00:30 of myself and my family, uh, were important, not just how I was acting sort of outside in school. I definitely think that shaped me
00:54 and I see really big contrast between the two and it's something that I always try to resolve within myself,
01:00 but also resolve in how does global inequality arise? Why do cultures differ so much from each other, and how can we bring people closer to each other?
01:15 CGT feels different from other academic spaces I've been a part of because they sort of let you choose your own adventure
01:20 and decide how you want it to handle the degree. I really loved that, but also loved having a home base.
01:25 I love seeing all of my classmates like once a week in MA seminar, but still doing my own thing
01:29 and my different electives. So it was really nice to explore and figure out what I personally wanted to do at Columbia while also knowing I had a cohort
01:36 supporting me and faculty and staff supporting me as well. I think what surprised me most about the CGT curriculum is
01:48 how invited we were to learn from each other as resources. I think that was the best part of the program by far.
01:54 I think people and their lived experiences can teach you so much more than any research or textbook can, and I loved that, you know,
02:01 it wasn't just allowed, it was encouraged. I definitely think the faculty support at CGT was amazing knowing there was someone there every step of the way,
02:08 knowing I could email whenever any questions I had and I never was made to feel silly about the questions
02:13 or my concerns or my ideas. Even just being supported every step of the way. It was great. I think a class that really set the tone for me, uh,
02:21 was one of our first seminars where Adam twos explained how to poly crisis at working and he really emphasized that one of the skills you need
02:30 to have if you're gonna be studying global thought is to lean into the uncertainty but still dare to step forward and take action.
02:38 And I think that really changed the way that I, uh, like took all classes and like positioned myself within the classroom.
02:45 After that. If I could sum up my CGT experience in one word, um, I would use the word tapestry.
02:57 It kind of felt like we were all individual, uh, elements in one beautiful artwork, art piece of tapestry of different ideas, different ideologies,
03:07 different backgrounds, different people. There's so many interesting courses that Columbia offers, uh, and CGT offers you the opportunity to really explore that.
03:16 And I was really drawn into the international perspectives within the classroom. We’re 36 students from 24 different countries, and I feel like that also adds so much to a class discussion
03:26 that there's people that have actually lived in so many different places in the world. The most important thing I learned in the
03:37 program was just to listen. Um, a lot of amazing discussions were had and a very substantial thoughts were formed
03:43 because of people's, uh, willingness just to listen, uh, and learn from a lot of people from all different contexts
03:48 and all different corners of the globe. I think the ability to listen and learn from my classmates really helped me build up
03:53 communities from the ground up. Um, recognizing that every voice sort of has a power, every story is important and that that all needs
4:00 to be incorporated into the solution.
Welcome
The MA in Global Thought is an interdisciplinary degree that challenges students to explore new concepts and questions to explain the complexities of our interconnected and changing world. This distinctive MA includes more than thirty renowned scholars drawn from departments and schools across Columbia University.
Global Thought students learn to ask critical questions rather than offer prescriptive answers to global problems. The curriculum is designed to respond directly to the urgency of our global moment and to students’ most pressing interests and concerns. Through exposure to faculty and experts from a wide range of experiences and disciplinary backgrounds, and by learning from each other, students are encouraged to embrace curiosity, nuance, and open-ended thought. This unique degree creates a space where students have permission to think capaciously while also developing expertise in their area of interest. Students in the Global Thought cohort are drawn from all over the world and from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds in the social sciences, humanities, and STEM fields. Students will come away from their year at CGT with a transformed understanding of the world and their place in it.
The MA in Global Thought prepares students to tackle complex global issues in the classroom, future workplaces, and the public sphere.
Check back in the fall to sign up for information sessions, and in the meantime, read more below about courses, degree requirements, and how to apply.
What is Global Thought?
Global Thought is an open-ended approach to exploring questions that demand perspectives across disciplines and borders. It challenges us to think differently, think globally, and think creatively in order to understand and address the complexities of our interconnected and ever-changing world.
Students come to Global Thought from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds.
The Degree
The intensive 30-credit program provides rigorous academic training through the Global Thought Core, as well as a wide range of electives tailored to students’ individual intellectual and professional interests. The Core includes a two-semester MA seminar and three interdisciplinary courses that provide a foundational knowledge of global governance, political economy, and culture. In the MA seminar, students become familiar with diverse methods of academic inquiry, are introduced to the cutting edge research produced by Columbia faculty and outside experts, and conduct their own original research projects culminating in an article-length essay. Students also take electives from across Columbia’s many graduate schools. Throughout their time at CGT, they will receive unparalleled personalized advising and support from staff and faculty, who are invested in creating an enduring community of students and alumni. Partial scholarships are available based on need and merit.
The Global Thought program is customizable, interdisciplinary, and globally diverse.
"The MA in Global Thought program is the epitome of interdisciplinary learning and provides students with the ability and platform to engage with diverse courses. We had the opportunity to take classes from all of Columbia’s schools and interact with and benefit from the wide variety of resources the university has to offer."
—Shagun Sethi, Class of 2020
Global Columbia
Located in the diverse and vibrant neighborhood of Morningside Heights in New York City, Columbia has led the effort to reimagine the university for a globalizing world. The Committee on Global Thought, established in 2006, brings together scholars to seek new analytic categories and concepts to comprehend global processes, crises, and approaches to the world’s multidimensional challenges. Students benefit from access to CGT faculty as well as Columbia’s resources in its academic and professional schools, expansive library collections, a full calendar of campus events, and intellectual and cultural opportunities in New York.
A Career Without Borders
Graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers in government, civil society, academia, and the private sector. It is neither a professional nor a vocational degree but an intellectual foundation for transnational and interdisciplinary approaches to thinking about and working effectively in the world.
To learn more about professional development opportunities on the Career Support page.
