Has it been your dream to teach the Japanese language to others?  The Summer M. A. Program in Japanese Pedagogy at Columbia University may be perfect for you!  Columbia University is a world-renowned Ivy League university in the heart of New York, New York.  The Summer M. A. Program in Japanese Pedagogy is an extremely competitive program, attracting the best students and professors from around the world.  In fact, the M. A. Program is limited to no more than thirty total students, and accepts only ten to twelve students each year.  Over a typical three-year period, you will learn from professors from Columbia, Harvard and Princeton, as well as from other top universities in America, Japan, Europe and Australia.  Live in New York and take classes each summer for three years, and you can earn your Masters degree in Japanese Pedagogy.  At the same time, you will learn about the Japanese language, about teaching and acquiring foreign languages, and you will gain a highly marketable Masters degree from one of the world’s best universities.  So apply today for the Summer M. A. Program in Japanese Pedagogy at Columbia University!

Academic Director Professor Seiichi Makino Princeton University

Please go to : Frequently Asked Questions  (UPDATED: 12/14/2012)

2013 Details

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures) invites applications for the summer M. A. program in Japanese Pedagogy. The 2013 program will begin on Monday, June 3rd and last until Friday, August 2nd, during which time the following courses will be taught:

Tuition is reviewed on a yearly basis; the tuition for 2013 will be finalized in March. Intermediate/Advanced Japanese Pedagogy can only be taken by students who have previously completed Elementary Japanese Pedagogy at Columbia University (However, those who have years of experience teaching Japanese at the college level may apply to take this course as non-degree students). In other words, 2013 new students attending the M.A. degree program for the first time must select the three other MA courses (6/24-8/02) and are not permitted to take Intermediate/Advanced Japanese Pedagogy this summer. On-campus housing is available.

Masters Requirements

Obtaining the M. A. degree in Japanese Pedagogy requires three summers of study, which can be completed either consecutively or over a six-year period. Students must compile a total of 36 credits, consisting of eleven courses and an M. A. thesis focusing on a particular area of Japanese Pedagogy. The Japanese Pedagogy Program does not accept credits from other institutions. Students not seeking an M. A. degree are also welcome to attend classes.

Admissions Instructions for Applicants:

1) Graduate School of Arts and Sciences on-line application

2) Non-refundable application fee (check or money order, payable to Columbia University)

3) Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended

4) Two letters of recommendation

5) One-page handwritten statement in Japanese on a single sheet of plain paper, outlining the applicant’s reasons for applying to the program and how the program is connected to the applicant's career objectives. The statement should make clear whether the applicant seeks to enroll in the M. A. Program or solely in the Elementary Japanese Pedagogy course. Because of limited space in the M. A. program, some students who are not selected for the M. A. Program may be invited to attend the Elementary Japanese Pedagogy course only. Please also mention whether or not you would be willing to attend the Elementary Japanese Pedagogy course if you are not selected for the M. A. Program.

6a) Non-native speakers of English must have a TOEFL score of 570 (IBT88/CBT230) or higher. Exceptions: 1) Students applying only for the Intermediate/Advanced Japanese course do not need a TOEFL score. 2) Non-native English speakers who hold a bachelor's degree from a four-year college in the United States do not need a TOEFL score. However, students who have only a two-year degree (such as an MA) from an American university are NOT exempt from submitting a TOEFL score.

6b) Non-native speakers of Japanese must achieve a rating of "Advanced-High" or higher in the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) by ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

Applications must be postmarked by February 15, 2013. For further information, please contact Shigeru Eguchi, Administrative Director of the 2013 Summer M. A. Program in Japanese Pedagogy, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALAC), 407 Kent Hall, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027. Email: se53@columbia.edu (in English or Japanese)/ Telephone: 212-854-3523 / FAX: 212-678-8629. Successful applicants will be notified by the middle of March.

We look forward to your application and hope to see you in New York this summer!