Applying to MARSEA
Applications for Fall 2024 enrollment are now open on the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences online portal. The deadline is February 22, 2024.
For more information on the application process, please visit the GSAS website. The MARSEA program does not have a Spring Semester admissions cycle.
We welcome applicants with a strong academic record and demonstrated interest in the Asia-Pacific region, including advanced competency in at least one Asian language (3rd-year level and above for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, and 2nd-year level for Tibetan). Our students come from all over the world, and have a broad range of personal, educational, and professional backgrounds.
BA/MA candidates who are currently in a Columbia undergraduate program, please see this page. The application portal and deadline are different from those of the usual MA application.
Program Details
Program Category: MA Programs
Program Director: Xiaobo Lü
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, or Tibet). 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, 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.
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 (at least 2 must be academic recommendations)
For more information, refer to GSAS' Admissions Information and Frequently Asked Questions pages.