Master in American/United States Studies/Civilization (Master's)

The application deadline for the Sep 2026 intake is Feb 4, 2027, and the tuition fee is 53,576 USD per year.

This programme prepares students for research and academic work in American cultural and historical studies. It emphasizes interdisciplinary inquiry through courses across Columbia University. Students build a customized curriculum based on their scholarly interests. The programme concludes with a final research project guided by a faculty advisor.

Focus areas include American literature, American history, comics studies, international relations, disability studies, digital humanities.

The programme requires a year-long foundational course and allows students to design an interdisciplinary curriculum. It culminates in a final research project completed under faculty supervision.

Graduates pursue careers in academic research, cultural institutions, and policy-related fields involving American society and history.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and submit transcripts, a statement of academic purpose, a personal statement, two academic letters of recommendation, and a 10 to 15-page writing sample. Non-native English speakers must provide TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores.

Full-time or part-time; on-campus; typical duration not specified. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 4% of applicants.

Columbia’s work spans research, teaching, public engagement, and professional preparation. Current university activity includes engineering research on a chip that mimics how cancer spreads, work connected to fusion energy, and a medical center alongside libraries, arts, and athletics. Careers, summer courses, academic calendars, and campus access are part of the university’s public-facing academic life.

The university’s story reaches from the American Revolution to space exploration. Telescopes served the revolutionary cause, while later Columbians worked with seismometers on the moon and satellites in orbit. That history is tied to a continuing emphasis on asking questions, following evidence, and searching for answers across fields.

Campus life is closely connected to New York City. Columbia presents its Morningside campus as a place to learn about university life and the city around it, with opportunities to explore campus access, libraries, arts, athletics, and the Medical Center. The university also works with government and community partners through its Office of Government and Community Affairs. Students from abroad should expect a campus experience shaped by both Columbia’s academic resources and its location in New York City.