BA/MA Options at Columbia University
In addition to Barnard's Accelerated 4+1 Pathways, Columbia University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences provides additional BA/MA options that allow Barnard students to complete their bachelor's degree at Barnard and a master's degree at Columbia in five total years.
Please read full information about BA/MA options on the Columbia GSAS website. The BA/MA option is available only to current Columbia undergraduates (Columbia College, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of General Studies, and Barnard College). Applicants apply during their junior year or during the first semester of their senior year. Applicants admitted via the BA/MA option receive permission to commence MA coursework for the program of their choice, with a promise of official admission to the MA program following the conferral of the undergraduate degree.
Differences between the BA/MA and Accelerated 4+1 Pathways
Barnard Accelerated 4+1 Pathways: bachelor's/master's pathways at the School of International and Public Affairs, Harriman Institute, Mailman School of Public Health, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and in the Quantitative Master's in Social Sciences.
- These pathways are administered jointly by Beyond Barnard and partners at Columbia University.
- Pathways have designated faculty leads at Barnard; Beyond Barnard hosts regular information sessions about the pathways; and application fees are waived by Columbia.
- Applicants typically submit their materials in junior or senior year.
- Barnard students are required, in all cases, to have a 3.5 GPA to be eligible. Additional requirements apply to specific Accelerated 4+1 Pathways.
- Beyond Barnard hosts cohort-wide cross-disciplinary social events to bring together newly-admitted Barnard students, and students graduating from the Pathways.
Full information about all Accelerated 4+1 Pathways is available here. Questions can be directed to beyondbarnard@youqingbao.com.
- These degree options are administered by Columbia University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- The list of participating programs, along with admissions policies and processes, are listed on the Columbia University GSAS website.