The MA (Master of Arts) program is offered through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences on the uptown campus of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. The in-person program may be attended full-time over three terms or part-time up to four years. It consists of a minimum of ten courses (30 points of coursework), a research project resulting in a master’s essay, and two residence units (a tuition charging category unique to Columbia). Applicants deciding between the PhD and MA programs may elect secondary consideration of the MA on their PhD application, due in early December.