Asian and Asian American Studies, MA

Location(s): Main Campus

About the Program

The Master of Arts program in Asian and Asian American Studies encourages approaches that are interdisciplinary, comparative and/or global in methodology and theory. This includes work that examines the intersection of social, economic, political, historical, intellectual, linguistic, psychological and other factors in the study of Asia and Asian diasporas, both regionally and across national and other boundaries. Masters students choose to specialize in one of our six fields of study: Chinese studies, Japanese studies, Korean studies, Asian American and Diaspora studies, Global Asia studies, and South Asia studies.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the MA program are required to submit all undergraduate and graduate transcripts, a writing sample, three letters of recommendation, a one-page statement of purpose and Graduate Record Examination scores.

For international students, proof of English proficiency is required. A minimum score of 80 on the internet-based version, 213 on the computerized version or 550 on the paper version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for admission. The department will accept IELTS scores in lieu of TOEFL scores, with a minimum requirement of 6.5 with no band below 5.0. The department will also accept PTE Academic scores in lieu of TOEFL scores, with a minimum requirement of 53. If a student received a college or university degree from an institution in the United States, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or some Canadian provinces, they are not required to submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic scores. Immigration and financial documentation are also required.

Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the MA in Asian and Asian American Studies must take a minimum of eight graduate courses (32 credits), as follows:

Four courses in the student’s chosen field
Four elective courses approved by the student’s advisor in consultation with the graduate committee

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better is required for graduation. The program typically requires four full-time semesters for completion.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students choosing the Chinese, Japanese, or Korean studies fields must reach proficiency in the relevant language (equivalent to the completion of the third-year level of study) by the time of completion of the MA. Students admitted to one of these fields will already have had at least two, and in many cases, three or even four years of undergraduate language training.

The Asian American and Diaspora studies and Global Asia studies fields have no explicit language requirement; however, if a particular language is necessary for the student’s course of study, they are expected to develop competence in it by the time of completion of the MA. Proficiency levels can be satisfied in one of two ways: transcript with six or eight semesters of college-level study of a single language with a grade of B or better, or a satisfactory completion of a proficiency examination administered by the department faculty or by departmental-approved specialists elsewhere.

It is expected that students enrolled in the South Asian studies field will have second-year level proficiency in an Asian language relevant to their course of study by the completion of the MA. This requirement can be waived in some cases, based on the student’s particular course of study.

Choosing Advisors

All incoming students are assigned a temporary advisor upon enrolling in the MA program. By the end of their first year, students select an advisor who will serve as the supervisor for their thesis or field examination. Thesis and field exam committees consist of the advisor and at least two other faculty members.

Thesis or Examination Requirement

All graduate students are required to complete a thesis or sit for a written examination at the end of their course of study. Both the thesis and written examination require an oral defense.

Additional Information About the Program

For more information on the Asian and Asian American Studies MA program, visit the DAAAS website. To apply to the Asian and Asian American Studies MA program, please visit the University Admissions website.