Graduate Programs

Director of Graduate Studies: Haruo Shirane hs14@columbia.edu

MA Advisor: Theodore Hughes th2150@columbia.edu

Overview
The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers an interdisciplinary graduate program in the literature, culture, history, and languages of East Asia, with particular emphasis on critical methodology and comparative study.

The Department, long a leader in East Asian studies, provides a wide range of courses in the history, literature, religion, culture, and languages of China, Japan, and Korea. An array of East Asian courses in other departments -- such as political science, sociology, anthropology, art, history, law, and business -- is also available, as are interdisciplinary programs with the departments of Religion, Comparative Literature, and History. The Department's close ties with various East Asian institutions in New York City and abroad provide a stimulating cultural environment.

Specific requirements for EALAC department degrees are as follows:

EALAC M.A. Degree Requirements

EALAC M.Phil. & PhD. Degree Requirements

Financial Aid 
Each year the Department awards a number of multi-year fellowships (Faculty Fellows, Orient Corporation Fellowship in Classical Japanese Studies, Suntory Fellowship, Goodrich Fellowship) that provide tuition, health fees, and a full stipend for a four to five-year period. Loans, student teaching appointments, and partial scholarships are also available.

C.V. Starr East Asian Library
The C.V. Starr East Asian Library, with over a half million volumes of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language books, is among the largest East Asian library collections outside of East Asia and one of the premier centers for East Asian research in the United States. The East Asian collection -- which is particularly strong in literature, philosophy (especially Buddhism and Neo-Confucianism), and history -- is supported by over 50,000 volumes of secondary materials in English and other European languages on all aspects of East Asia, past and present.

Master of Arts (M.A.)
The Master of Arts program is a regional studies humanities program designed for students with limited backgrounds in East Asian languages or studies. Its aim is to provide a broad overview of the field and to equip students with language skills necessary to undertake more advanced research. Students are expected to complete a variety of courses and write a research paper. Please refer to the EALAC M.A. Degree Requirements.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The Doctor of Philosophy program, which requires a minimum of three years of study in an East Asian language for admittance, is designed to prepare qualified full-time students for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. Students participate in a variety of courses, colloquia, and seminars designed to provide the student with historical breadth and critical acumen, the ability to read and analyze texts in East Asian languages, and the skills necessary to carry out original research. Advanced standing is available to qualified students already holding masters degrees. Please refer to the EALAC M.Phil. & PhD. Degree Requirements.

In addition, many students also apply to study with the Institute for Comparative Literature while pursuing a PhD in the EALAC department. More information about the Institute can be found here.

East Asian Studies in Other Departments at Columbia University
Other departments at Columbia also offer courses and support faculty concerned with East Asia, among them the departments of Anthropology, Art History, Economics, History, Political Science, Religion, and Sociology. Students interested in East Asia with primary application in those disciplines should apply to those departments. Faculty members specializing in East Asian History typically have positions in both the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and in the Department of History.  Follow this link more information about premodern and early modern Japanese studies at Columbia.

The School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) is a professional school offering Master's degrees in international relations. This is an independent degree program that allows for various regional specializations, including contemporary East Asia. Students specifically aiming toward careers but not doctoral degrees in government, public policy, international relations, and some business fields should apply to SIPA. Among its regional institutes, the Weatherhead East Asian Institute is an interdisciplinary center for research and publication, emphasizing modern East Asia. Students registered in degree programs in Graduate School of Arts and Sciences departments may also participate in the programs of the Institute and apply for its Certificate upon completion of certain designated requirements. In addition, other professional schools and a professional college, including the School of Business, the School of Law, the School of Journalism, and Columbia Teachers College may have programs of interest to prospective students of East Asia. Students interested in advanced programs in those fields should apply directly to the relevant school or college.

Admission
Applications for Admission to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences may be downloaded or requested online. Please follow the Admissions link on the GSAS home page.

For further information, please contact the EALAC office at 212-854-5017.

The Graduate School of Arts and Science's Statement on Academic Honesty

EALAC M.A. Degree Requirements

EALAC M.Phil. & PhD. Degree Requirements

Institute for Comparative Literature and Society - Students who are interested in becoming affiliated with the Institute of Comparative Literature and Society should apply to EALAC or one of the above departments and clearly indicate their interest in ICLS on the cover of their application or in the subfield section in the Application Part 1.

History East-Asia program guidelines

MARSEA

EALAC Teaching guidelines

Summer Master of Arts Program in Japanese Language Pedagogy
(administered by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences).