The M.A. program is designed for students who seek specialized and individualized enhancement of their undergraduate education. The department offers an array of language courses at all levels in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean for the further development of language capability. Besides language instruction, the department offers a wide range of courses in modern Asian culture, with emphasis on the literature, film, and visual culture of China, Japan, and Korea. Many of these courses treat these subjects in the context of such global issues as socialism, colonialism, fascism, and modernization. In working out their individual course of study, those seeking the M.A. degree are expected to balance out the different components of the program. For those who are interested, some course work and guidance on premodern China is also available.

Language Requirements: The M.A. degree in East Asian studies requires demonstrated student acquisition of two languages other than English. As a rule, one of these languages must be Chinese, Japanese, or Korean and attainment must be at a high level of proficiency. While it is preferable for students to develop research competence in at least two East Asian languages, students are permitted to use a European language as their second choice.

Students may select one of the following two options, met by formal course work, or its approved equivalent:

Chinese: third-year level in modern Chinese; first-year level in literary Chinese or in Japanese.

Japanese: third-year level in Japanese; first-year level in Chinese or Korean.

Korean: third-year level in Korean; first-year level in Chinese or Japanese

Students are expected to be examined for language proficiency.

Degree Requirements: After successful completion of 32 points of credit in courses selected in consultation with a faculty adviser and the director of graduate studies, the student must pass a written examination prepared and read by two members of the faculty. The student must also submit a research paper on an approved special project to be read by two members of the faculty. When the paper has been accepted, and the student has successfully passed the general examination, the student is awarded the M.A. degree.

Course of Study: In the first year, the student should take two to four language courses toward fulfilling the language requirements; one course from the Seminar on East Asian Studies series; one course from the Theory and Methodology Seminars; and other courses in his or her chosen field.

During the second year of study, the student is required to fulfill the language requirements, including the requirement in a second East Asian language and/or a major European language, by either enrolling in language or nonlanguage courses offered in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. The bulk of the course work during the second year, however, should be taken in the student’s chosen field under various specialized “topics” (Chinese literature, Chinese history, Japanese literature, Japanese visual culture, Korean film, East Asian cinema, etc.). A total of four topics courses must be taken within the student’s chosen field.

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