Masters Degree in Asian Cultures and Languages
General Information
Students admitted to the Masters program in Asian Cultures and Languages are interested in obtaining a PhD in Asian Cultures and Languages in order to pursue a career in research or university teaching. We do not offer a terminal Masters degree in Asian Cultures and Languages. Students may be admitted to the Masters in Asian Cultures and Languages with a Bachelors degree or with a Masters degree in another field.
Specialization in East Asia: Students who specialize in East Asia normally have a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean language and literature, or an area studies degree with a concentration in East Asia. Students must have completed at least two years of college-level Chinese, Japanese, or Korean with a grade of at least B in each course, or must demonstrate equivalent competence, before admission to the program.
Specialization in South Asia: Students who specialize in South Asia normally have a Bachelor of Arts in area studies or in a traditional discipline, with a concentration in South Asia. Most applicants have knowledge of a South Asian language before applying for admission. Students without this knowledge but whose applications are otherwise outstanding may also be accepted.
Students may complete first- and second-year college level language coursework after they are admitted, but these courses will not be counted toward the master's degree.
Degree Program
The following information is effective as of the 2011-2013 Graduate Catalog. Every effort has been made to insure the accuracy of this information. In the event of discrepancy between this information and the Graduate Catalog, the Graduate Catalog takes precedence.
The 30-hour curriculum includes:
- 9 hours in the student's area of specialization (e.g., Japanese culture, Indian religion, Chinese literature, etc.)
- 3 hours graduate research methods of the appropriate discipline (e.g., historiography, literary theory or criticism, etc.)
- 3 hours related to the general historical or cultural background of Asia in the major area
- 6 hours in advanced language courses (third-year level or beyond)
- 6 hours of electives
- 3 hours of Masters Report
Students who demonstrate third-year language proficiency before admission to the program may have the language course requirement waived, pending approval of the Graduate Adviser. Please note that the required subject matter will be waived but not the hours.
Up to six hours of upper-division undergraduate courses may be counted toward the Masters degree.
Successful completion of the Masters Report, which shows the student's ability to conduct independent research, is required for admission to the PhD phase of the Asian Cultures and Languages program.
