StudyQA — Master: Global Thought — Columbia University (Page 2)

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Description Contents Requirements Funding

The Master of Arts in Global Thought is an interdisciplinary, research-based course of study designed to understand and address the challenges and opportunities arising in our world today. This innovative M.A. is offered by the Committee on Global Thought (CGT), whose more than thirty faculty members include some of Columbia’s most renowned scholars from departments and schools across the university. Its one-year program enables students to explore global connections and commonalities in contemporary politics, economics, society, and culture, tailoring their curriculum to their intellectual and professional interests. - See more at: http://cgt.columbia.edu/academics/ma/#sthash.RAlH6u4h.dpuf

The M.A. in Global Thought degree requires completion of 30 points of course work to be completed in two semesters. Students must work closely with M.A. Faculty Director David K. Park and the Academic Director Sara Brooks to plan an individualized program of study and to ensure that they are progressing toward a timely completion of the program.

The degree requires two Residence Units and completion of 30 points, including the five core courses (Global Governance, Global Political Economy, Global Politics and Culture, and two semesters of the M.A. Thesis Seminar) and five specialization elective courses. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher to remain in good academic standing. Students must demonstrate intermediate proficiency in a language other than English equivalent to four semesters of collegiate study.

Core Curriculum

Five Core Courses

The purpose of the core curriculum is to ensure that every M.A. student in the Global Thought program receives a theoretical, broad-based, interdisciplinary foundation in the concepts behind global thought. Each of the core courses will expose students to a range of approaches, methods, and theories, while allowing them to work directly with leading scholars in global thought. This includes graduate-level course work in trans-national relations, economics, politics, philosophy, and cultural analysis. Students are required to take a one-semester long course in global governance, a one-semester long course in global political economy, a one-semester long course in global politics and culture, and a two-semester long thesis seminar course to help students hone their research interests within a thesis paper.

Global Governance. Global Governance explores the challenges of governance in a global era, including the international legal order, global public goods, and the mechanisms and processes of global governance.
Global Political Economy. Global Political Economy explores the economic forces that shape globalization and its effects on different countries and their citizens, from trends in human development to global financial systems and debt crises.
Global Politics and Culture. Global Politics and Culture explores the impact of globalization on cultural diversity, including cosmopolitanism, feminism and religion in relation to secularism and “tolerance”.
M.A. Thesis Seminar I and II. M.A. Thesis Seminars are composed of a two-semester sequence that concentrates in the Fall on different research methodologies and disciplinary approaches as well as on the choice of research topic for the thesis. The Spring semester is dedicated to developing the argument and completing the thesis project.

Students choose five specialization elective courses over two semesters, with the advice of the M.A. Faculty Director David K. Park and the Academic Director Sara Brooks. They may choose from courses offered by CGT Faculty as well as from hundreds of available graduate courses across the university. The students shape their own course of study to accommodate and develop their interests. Courses must be taken at 4000-level or higher, except in cases where students can demonstrate, in conjunction with the course’s professor and the M.A. Academic Director, that the course is suitable for a graduate level education.

Students may harmonize their electives with the topic of their thesis, or split their electives between their thesis concentration, global themes, methodological work, or other areas of interest that enhance their intellectual and professional prospects.

Students must demonstrate intermediate proficiency in a language other than English equivalent to four semesters of collegiate study. Students may choose one of two options in which to confirm their language proficiency: Students whose native language is not English may meet the language requirement if they can produce evidence that shows they have completed secondary schooling (high school) or tertiary studies (bachelor’s degree) in an institution where the ordinary language of instruction is not English. They may also submit evidence of professional translation work. Students who cannot provide this evidence, whether native English-speakers or not, will need to document their competence through examination. Ordinarily this will be a Columbia language placement exam or ACTFL recognized qualifying exam. Further details are available upon admission. - See more at: http://cgt.columbia.edu/academics/ma/requirements/#sthash.UAVKiE6a.dpuf

Requirements

CV
Transcripts showing courses and grades from all post-secondary schools attended.
Statement of Academic Purpose not to exceed 1,000 words, emphasizing academic goals, anticipated program of study and expected impact on career.
Writing sample of maximum 10 pages in English, composed of one piece or a combination of up to three pieces or selections.
Three letters of recommendation from persons with direct knowledge of the applicant’s academic background and abilities. No more than one letter should be submitted from supervisors or colleagues at an applicant’s place of employment.
GRE general test scores (strongly recommended but not required).
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)/IELTS is required for 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.
Language proficiency equivalent to two years of post-secondary study of a language appropriate to the applicant’s plan of study.