Asian studies 2015 - Help choosing an MA!

[workingjourno]

Hello,

 

I'm very confused and could really use some help.

 

I'm a 25-year-old journalist based in India, and have been covering healthcare for a major international news agency for the past 3 years. I've only studied in India so far -- graduation in mass media with a specialization in journalism, and a post-graduate diploma in new media journalism. I want to eventually work as a journalist with an expertise in Asia, but I really strongly feel the need to study about the history, politics, economics and development-related issues of other countries in Asia, apart from India. Any course suggestions please? I see a LOT of people interested in interdisciplinary studies in Asia are applying for East Asia focused courses. Are there any masters programs that would focus on South Asia as well as East Asia? 

 

I also considered the Columbia MESAAS program but frankly, I'm not even sure what my chances of getting into any of these courses are, because I don't have any history or politics background. I was thinking about MESAAS because that would give me a chance to study about the Middle East -- another region I'm very interested in, because of a more general interest in the Islamic world. 

 

Languages: I'm fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi and I know beginner-level Arabic and Persian.

 

 

At this point, any suggestions you may have would be very very helpful.

 

Thanks!