Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Asian Languages and Civilizations (Chinese) is a research-intensive, interdisciplinary program that focuses on the traditional and modern languages and cultures of China. This program offers a comprehensive education in Chinese language, literature, linguistics, and culture, preparing students for academic, business, and international careers.

Program Description

The program provides disciplinary training that allows students to achieve in-depth command of spoken, aural, and oral Mandarin Chinese, as well as written literary Chinese. The program has two areas of focus: culture (literature, linguistics, religion) and pedagogy. The culture focus provides students with a deep understanding of Chinese culture, while the pedagogy focus prepares students to teach modern Chinese in K-16 environments.

Degree Requirements

• 30 credit hours and a thesis, or
• 30 credit hours including the required applied project course (CHI 593)
• Required Core (3 credit hours): CHI 501 or JPN 501 Proseminar: East Asian Humanities (3)
• Concentration (3 credit hours): SLC 596 Second Language Methodologies (3)
• Electives (15 credit hours)
• Other Requirements (3 credit hours): CHI 598 Topic: History of the Chinese Language (3)
• Culminating Experience (6 credit hours): CHI 593 Applied Project (6) or CHI 599 Thesis (6)

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements
• Bachelor's or master's degree in Chinese or a related field from a regionally accredited institution
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program
• Official transcripts
• Personal statement
• Writing sample
• Resume
• Three letters of recommendation
• Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

Tuition information can be found on the university's website.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: 01/15 (final deadline)

Program Learning Outcomes

• Critically assess the current issues and directions of Chinese and East Asian studies
• Analyze Chinese linguistically (linguistics track) or through literary, historical, and cultural texts (culture track)
• Present the findings of their independent research with the appropriately cited evidential data to substantiate those findings

Career Opportunities

• Foreign service
• Historians
• Interpreters and translators
• Lawyers
• Reporters and correspondents
• Social and community service managers
• State department employees
• Supply chain managers
• Teachers and professors of area, ethnic and cultural studies
• Teachers and professors of foreign language and literature

Additional Information

The program is designed to prepare students for academic, business, and international careers. Students can choose from two areas of focus: culture and pedagogy. The program provides a comprehensive education in Chinese language, literature, linguistics, and culture.