With a rich and diverse linguistic, cultural, and political history, South Asia has moved to the center of the global stage due to its dramatic economic growth and strategic importance. The MA program in South Asian Studies provides an opportunity to engage with critical issues in a region that includes Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in an academic environment that includes many of the most distinguished South Asia Studies faculty in the US.Students can deepen their knowledge of the cultural, economic, political, and social processes shaping the region. Ideal for both professionals seeking regional knowledge and students intending to pursue a PhD in the future, the South Asia Studies program prepares graduates for careers in government, public policy, non-profit organizations, journalism, education, the private sector, and academia.The curriculum combines integrative core seminars with the opportunity to take South Asia Studies courses in a variety of disciplines. Core courses address key issues and approaches to South Asia studies. The program includes training in research methodologies and the critical use of scholarship as a foundation for developing the MA thesis. To complement the core curriculum, students choose from a variety of courses offered regularly by South Asia Studies faculty in anthropology, art history, history, international affairs, literature, politics, and religion. Although there is no language requirement for the MA, Columbia offers elementary through advanced levels of training in Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Tibetan, and Urdu.