East Asian Languages and Literatures (MA)
The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures offers programs of study leading to the degrees of master of arts (MA) in East Asian Languages and Literatures. Students may choose to specialize in Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies, or Linguistics.
In addition to departmental requirements, graduate students must fulfill the general requirements of the Division of Graduate Studies listed in that section of this catalog.
The Chinese, Japanese, and Korean studies programs, which prepare students to work in a variety of professional and academic fields, provide intensive training in linguistic and textual analysis and an extensive exposure to literary theory, film studies, and comparative and cultural studies. The department encourages students to develop their specialization in East Asian literatures and films in broader, more comparative, and more interdisciplinary and transnational perspectives than has been the case in traditional programs. The faculty’s research and teaching interests cover the major fields, genres, and chronological divisions of Chinese, Japanese and Korean literature and film. They encourage creative connections and challenges to conventional disciplinary boundaries by exploring the relationships between literature-cinema and such areas as history, law, linguistics, politics, religion, philosophy, sociology, theater and the performing arts, and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Coursework Master's Students: Demonstrate mastery of subject content knowledge.
- Coursework Master's Students: Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.
- Thesis Master's Students: Demonstrate mastery of subject content knowledge.
- Thesis Master's Students: Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.
- Thesis Master's Students: Conduct independent research and analysis in their discipline and contribute substantive work in their field.
Master of Arts in East Asian Languages and Literatures, Chinese Studies: Option One
This is the usual option for students seeking the MA degree in East Asian languages and literatures with a specialization in Chinese studies. It prepares students for study at the doctoral level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHN 623 | Early Chinese Literature | 5 |
| CHN 624 | Medieval and Late Imperial Chinese Literature | 5 |
| CHN 625 | Modern Chinese Literature | 5 |
| EALL 611 | Critical Approaches | 2 |
| Five seminars on Chinese subject matter (at least three with the CHN subject code) | 20 | |
| Two graduate courses in linguistics, literary theory, or another literature (advisor approved); as appropriate, these courses may count toward the five Chinese seminars | ||
| One course in language pedagogy, Asian history, or another field relevant to student’s career objectives (advisor approved); as appropriate, may count as one of the five Chinese seminars 1 | ||
| CHN 503 | Thesis 2 | 9 |
| Total Credits | 46 | |
| 1 | Reading and Conference: [Topic] (CHN 605) may be counted toward the fourteen required courses, with advisor approval. |
| 2 | Students who elect to write a thesis must register for this course. |
Students must pass a comprehensive written examination at the end of study or write a master of arts thesis.
Master of Arts in East Asian Languages and Literatures, Chinese Studies: Option Two
A master’s student may, in consultation with the student’s advisor, apply for early entry to the PhD program. Such applications are typically made spring term but, in any event, after at least two terms at the university. Applications must include transcripts, three recommendations, and a statement of the student’s prospective course of study. Students who elect this option are awarded the master’s degree upon completion of the course work for the PhD degree. Students must pass a comprehensive oral examination that covers the student’s primary areas of study.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHN 623 | Early Chinese Literature | 5 |
| CHN 624 | Medieval and Late Imperial Chinese Literature | 5 |
| CHN 625 | Modern Chinese Literature | 5 |
| EALL 611 | Critical Approaches | 2 |
| Five seminars on Chinese subject matter (at least three with the CHN subject code) | 20 | |
| Two graduate courses in linguistics, literary theory, or another literature (advisor approved); as appropriate, may count toward the five Chinese seminars | ||
| One course in language pedagogy, Asian history, or another field relevant to student’s career objectives (advisor approved); as appropriate, may count as one of the five Chinese seminars 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 37 | |
| 1 | Reading and Conference: [Topic] (CHN 605) may be counted toward the twelve required courses, with advisor approval. |
Master of Arts in East Asian Languages and Literatures, Japanese Studies
The student takes 12 related to the field of Japanese studies:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Six courses in Japanese studies | 24 | |
| Two courses in methodology-theory | 8 | |
| Two East Asian–related courses, which may be taught outside of the department | 8 | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Classical Japanese Literary Language | ||
| Advanced Readings in Japanese Literature | ||
| Course in the Japanese Global Scholars Program 1 | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
| 1 | For nonnative speakers of Japanese; native speakers of Japanese take an additional course in Japanese studies in place of this requirement. |
In addition to the completion of the required courses, students must pass a comprehensive examination at the end of study or complete a master of arts thesis. The examination and degree-granting process differs for terminal MA students and for students who apply for continued study in the university’s PhD program (see below).
Terminal MA Students in Japanese Studies
Those students who are not planning to go on to the PhD must successfully pass a two-part written examination based on the following reading list:
- Approximately 20 works of Japanese literature and/or Japanese film, which should provide comprehensive coverage of major periods, writers, and genres of Japanese literature and/or film. The student's advisor will provide a model reading list.
- Approximately 10 works of general theory and criticism, based on the student's specialized area, which can be outside the area of Japanese studies.
- Approximately 10 works in a specialized area of the student's own choosing.
The first part of the exam shall include questions pertaining to broad issues in the field of Japanese literature and film deriving from section one of the student’s reading list. The second part of the exam, to be administered a week later, shall cover more specialized questions deriving from sections two and three of the student’s reading list. The student shall have forty-eight hours for each part to produce the final typed, double-spaced exams of approximately ten to twelve pages each.
The faculty committee administering the examination shall determine whether the student has successfully fulfilled the requirements for the MA degree, and shall confer one of the following grades: distinction, clear pass, marginal pass, or failure. Should the advisor determine that the candidate has not been successful, he or she may recommend that the student be given one additional opportunity to pass the exam during the next academic term.
Consulting the advisor, the student can complete an MA thesis instead of passing a comprehensive examination at the end of study. Students who elect to write a thesis must register for 9 credits of Thesis (JPN 503). As in the case of students who take comprehensive examinations, the faculty committee shall determine whether the student has successfully fulfilled the requirements of the MA degree, and shall confer one of the following grades: distinction, clear pass, marginal pass, or failure. Should the committee determine that the candidate has not been successful, its members may recommend that the student be given additional time to revise the thesis or to pass the exam during the next academic term.
Master of Arts in East Asian Languages and Literatures, Korean Studies
The MA degree in East Asian Languages and Literatures with a specialization in Korean literature, film, and culture requires successful completion of a minimum of 12 graduate-level courses (at least 4 credits each). These courses must be chosen in consultation with the student's advisor.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Three courses in the Korean sector | 12 | |
| Four Korea-related courses, which may be taught outside the department | 16 | |
| Five advisor-approved electives with the subject code EALL | 20 | |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
In addition to completion of the required courses, students must pass a comprehensive examination at the end of study or write and defend a MA thesis.
Option 1: MA Comprehensive Exam
Students who choose to take a comprehensive exam must successfully pass a two-part written examination based on the following reading list:
- Approximately 20 works of Korean literature and/or film, which should provide comprehensive coverage of major periods, writers, and genres of Korean literature and/or film. The student's advisor will provide a model reading list.
- Approximately 10 works of general theory and criticism, based on the student's specialized area, which can be outside of the area of Korean studies.
- Approximately 10 works of a specialized area of the student's own choosing.
The first part of the exam shall include questions pertaining to broad issues in the field of Korean literature and/or film deriving from section one of the students' reading list. The second part of the exam, to be administered a week later, shall cover more specialized questions deriving from sections two and three of the student's reading list. The student shall have 48 hours for each part to produce the final typed, double-spaced exams of approximately 10 to 12 pages each.
Option 2: MA Thesis
Students who elect to write a thesis must register for 9 credits of Thesis (KRN 503).
Two terms before graduation, the student meets with the advisor during the first week of the term to set up a two-member committee and a schedule for submitting thesis or project drafts (e.g., the first week of winter term if planning to graduate spring term).
At least six weeks before the date of the thesis or project defense, the student submits a draft to the main advisor for approval. The advisor is expected to return comments within two weeks. Then, a continuing dialogue ensues between the student and advisor until the manuscript is considered complete. If approval is not obtained at this point, there is no guarantee that the student will be able to graduate that term.
The student submits a clean copy of the thesis or project to the advisor and committee members either two weeks before defense or four weeks before the filing date for an approved thesis as published by the Graduate School.
East Asian Languages and Literatures Major - Linguistics and Language Pedagogy
This MA program offers a complete East Asian linguistics and pedagogy program, covering Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Students may elect to specialize in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean linguistics and pedagogy.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EALL 611 | Critical Approaches | 2 |
| Core Courses (Chinese Focus) | ||
| Choose four from the following: | 16 | |
| Chinese Linguistics | ||
| Pedagogical Grammar of Chinese | ||
| Second-Language Acquisition | ||
| Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Pedagogy | ||
| Linguistics Research and Bibliography | ||
| Core Courses (Japanese Focus) | ||
| Choose four from the following: | 16 | |
EALL 541 | ||
| Second-Language Acquisition | ||
| Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Pedagogy | ||
| Linguistics Research and Bibliography | ||
One course in Japanese pedagogical grammar | ||
| Core Courses (Korean Focus) | ||
| Choose four from the following: | 16 | |
EALL 541 | ||
| Second-Language Acquisition | ||
| Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Pedagogy | ||
| Linguistics Research and Bibliography | ||
One course in Korean pedagogical grammar | ||
| Linguistics Electives | ||
| Choose at least four of the following: | 16 | |
| History of the Chinese Language | ||
| Seminar: [Topic] (Figurative Language) | ||
| Seminar: [Topic] (Sociophonetics) | ||
| Seminar: [Topic] (Phonetics and Second-Language Acquisition) | ||
| Open Electives | ||
| Four advisor-approved courses in linguistics, literature, and languages with an EALL subject code | 16 | |
| 1 | Must be taken by all graduate students during first term. |
Additional Requirements
Nonnative speakers are required to complete a course (or receive credit by examination) in the language in which they specialize at the fourth-year level. For Japanese, this would be a Global Scholars course.
The Graduate School requires all MA students to take a total of 9 credits in 600-level courses.
MA Comprehensive Exam, MA Project, or MA Thesis (4–9 credits). Students are required to either pass an MA comprehensive exam or successfully complete an MA project or thesis.