M.A.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can't find
your answer?
Check the FAQ page of the Graduate School of Art and Sciences
(GSAS) website for additional information on administrative
matters and on the registration process.
Alternatively send us an Email.
1. What is
the application deadline?
The M.A. application deadline is January 15th.
2. Can I
apply for Spring admission?
There is no
Spring admission for the M.A. program.
3. Is there
a part-time option for the M.A. program?
Yes. Further
information can be found on the GSAS web site.
4. How
competitive is the admissions process?
Admission is
competitive. In recent years, about 30% of applicants were accepted
into the program - but the applicants are a self-selected and
talented pool of potential students.
5. Should I
visit?
Visiting Columbia is an
excellent idea. A visit will allow you to get a first-hand and direct
impression of our program, department, faculty and students. It will
also help you to decide if New
York City is for you. Before coming to
visit, arrange appointments with faculty whose interests match yours.
6. Does Columbia
provides housing for MA students?
Housing is not
guaranteed for Master's students, but students who do not get campus
housing are generally able to find a place nearby.
7. What is
an RU?
RU, or
Residence Unit, and ER, or Extended Residence, are registration
categories tied into tuition fees. A Residence Unit is equivalent to
full-time registration for a semester. 2 RU's are a mandatory
requirement for the MA degree (in Year 1). In the second year M.A.
students register for Extended Residence, which allows them to
register for classes at a reduced cost relative to the RU tuition.
8. What type
of employment would I qualify for after the M.A. degree?
Although our
program is relatively young, we can report that nearly 100 per cent
of our graduates are either employed or have been accepted into a
Ph.D. program. Our students are pursuing careers in government, NGOs,
education, and research.
9. How many
students are in the program?
There are
currently 28 students in the program.
10. Can MA
students fund their education through teaching assistantships?
No, this is not
possible at Columbia.
Nevertheless M.A. students are offered the possiblity of registering
with the Department for paid Reading Assistantship in undergraduate
courses.
11. How long
does it take to finish the MA degree? Two years. Students
doing a thesis-based degree should plan on using the summer between
the two years for their research. Part time registration is possible,
which would extend this period, but the degree must be finished
within 4 years.
12. Can
adjunct faculty be an MA student's thesis advisor?
Yes, any
faculty member listed in the GSAS handbook is an approved E3B
advisor.
13. You
encourage perspective students to seek faculty mentors for their
future thesis research. How do I go about this?
A good starting
point is the faculty page of the E3B website. You'll find
short bios which include research interests. Send an Email the the
faculty members that share your same intersts and inquire about
projects and opportunities.
Don’t be
discouraged if you don’t get replies, all of our faculty have pretty
busy schedules and may need a reminder to follow up. To ensure better
response rates, make sure your emails are stimulating and clearly
state your interests.
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