M.A. Programs
MEI co-hosts two masters degree programs. The Islamic Studies MA (ISMA), and the Dual Degree MA Program with Aga Khan University - Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations.
Each of these programs 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: 2025 Application deadline TBA
“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 TBA
Dual Degree M.A. Program
A unique partnership of two leading universities, the dual program unites a cutting-edge scholarly community of over one hundred specialized faculty members and language instructors who provide trans-disciplinary and critical approaches to the study of the religious and intellectual traditions of Islam and the diverse regional histories, cultures, and social formations of Muslim societies around the world.
Students will spend the first part of the program at Columbia University in New York, and part two at AKU-ISMC in London, and receive degrees from both institutions. At the heart of the dual degree program is a thesis, an original scholarly work based on research and analysis. Immersed in the vibrant intellectual communities of two of the world’s great cities, graduates will be prepared for a wide range of careers in fields such as government, journalism, public policy, international development, and academia.
Students are admitted and their progress monitored by committees composed of faculty members from both universities. Work on the MA thesis commences at Columbia with exposure to theory and method in a variety of fields and disciplines, followed by instruction in specialized seminars selected by the student with the guidance of the program advisor. This leads to the preliminary formulation of the thesis topic and the identification of potential sources and bibliography. In London, the student deepens the masters project with exposure to a further range of faculty interests, course offerings, and language training, and receives guidance in the later stages the formulation and drafting of the thesis.
2025 APPLICATION DEADLINE TBA
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.
They may also apply for the Dual Master’s Degree in Islamic Studies and Muslim Cultures between Columbia University and Aga Khan University in London, UK. Click here for more information on the Dual Degree program.
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.
APPLICATIONS DUE APRIL 22, 2024
