Students must choose to specialize in one of the following regions: China, Japan, Korea, or Tibet. (Vietnam will be available starting with the Fall 2024 cohort.)
Language proficiency equivalent to the 3rd-year level of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, or second-year level of Tibetan in accordance with their country of specialization. The language requirement may be met by passing Columbia’s language placement examination or through coursework.
Yearlong MARSEA core seminar (GR6220: MARSEA Core Seminar I – Fall and GR6221: MARSEA Core Seminar II – Spring).
Master’s thesis dealing substantially with the country of specialization.
2 graduate-level modern history courses on the country of specialization. Comparable work may be substituted with permission from MARSEA’s Academic Director.
3 graduate-level regional courses selected from at least two different fields: at least one of the three courses must focus on an Asia Pacific country or sub-region other than one’s country of specialization. These courses must include at least one colloquia and/or seminar. One language course at the 4th-year level or above may be counted towards this requirement. Courses dealing with the region as a whole or dealing with relations between East Asia and other countries (such as the U.S.) may also be taken to fulfill this requirement.
1 graduate-level elective course, which may focus on topics outside of East Asia.
All students must complete 30 credits and 2 Resident Units (the GSAS equivalent of 2 full-time semesters).
