Columbia University’s M.A. in History and Literature

Columbia University’s M.A. in History and Literature

Columbia University’s M.A. in History and Literature is an innovative new program that explores the interconnections and intersections between history and literature, both as categories of cultural production and as scholarly disciplines.

In the past thirty years the boundaries between history and literature have become usefully blurred, as literary scholars pursued the historical aspects of their texts and historians recognized the literary aspects of their narratives. The M.A. in History and Literature capitalizes on this propitious intellectual moment, enabling its students to address new methodologicalhorizons that combine close reading of texts with expansive attention to historicalcontext.

Students are taught by eminent scholars in history and literature from Columbia University, and also choose from a wide variety of courses at France’s two top-tier graduate schools in the humanities and the social sciences: the Ecole normale supérieure and the Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales.

We expect many students to have an interest in French history and literature, but we also welcome students who wish to work on materials in other languages. M.A. courses are taught in English or French. Written work is normally done in English.

The program is completed in a calendar year during consecutive fall, spring and summer terms. Classes are held in the fall and spring semesters; the latter ends at the end of June. July and August are reserved for fieldwork and completion of the Master’s essay.

Partial fellowhsips are available to highly qualified applicants.

Application deadline: April 15

Deadline for fellowship applications: February 15