MA Program (China/Japan Area MA and General MA)

Preparation:

Ideally, students applying for the master’s program in East Asian Studies with a China/Japan-area specialization will meet the following criteria: 1) they will have completed at least three years of Chinese/Japanese language study, or will have attained an equivalent level of proficiency; 2) they will have adequate proficiency in English to pursue a Master’s degree; and 3) they will have done previous course work in Chinese/Japanese studies. Students with language deficiencies may be admitted, but they must make up for them while in the program. Any course work to satisfy deficiencies will not count toward the degree.

Requirements:

The department requires 33 units for the MA degree and that a minimum of 25 units be completed in the East Asian Studies Department. No more than 3 units of independent studies may be counted. All the student’s required course work must be taken at the 500 level or above; at least one-half must be taken in courses assigning “A”, “B”, and “C” grades. Graduate credit is not allowed for pass/fail or audited courses.

Students must fulfill the following requirements:

• 6 units of the three-part EAS 595a Graduate Colloquium, to be taken in the first two semesters if possible.
• One introductory course in three of the following five fields (3 units per course adding to 9 units total): history, linguistics, literature, thought/religion, and anthropology. One of these courses must be in the student’s field of study. (It may be possible to apply courses taken previously at the undergraduate level towards meeting this breadth requirement, although this will not reduce the total number of units needed to complete the M.A. degree. Students who wish to do so should submit to the department a petition explaining their request.)
• 6 units of advanced-level courses within the department which are relevant to the student’s field of study. These courses must enhance the programmatic integrity of the course of study.
• 3 units of courses either from other departments or within the department which are relevant to the student’s course of study.
• 3 units of CHN/JPN 910 (Thesis) for students who are writing a thesis.
• Language requirements: 6 units of fourth year Chinese/Japanese, or one semester of classical Chinese/ Japanese and a related seminar (if students have equivalent Chinese/Japanese language ability).

Students writing a thesis should include the use of relevant materials in Chinese/Japanese. (These materials are to be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.) Theses should be based on original research and should conform to departmental guidelines concerning scope and quality. Near the end of their program there is an oral final examination which focuses on, but is not limited to, the student’s thesis. The student will be asked to explain and defend the thesis. Committee members may also ask the student to explain the relationship between the thesis project and other course materials covered during study for the Master’s degree.

Students in the linguistics track of Chinese/Japanese may elect to take an examination in lieu of writing a thesis. In that case, they may take 3 units of CHN 900/JPN 599 in their 3rd or 4th semester for examination preparation. Based on the students’ performance on the written part of the examination, an oral examination may be waived.

Students in the general M.A. track may choose to submit in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master’s degree either a thesis or a departmental paper. A departmental paper will only need to be signed off by the student’s major advisor, and the student will take a 3-unit elective course, research (900), or independent study (599) in consultation with the student’s major advisor.  Students whose area of study is linguistics also have the option of taking an exam in lieu of writing a thesis or departmental paper.   

Students must develop their programs of study in consultation with the China/Japan area Graduate Director and other advisors in their field(s). It is important that students get approval for their programs and for the specific courses they wish to take. They should also study Graduate College requirements carefully. It is the student who is ultimately responsible for meeting such obligations in order to complete the graduate program.