthRight
• International Digital Dura-Europos Archive

Sample Cocurriculars:

• Speaker Event: Than Hedman (Engineering Manager, Meta)
• Speaker Event: Cybersecurity and AI Governance with Jeff Le

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Urbanism and the Changing City

How can we reimagine urban life to meet the demands of a changing world? It is estimated that more than two-thirds of the world’s population will reside in urban areas by 2050, and with increasing urbanization comes an array of challenges. Rapid urbanization can strain infrastructure, deplete essential resources like water, degrade the environment, and magnify economic inequalities. The future of the city depends on meeting these challenges while also preserving the many benefits of urban life. This pathway uses the city as a laboratory to equip students with the experiences and knowledge needed to confront the challenges of urban life in the 21st century.

Related Majors: Anthropology, American and Indigenous Studies, Architecture, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Global and International Studies, History, Human Rights, Politics, Sociology, Urban Studies

Hear from a recent student: 
“At the Asian American Federation (AAF), my day to day tasks involve pulling and organizing census and survey data to make visualizations for our partnered NGOs across the city. I have been updating AAF’s datacenter for Asian American ethnic profiles, using public-use microdata samples of various socioeconomic characteristics from 2018-2023 ACS census data. My hope for this internship is to apply these skills and experiences to my interest in urban research as a future career path. ” - Bella, Spring ‘25

Sample Courses:

• City Frictions
• History of New York City
• New York City: Art and Civic Power Lab

Sample Internships:

• Welcome to Chinatown
• Asian American Federation
• City as Living Lab

Sample Cocurriculars:

• Lecture: The Real Estate State and the Right to the City - The View from Williamsburg by Urban Planner Samuel Stein
• Visit to the Tenement Museum

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Visual Arts

How does art reflect, challenge, or expand our thinking about the world around us? Whether it be an advertisement on a subway car, a public sculpture passed by on a morning walk, or a celebrated painting in a museum, the visual arts are a ubiquitous part of the human experience. As a form of expression, art can offer a window into our history, a comment on our economy, politics, and society, and a means of understanding and then mobilizing against injustice. As a creative practice, visual art requires cultivating the appropriate techniques, methods, and environment to nourish creativity. This pathway utilizes the resources of New York City to equip students with the critical, analytical, and conceptual tools to build a career in the arts.

Related Majors: Advertising, Anthropology, Art History and Visual Culture, Cultural Studies, Digital Humanities, Drawing, Film, Human Rights, Media Studies, Painting, Photography, Philosophy, Studio Arts

Hear from a recent student:
“I am interning at the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, the oldest and longest-running community print shop in the United States. I came to New York with the hopes to learn more about the art world. I had a lot of options coming in, and I chose at the end to come to Bard NYC because I knew that I was going to get work experience and to get that gateway into the art world.”
— Nico, Spring ’24

Sample Courses:

• Contemporary Art Seminar
• New York Street Photography: The City Flâneur
• Machine Media: A Hands-On Introduction to Machine Learning and Generative Art

Sample Internships:

• KAJE
• Leslie Lohman Museum
• International Center for Photography

Sample Cocurriculars:

• Chelsea Galleries Field Visit
• Visit to the Modern Art Foundry in Astoria, Queens