Columbia University offers a variety of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs for the study of East Asia. For more detailed information on each program, click on the relevant link below.
MARSEA
The Master of Arts in Regional Studies-East Asia (MARSEA) program provides a social science approach to modern East Asia at the master’s level. The program provides interdiscliplinary training (exposure to the politics, international relations, modern history, culture, and society of the region) with a country/area focus. more
Undergraduate Degree Programs
Includes the undergraduate Major in East Asian Studies (Columbia College, Barnard College, School of General Studies), concentration in East Asian Studies (Columbia College, School of General Studies), and Minor in East Asian Studies (School of Engineering and Applied Science.)
Major in East Asian Studies
(Columbia College, Barnard College, School of General Studies) The BA Major in East Asian Studies is designed to provide a coherent curriculum with disciplinary specialization in anthropology, art history, economics, history, literature, philosophy, political science, sociology, or religion, as well as training in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Tibetan language.
For more information, see:
Concentration in East Asian Studies
(Columbia College, School of General Studies) The Concentration in East Asian Studies is designed to provide a coherent curriculum with disciplinary specialization in anthropology, art history, economics, history, literature, philosophy, political science, sociology, or religion. Students may choose between two tracks for the concentration in East Asian studies. Thesis Track requirements are identical to those for the major, except that there is no East Asian language requirement. Language Track requirements are identical to those for the major, except students do not write a senior thesis.
For more information, see:
Minor in East Asian Studies
(School of Engineering and Applied Science only) The minor program allows SEAS students to supplement their engineering education with East Asia-related coursework from a range of academic departments throughout the university.
For more information, see:
Master’s Degree Programs
Columbia University offers a variety of master’s degree programs for the study of East Asia:
Master of Arts in Regional Studies—East Asia (MARSEA)
MARSEA is a one-year M.A. program for individuals wishing to focus on a social science approach to modern East Asia. The program provides interdisciplinary training (exposure to the politics, international relations, modern history, and cultural and social formations of the region) with a country/area focus. more
Master of Arts in East Asian Languages and Cultures
The M.A. in East Asian Languages and Cultures program, offered by the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALAC), focuses predominantly on history, humanities, and languages. This approach is manifested in EALAC’s many courses on history, literature, philosophy, religion, popular culture, film, visual culture, material culture and archaeology, and it does so in both the pre-modern and modern/contemporary periods.This program offers M.A. students exactly the same courses that are open to Ph.D. students, assuming appropriate language capacities, and its students are free to take courses across the humanities and social sciences, tailoring their programs to their own needs. M.A. students share in a common student community with Ph.D. students as well. This program has a very strong record of placing its graduates in first-rate Ph.D. programs around the country. Many of EALAC’s M.A. graduates also hold significant East Asia-related positions in law, foreign relations, business, journalism, museum or library work, and other fields.more
Weatherhead East Asian Institute Certificate
Students already enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at Columbia (excluding regional studies), may complete a Weatherhead East Asian Institute Certificate in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean Studies. The basic requirements are the completion of seven graduate level East Asia courses (at least 3 credits each), and fourth year proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. more
East Asian Regional Specialization within the School of International and Public Affairs
Students already enrolled in Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, may complete an East Asian Regional Specialization which requires three courses (9 credits). Courses must be drawn from at least two different social science disciplines and cover at least two different East Asian countries. more
Doctoral Degree Programs
Institute faculty members advise Ph.D. candidates from Columbia University’s humanities and social science departments who study East Asia. A number of fellowships are available to support advanced graduate students associated with the Institute.
A doctoral degree in East Asian studies may be pursued in one of a wide range of academic departments at Columbia. Faculty members of the Institute advise Ph.D. candidates in a variety of Columbia’s humanities and social science departments.
Information on pursuing a Ph.D. in a particular discipline can be obtained from the relevant department. A complete listing of Columbia University academic departments is available here.
Departments in which students typically pursue doctoral studies on East Asia at Columbia include the following:
For information on the areas of expertise of Institute faculty members, please see our Faculty page.
Information on funding opportunities for Columbia graduate students in East Asian studies can be found at: Institute Funding for Columbia Students.
