Explore Two Millennia of Eastern Thought

Two millennia of Eastern thought. One year of deep study. In the Master of Arts in Eastern Classics program, students probe the great works that are central to the philosophical, literary, and religious traditions of China, India, and Japan. Through close reading and spirited discussion, students and faculty alike examine each text’s most vital questions—questions that are fundamental to Eastern thought, Asian studies, and human nature.

Students have the option of studying on campus in Santa Fe, NM or online through our low-residency program. You have the opportunity to experience a deeply personal education rooted in the St. John’s tradition of great books and thoughtful exploration alongside your fellow students and our experienced faculty from anywhere in the world.

This one-year master’s degree is a deep dive into three important Asian cultures, and also traces the movement of Buddhism across geographic regions and across millennia. From Confucius to the Bhagavad Gita to The Tale of the Heike, the Eastern Classics curriculum is wide and varied in scope and includes students selecting intensive language tutorials in either Sanskrit or Classical Chinese.

Classes meet in the late afternoon and evenings to accommodate work and family schedules.

To learn more, contact Graduate Admissions or fill out the form on this page.

St. John's By the Numbers

Santa Fe Students Seminar Classroom 2016 0035

1

Our one major will take you anywhere. Credits are equivalent to a double major in philosophy and the history of math and science; and a double minor in literature and the classics.

Learn more about the curriculum

Santa Fe Classroom Discussion Above Wide 2016 0736

7:1

The low student-to-faculty ratio of 7:1 contributes to our Number 8 ranking for “Best Classroom Experience” by the Princeton Review.

See more rankings and ratings

200+

Johnnies’ chronological study of more than 200 great books and scientific experiments, which span 3000 years, is often considered the most rigorous education in America.

The St. John’s College Reading List

$35k

St. John’s undergraduate tuition of $35,000 is among the most affordable of top-ranked liberal arts colleges in the country.

Learn about the St. John’s Financial Model

2

The Graduate Institute offers two master’s degrees: one in Liberal Arts and one in the Eastern Classics of Asia.

Learn more about Graduate Institute

50%

Half of all Johnnies do at least one internship, many of which are fully-funded through the Hodson and Ariel internship programs.

Santa Fe Tutor Students Classroom Discussion

#5

The Princeton Review ranks St. John’s as fifth best in the country for top professors. Of course, at St. John’s we call them “tutors.”

Check out our rankings

80%

Most Johnnies live on campus in Annapolis or Santa Fe, including all freshmen and sophomores.

7,000

Santa Fe sits at a rarified 7,000 feet with access to 478 miles of hiking and biking trails. 79 ski trails are 15 miles uphill from campus.

Join the outdoor adventure

30

The Annapolis campus is just 30 minutes from Washington, D.C., making it one of the best colleges for politically engaged students.

Read about subjects in politics

2

St. John’s has two campuses in two state capitals: Santa Fe, New Mexico and Annapolis, Maryland.

Visit our beautiful campuses

3-2

Johnnies hold the national collegiate croquet championship title and last year beat the US Naval Academy 3-2 at the world-famous Annapolis Cup.

Explore St. John’s Traditions

1696

Johnnies have been reading great books since 1696 (when we were called “King William School”), making St. John’s the third oldest college in the United States.

Learn more about our history

#1

Ranked as the college sending the highest number of students to PhD programs in the humanities, St. John’s sends students to pursue advanced degrees and directly into dozens of fascinating careers.

Top 4%

St. John’s is in the top 4% for the number of students receiving PhDs in science and engineering. The curriculum includes four years of advanced mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology.

Read more about the sciences at St. John’s