East Asian Regional Studies
Program Category: MA Programs
Program Director: Xiaobo Lu
Academic Director: Kim Brandt
Website: https://marsea.weai.columbia.edu/
Email Address: [email protected]
Degree Programs: Full-Time: Free-Standing MA
The MA in East Asian Regional Studies is designed for those wishing to focus on a social science approach to modern East Asia. The program provides interdisciplinary training through intensive exposure to the politics, international relations, modern history, culture, and society of the region with a country or area of focus (e.g., China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, or Vietnam). The program is tailored to meet the needs of individuals entering professional careers, mid-career professionals, students preparing for entry to doctoral programs, and those pursuing a professional degree, such as the JD or MBA, who want to gain regional expertise.
In addition to the regular curriculum, the experience of students in the MA program is enhanced by participation in the Weatherhead East Asian Institute's rich extracurricular programming for students across multiple schools at Columbia. These include a faculty-led lecture series that brings in more than 60 outside speakers each year, as well as panel discussions, film screenings, book talks, and career events.
Special Admissions Requirements
In addition to the requirements listed below, all students must submit one transcript showing courses and grades per school attended, a statement of academic purpose, a personal statement, and three letters of evaluation from academic sources.
All international students whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English must submit scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS.
For more information, refer to our Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions pages.
- Deadline for Fall Admission:
- Thursday, February 22, 2024
- Resume Requirement:
- Yes
- Writing Sample:
- Yes
- Writing Sample Number of Pages:
- 10-15
- GRE General:
- Recommended, But Not Required
- Degree Programs:
- Full Time
- Free-Standing:
- Yes
- Letters of Recommendation*:
- 3
*GSAS will accept up to four recommendations, regardless of the number required by your program of interest. However, to be eligible for admission at GSAS, at least TWO letters must be submitted by academic recommenders.