Program Overview

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East Asian Studies (MA)

Overview

The Master of Arts program in East Asian Studies is designed for students seeking 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.

Program Description

The program is designed to balance out the different components of language instruction and cultural studies. For those interested, some coursework and guidance on pre-modern China are also available. The program aims to provide students with an interdisciplinary understanding and critical examination of East Asia within a global configuration.

Admissions

All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:

• Academic Transcripts
• Test Scores (if required)
• Applicant Statements
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation
• A non-refundable application fee

Program Requirements

The program requires:

• A required course: EAST-GA 1001, First Year Sem: Intro to Critical Asian Studies (4 credits)
• 28 credits of Electives
• A maximum of 16 credits in reading and research courses may be taken
• Total Credits: 32

Additional Program Requirements

Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate research-level proficiency in one East Asian language—as a rule, one of these languages must be Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. Students who do not enter with research-level language competency will be expected to attain that level through coursework, preferably to be completed in their first year.

Master's Thesis

All students must write a thesis in their chosen area of study. Two members of the faculty, one being the student’s advisor, will evaluate the thesis. The thesis may be based on a course term paper, but should nonetheless be an independent research work, typically in the range of 50 or more pages.

Sample Plan of Study

A sample plan of study is provided, outlining the credits and courses to be taken in each semester.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

1. Acquire an interdisciplinary understanding and critical examination of East Asia within a global configuration.
2. Gain an understanding of how received pasts—including the early and the early modern eras – interact in the modern present of contemporary societies.
3. Develop critical awareness of political, institutional, and methodological implications, as well as the historical provenance of both disciplinary-based and area studies inquiry.

Policies

University-wide policies and Graduate School of Arts and Science policies are available on the respective policy pages.

Taxonomy Codes

• NYSED: 27938
• HEGIS: 0302.00
• CIP: 05.0104