Program Overview

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Asian Languages and Cultures, MA

The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures offers a new interdisciplinary MA and PhD program in Asian Languages and Cultures. Students may take advantage of the many opportunities within the department and on campus to do in-depth research on Asia from multiple disciplinary perspectives and across the traditional area studies divisions of East, South, and Southeast Asia.

Admissions

• The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below.
• Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School.
• Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s).
• Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
• Graduate Admissions Requirements:
  • Fall Deadline: January 10
  • Spring Deadline: This program does not admit in the spring.
  • Summer Deadline: This program does not admit in the summer.
  • GRE (Graduate Record Examinations): Not Required.
  • English Proficiency Test: Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy.
  • Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT): n/a
  • Letters of Recommendation Required: 3

Funding

Graduate School Resources

The Bursars Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School.

Graduate Student Costs

For tuition and living costs, please view the Cost of Attendance page. International applicants recommended for admission to the Graduate School are required to show sufficient funds to attend the University during the course of studies (tuition, food and housing, incidentals and health insurance) to be officially accepted by the Graduate School.

Department Resources

The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures offers financial assistance in the forms of fellowships, teaching assistantships (TAships), and project assistantships (PAships). Please make note of the deadline of January 10 for financial assistance consideration. All necessary materials including test scores must be submitted by the deadline.

Requirements

Mode of Instruction

• Mode of Instruction: Face to Face
• Mode of Instruction Definitions:
  • Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
  • Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UWMadison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
  • Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
  • Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
  • Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

Curricular Requirements

• University General Education Requirements:
  • Minimum Credit Requirement: 30 credits
  • Minimum Residence Credit Requirement: 16 credits
  • Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement: 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework.
  • Overall Graduate GPA Requirement: 3.00 GPA required.
  • Other Grade Requirements: Students must earn a B or above in all coursework (300 or above, not including research credits) taken as a graduate student.
  • Assessments and Examinations: There are three possible exit requirements for the MA. One of the following three options will be chosen in consultation with the advisors.
    • Students should select two substantially revised and/or expanded research papers completed during their graduate study to submit to their committee (the advisors and one additional faculty member). In addition to the written papers, an oral presentation of these papers to the committee is required.
    • An approximately 50-page MA thesis. In addition to the written thesis, an oral presentation of the thesis to the committee is required. This option is usually appropriate for a student who wishes to continue in the PhD program.
    • An option chosen in consultation with the advisors.
  • Language Requirements: Completion of the third year of study of an Asian language or the second year of study of two Asian languages, or the equivalent level of proficiency as established by examination by department faculty and staff. Additional language study may be required by the advisors.

Required Courses

• Course List:
  • Asia and Related Graduate Coursework: 21 credits
  • In consultation with advisor, students must complete at least 21 credits in Asia-related graduate courses in the department or elsewhere in campus.
  • Additional Coursework: 9 credits
  • In consultation with advisor, students must complete at least 9 credits of additional coursework to meet the 30-credit minimum.
  • Language Coursework:
    • Students may complete coursework in language study at the third-year level and beyond. A maximum of 12 credits may fulfill the minimum credit requirement.
  • Total Credits: 30

Policies

Prior Coursework

• Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions: With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 9 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a masters degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
• Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison: Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
• Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers): Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
• Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UWMadison: With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 9 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UWMadison University Special student. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a masters degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Probation

• If a students average falls below 3.0 in a given semester, the department will decide whether the student may continue on probation. A specific plan will be arranged with dates and deadlines in place in regard to removal of probationary status.

Advisor / Committee

• Starting fall 2018, all students are required to have two co-advisors, identified at the time of admissions. During the course of study, students meet regularly with their advisors to ensure satisfactory progress.

Credits Per Term Allowed

• 15 credit maximum. Refer to the Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests policy.

Time Limits

• The maximum time for completing all MA requirements and passing the MA examination is three years.
• Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

• These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
  • Bias or Hate Reporting
  • Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
  • Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
  • Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
  • Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
  • Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
  • Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
  • Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
  • Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
  • Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
  • Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
  • Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

Professional Development

Graduate School Resources

• Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.

Program Resources

• Throughout the academic year, professional development trainings, workshops, and graduate student-organized activities take place. The Director of Graduate Studies is eager to hear from students about what interests they have for such events.

Graduate School Office of Professional Development

• The Graduate School Office of Professional Development (OPD) coordinates, develops, and promotes learning opportunities to foster the academic, professional, and life skills of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers and scholars.
• Professional development topics include Individual Development Plans, communication, mentoring, grant writing, dissertation writing, career exploration, job search strategies, and more.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the primary field(s) of study in a historical, comparative, and global context.
2. Discuss the major theories, research methods, and approaches to inquiry in the selected area of the student's focus.
3. Integrate theories into practice.
4. Articulate and communicate knowledge in specialized field(s).
5. Recognize and apply principles of professional and ethical conduct.