Program Overview

---

Program Overview

The Asian Languages and Civilizations (Japanese) Master of Arts program at Arizona State University is designed to provide students with advanced training in Japanese language and culture. This program allows students to pursue their interests in Japanese history, literature, and culture through in-depth study and original research.

Program Description

The program is offered by the School of International Letters and Cultures and leads to a Master of Arts degree in Asian Languages and Civilizations with a concentration in Japanese. The training equips students with the skills to do original research in primary sources and with the critical and methodological background to understand their chosen fields.

Areas of Study

Areas of particular faculty strength include:

• Early modern and modern literature
• Film, animation, and popular culture
• Translation studies
• Modern history
• Japan's warrior cultures
• Transnational studies, especially Sino-Japanese literary and cultural relations and kanshibun genres

Degree Requirements

The program requires 30 credit hours and a thesis, or 30 credit hours including the required applied project course (JPN 593). The required core includes:

• CHI 501 or JPN 501 Proseminar: East Asian Humanities (3 credit hours)
• JPN 586 History of Japanology (3 credit hours)
• Electives (18 credit hours)
• Culminating Experience (6 credit hours): JPN 593 Applied Project or JPN 599 Thesis

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. They must have:

• Earned a bachelor's or master's degree in Japanese or a related field from a regionally accredited institution
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00= "A") in an applicable master's degree program
• Submitted:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Personal statement
  • Resume
  • Writing sample
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

The application deadline for the Fall session is January 15 for in-person attendance.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Create a comprehensive literature review of both English and Japanese-language scholarship on a specific topic
• Translate accurately from both modern and classical Japanese-language primary sources relevant to their chosen research program
• Produce an original thesis project following the protocol for humanities research

Career Opportunities

Professionals with this degree can confidently move into academic, business, and international fields. Career examples include:

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

Additional Information

The program is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and is located in Tempe. It is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension. Students should see the School of International Letters and Cultures website for more information.