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Explore Two Millennia of Eastern Thought

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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.

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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.

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Annapolis Library Books Concept

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
Lab Classroom in Santa Fe

$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
Santa Fe Graduate Institute Seminar

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
Tyler Mazur

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.”

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Santa Fe Student Reading Dorm Room

80%

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

santa fe ski snowboard

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
Summer Academy Students Washington DC

30

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

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Annapolis Downtown St Johns 2016

2

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

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Croquet Team 2019

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
Shakespeare Books Concept

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.

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Annapolis Library Books Concept

#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.

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Proposition 12 Math Art

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.

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Graduate Institute News

VIEW ALL Graduate Institute
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March 19, 2025

'What a St. John’s Education Taught Me’: Reflections from an Australian Graduate Institute Alum

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January 30, 2025

From East to West: Micah Beck (A09, EC2026) Embraces Global Classical Traditions in Annapolis and Santa Fe

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January 10, 2025

Teaching Like an Eternal Student: How the St. John’s Graduate Institute Taught Professor David O’Hara (SFGI00) to Approach Life as an Open-Ended Seminar

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December 17, 2024

St. John’s College and Indian Creek School Partner to Provide Teaching Fellowship for Graduate Students

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October 10, 2024

Graduate Institute Alum Brings St. John’s-Style Pedagogy to South Korea’s Incheon National University

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August 26, 2024

From Dōgen to the Dhvanyāloka, Eastern Philosophy Leads Stephanie Spong (EC24) Back to the Metaphorical Forest

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August 16, 2024

St. John’s College is a Family Affair for Father-Daughter Duo Gordon and Genevieve Fowler

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July 11, 2024

From Adam Smith to the 'Mahābhārata,' Dimple Kaul (AGI21, EC25) Is on a Mission to Read the World's Greatest Philosophers

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June 10, 2024

St. John’s College Graduate Institute Announces Summer Lecture Series

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May 23, 2024

St. John’s Celebrates Class of 2024 in Annapolis and Santa Fe

St. John's College

Annapolis

60 College Avenue

Annapolis, MD 21401

410-263-2371

Santa Fe

1160 Camino de Cruz Blanca

Santa Fe, NM 87505

505-984-6000

To send gifts to the college via mail:
St. John’s College, PO Box 715905, Philadelphia, PA 19171-5905

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About
History
Traditions
Rankings & Accolades
Freshman Class Profile
Leadership
Board of Visitors & Governors
Strategic Vision & Planning
Policies & Procedures
Academics
Undergraduate Program
Graduate Institute
The Great Books Reading List
Our Faculty
Libraries & Archives
Summer Academy
Lifelong Learning
Academic Calendars
Statement of the Program
After St. John’s
Career Pathways
Internships
Grad School Partnerships
Alumni Bios
Annapolis Career Office
Santa Fe Career Office
Books by Johnnies
Alumni Engagement
Annapolis
Annapolis Campus Life
Historic Annapolis & DC
Arts & Mitchell Art Museum
Athletics & the Chesapeake
Student Groups
Housing & Dining
Health & Wellness
Sustainability
Belonging
The Annapolis Cup
Offices & Services
Santa Fe
Santa Fe Campus Life
Best of the Southwest
The Great Outdoors
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Health & Wellness
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