Turn Ideas Into Impact
At UMass HFA, your creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking open doors to limitless paths.
Academics
With 14 academic departments and 12 world-class research centers, institutes, and interdisciplinary programs, our students have the opportunity to study with the best scholars, thinkers, and artists.
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As the creative and cultural heart of UMass Amherst, HFA brings together scholars and artists from a wide range of disciplines.
Undergraduate Major Programs
Master’s Programs
Doctoral Programs
Minors
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Ever wondered what it’s like to dig through thousands of years of history in the hills of Tuscany? Cecilia Demolli ’26 shares her experience at the Poggio Civitate Archaeological Field School—excavating ancient Etruscan artifacts with guidance from classics Professor Anthony Tuck.
HFA Days
HFA Days (March 26-27, 2026) invites the UMass community and beyond to experience different facets of teaching and learning, creative and scholarly work, and outreach by students, staff, and faculty.
Faculty Leading the Conversation
How do humans and machines understand meaning and where do they differ? Professor Brian Dillon is leading a four-year study to bring artificial intelligence closer to human-like language processing.
Scholarships and Internship Assistance
Explore the Paths of Our Notable Alumni
See how HFA graduates are shaping the world through creativity, scholarship, and leadership.
Tiny Spaces, Big Ideas
Tiny Spaces, Big Ideas is a YouTube series designed to make scholarly conversations feel accessible, engaging, and a little bit unexpected. Each episode features a guest lecturer in HFA presenting their topic of interest in under seven minutes.
In the Spotlight
“Be proactive about taking advantage of the university,” Ayesha advises new students. “UMass is huge, and there are so many opportunities for you if you just look at a bulletin board. The Pioneer Valley is a great place to be an English major.”
In the News
Roopa Vasudevan Featured in MASS MoCA Exhibition
Roopa Vasudevan’s work appears in Technologies of Relation at MASS MoCA, exploring how artists critically engage technology and digital futures.
Julia Jorati Wins Journal of the History of Philosophy Book Prize
Julia Jorati, professor of philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, is the winner of the 2025 JHP Book Prize.
Marjorie Rubright Named Next Renaissance Society of America Vice President
Marjorie Rubright has been appointed the next vice president of the Renaissance Society of America, effective July 1, 2026.