Liberal Studies: M.A. Program
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Degree Programs: Full-Time/Part-Time: Free-Standing M.A.
The School of General Studies first offered
Liberal Studies Master of Arts programs in September 1987; the programs
were American Studies, East Asian Studies, Islamic Studies, and
Medieval Studies. A program in Jewish Studies was introduced in
September 1988, followed by programs in South Asian Studies in 1991,
Modern European Studies in 1992, and Human Rights Studies in 1998. The
Liberal Studies programs moved to the Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences in 1995.
These programs are interdisciplinary and
cross-departmental. Students approach a particular culture,
geographical area, historical period, or topic by drawing on the
traditional liberal arts fields-the humanities, social sciences, and
arts. The aim is to reach across departmental boundaries rather than
choose one area to research exclusively.
Although the value of a liberal
education as a means of achieving a fully examined life has long been
accepted, such education has increasingly been consigned to
undergraduate study, and even there it has lost ground to professional
programs. The Liberal Studies M.A. programs represent a new approach to
liberal arts education at the graduate level. Students define their own
territory of intellectual inquiry while benefiting from the groundwork
laid over the years in each of the traditional disciplines.
The Liberal Studies M.A. programs are
nonprofessional in intent-that is, they are not meant to provide
specific training for a vocation, advancement in a profession, or
preparation for further graduate study in a specialty. They are
designed for those who are motivated by their intellectual curiosity to
enter an advanced study in the liberal arts but who are not yet ready
to begin the arduous research and disciplinary focus required for
pursuit of the Ph.D. degree. Also, the Liberal Studies M.A. degree can
be earned through full- or part-time study, enabling qualified adults
to participate without giving up their careers to do so. The Liberal
Studies M.A. programs are thus less restrictive than traditional
graduate degree programs but more challenging than continuing education
courses, which are not subject to strict observation of degree
requirements.
The Students
Students of the Liberal Studies M.A. programs
at Columbia are a diverse group with varied professional and
educational backgrounds. Students enter the programs for many
reasons-to fill gaps in their undergraduate training, to strengthen
existing expertise in a subject area, to explore new academic
disciplines, to expand career options, or for the sheer love of
learning.
appealing to adults who have been out of
school and working for a while but who would like to pursue further
education in a more structured and thorough way than they are able to
do on their own.
The Liberal Studies M.A. also appeals to
recent college graduates with cross-departmental interests. Some have
used the interdisciplinary approach to increase their knowledge in a
number of areas prior to pursuing advanced study in one specific
discipline.
Although many Liberal Studies M.A.
students spend only a few hours each week on campus, all are members of
the Columbia University community and are encouraged to participate in
University organizations and activities.
Special Admission Requirements
Transcripts
An
official transcript showing all courses and grades of any academic work
from each college and university attended must be submitted.
A Transcript Request Form
should be completed and sent to each institution, school, etc. from
which you are requesting a transcript. Please ask the sending
institution to return this with the transcript. each sheet downloaded
contains three transcript forms for your convenience.
A Fall Term Grade Report Form
should be used if you are currently taking courses and would like your
fall term grades to be seen by the faculty admissions committee of your
designated department or porgram. Please complete this form and return
it to us once the grades are available. If you are admitted, you must
submit a final official transcript.
Letters of recommendation
Two
letters of recommendation are required. If you have recently received
an academic degree or are currently enrolled in a degree program,
letters from faculty members are preferable.If you have not been
enrolled in an academic program for some time, you may submit letters
from supervisors or colleagues in positions of responsibility.
It is important that your recommendation letters come from people who know you well.They
should assess your particular strengths and weaknesses, your degree of
maturity, and your ability to complete successfully a demanding
academic program.
If your evaluators prefer to submit the letter in paper form, please download the Letter of Evaluation Form
GRE scores
Submission of GRE scores is optional. Admissions decisions are based on your application as a whole.
TOEFL scores
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. For more information,
refer to the GSAS admissions policy for international students.
Statement of Academic Purpose
It is necessary for us to evaluate your background and your
ability to succeed academically as well as to understand the reasons
you have chosen to apply to a particular Liberal Studies program.
Therefore, please compose a statement of approximately 1,000 words
describing any relevant course work, preparation in languages,
professional activity and other experience pertaining to your
background and interest in the program and your academic plans for
graduate study at Columbia and their relation to your plans unpon
receiving your M.A.
Writing Sample
Please provide a short paper no more than 1,000 words in length or a
similarly-sized coherent excerpt from a longer paper that you have
written for a course. Alternatively, provide a
focused essay written in an academic style in which you analyze an
article, book, exhibit or event relevant to your field of interest.
CV/Resume
A CV/Resume is required.
Miscellaneous
A Supplementary Materials Form
should be attached to any supplementary document which is not submitted
online. If you are submitting more than one document under the same
cover, please attach a separate form to each document.
Deadlines
For Admission in the Spring Semester – November 1st
For Admission in the Fall Semester – April 1st
Please Note: The Human Rights Studies program only accepts applications for the Fall Semester
FLAS Fellowships are available for students entering in the Fall. If you are applying for the FLAS Fellowship you must submit your application, including the FLAS Essay by February 16 th.
