M.A. Program
The MEI hosts the Islamic Studies MA (ISMA).
This program brings together a select cohort of masters students to delve into the intellectual traditions of Islam and the diverse regional histories, cultures, and social formations of Muslim societies around the world.
Past student theses can be found here.
Application Deadline: February 6, 2025
“The MA Program in Islamic Studies is a remarkable academic experience. It provides expansive breadth in terms of potential areas a student can focus on and incredible depth in particular topics of interest, and is an excellent complement to a variety of career paths, including in the academic, government, and private sectors. The community around the program, including events, workshop series, and language circles, provides a terrific extracurricular experience.”
Islamic Studies M.A. Program
The Islamic Studies MA Program (ISMA) is an interdisciplinary program focusing on the critical academic study of the Islamic religious and intellectual tradition and the diverse regional histories, cultures, and social formations of Muslim communities around the world. The program offers instruction in the classic areas of religion, law, literature, and history and also in the inquiries of social science, feminist and gender research, media and film, and colonial and postcolonial studies.
After taking the core seminar that provides a rigorous foundation in key concepts, theories, and debates as well as training in comparative studies, students tailor their individual programs of study, with mentoring from the program advisor, to gain breadth in the field of Islamic studies and depth in their special areas of interest. Students choose from a wide selection of both general and specialized courses to build a unique coherent program of study.
Columbia’s world-class faculty teach relevant courses across a range of academic departments in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and in a number of other units such as Union Theological Seminary and the School of International and Public Affairs. Based on this exposure to critical scholarly approaches, developing expertise in particular subjects, and training in research methodologies, students are prepared to write a thesis on a topic within their chosen area of concentration, under the supervision of a faculty advisor.
This program is flexible. It is designed both for individuals considering entering a Ph.D. program who wish first to explore different disciplines, gain a good foundation, or study particular subjects or regions and languages and equally for those intending to pursue other careers in which graduate training in Islamic Studies would be an excellent qualification and resource.
2025 APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 6, 2025
BA/MA Option
Undergraduate students enrolled at Columbia College, SEAS, Barnard, and the School of General Studies may apply for early admission to the MA program in Islamic Studies and begin their MA coursework in their senior year while completing their undergraduate degree.
We encourage applications from students in a variety of majors who have excellent academic records. For information on applying to the BA/MA Option, see the GSAS website.
