The degree of Master of Arts (M.A.) is conferred upon students who complete all academic requirements specified by their program. Additionally, the Graduate School requires students to complete at least two Residence Units, with the exception of students in the following M.A. programs:
- American Studies
- East Asian Studies
- French Cultural Studies in a Global Context
- Human Rights Studies
- Islamic Studies
- Japanese Pedagogy
- Jewish Studies
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies
- Modern European Studies
- South Asian Studies
M.A. students may register for part-time study only in certain programs. Part-time students should register for Half or Quarter Residence Units.
Note: After enrolling at Columbia, M.A. students may not use courses taken outside Columbia or its affiliates (Jewish Theological Seminary, Teachers College, Union Theological Seminary) to fulfill degree requirements.Once all requirements have been completed, the student must apply for graduation in order to receive the M.A. degree. Degrees are awarded three times a year—in October, February, and May—and each degree conferral date has a corresponding application deadline.