The Master of Arts in Asian Languages and Civilizations: Japanese
The East and Southeast Asian Languages faculty in the School of International Letters & Cultures offers a graduate program leading to a master of arts degree in Asian Languages and Civilizations—Japanese. The degree is designed for students interested in pursuing advanced study of the culture and language of Japan, and is meant to increase students' general knowledge as well as to prepare them for advanced careers in academics, government, business, and other areas of professional life. All degree candidates are required to write a research thesis that demonstrates the student's ability to handle sources in Japanese and to think critically and write clearly about a topic in Japanese culture. The thesis is intended to demonstrate a synthesis of linguistic competence, intellectual insight, and practical experience that every candidate is expected to achieve.
To qualify for regular admission, applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree and the equivalent of an undergraduate major in Japanese: 30 units of Japanese language and literature, at least 24 of which must be in upper-division courses equivalent to ASU's 300-400 level, including 3 units of classical Japanese, an overview of Japanese history, and 6 units in Chinese or Korean language or culture. To be accepted, a student must have a grade point average of 3.4 on a scale of 4.00. In some cases students who lack this background, but who show strong potential and meet Graduate College admissions requirements, can be admitted with deficiencies and allowed to progress in the M. A. program after completing each of those deficiencies with a grade of 3.5 or better.
1. Application Procedures
The Graduate Admission Application is online at http://www.asu.edu/graduate , and all the information for prospective students at http://graduate.asu.edu/prospectivestudents/index.html
The graduate application fee ($65 US citizens, $80 for non-US citizens), one set of official transcripts from every college and university from which a Bachelors or higher degree was earned, and any necessary test scores (e.g., TOEFL) should be submitted directly to the Graduate College Admissions Office:
Arizona State University, Graduate College Admissions
Interdisciplinary Building, B Wing, Room 170
Tempe, Arizona 85287-1003
Submission of GRE or MAT scores is not required. For your convenience, a checklist for the Graduate College admission requirements is available at: http://www.asu.edu/graduate/admissions/application_checklist.html
International students please also see section 4, below.
2. Deadlines
Application for admission to a graduate degree program in Asian Languages and Civilizations must be received by December 15 for admission to the Fall semester of the next academic year, if the applicant wishes to be considered for any form of financial aid, including Graduate Assistantships. For others, the deadline is April 15. Applications for Graduate Assistantships are not considered until the applicant has been admitted with regular status to the Graduate College and to the Japanese Graduate Program. (It is advisable to submit the application for a Teaching Assistantship as a part of your admission application.) Assistantships are normally awarded for the academic year (fall and spring semesters).
3. Submission of Supplemental Application Materials
Please send the supplemental application materials to Barbara Tibbets, Graduate Student Coordinator, School of International Letters & Cultures, Arizona State University, PO Box 870202, Tempe, AZ 85287-0202. Please submit the following materials:
a. Two letters of recommendation, addressing your expertise in Japanese and your intellectual skills
b. A personal Statement – A summary, in English, of your educational experience and goals in pursuing a graduate degree
c. A writing sample. in English, of no more than 30 pages (a term paper or thesis chapter, for example). Submit electronically if possible.
Additional materials required for Teaching Assistant positions include:
a. A third letter of recommendation, from an individual who can address your competence in Japanese and your ability, potential or demonstrated, to conduct a university-level language course. For purposes of this application, character references and statements concerning academic potential are not as important to us as an indication of your value as a teacher of the language.
b. Audiotape, CD, or .mp3 recording of the candidate speaking in Japanese -- in English for native speakers of Japanese
c. Graduate Assistantship (also referred to as a Teaching Assistantship or TA-ship) application form may be downloaded from: http://www.asu.edu/graduate/forms/wordforms/RATAap.doc
For further information about loans and work-study aid, please go to the Graduate College Student Financial Assistant Office at http://graduate.asu.edu/financialsupport.html.
4. International Students
All applicants for whom English is not their native language must have a minimum TOEFL score of 600 on the paper-based test (PBT), 250 on the computer-based test (CBT), or 100 on the internet-based test (iBT). The exam results must be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office by ETS. Self-reported scores are not acceptable. International student applications for admission will not be considered without an official TOEFL score on file with the ASU Graduate Admissions Office.
Check List for International degree applications: http://graduate.asu.edu/admissions/international.html#credentials
TA appicants must also pass the Test of Spoken English (TSE), or the ASU SPEAK test (given only on campus) with a score of 55, in order to secure their position. It is advisable that these students take the TSE test in their home country, preferably at the same time they take the TOEFL. If potential TAs do not pass the test prior to being offered a TA contract, they will have to arrange to take it as soon as possible. This is often logistically difficult and may put a TA position in jeopardy if not handled well in advance. If a potential TA does not receive the minimum passing score, the contract will automatically be voided. Please refer again to the Graduate College admissions website for more information: http://graduate.asu.edu/admissions/international.html#proficiency
For further information, please contact:
(through December 31, 2008)
Professor Stephen West , Graduate Representative for Chinese and Japanese
School of International Letters & Cultures,
ASU, PO Box 850202
Tempe, AZ 85287-02020
Email: Stephen.H.West@asu.edu
(after December 31, 2008)
Professor Stephen Bokenkamp , Graduate Representative for Chinese and Japanese
School of International Letters & Cultures
ASU, PO Box 850202
Tempe, AZ 85287-02020
Email: Stephen.bokenkamp@asu.edu
Please visit our homepage for additional program information: http://www.asu.edu/clas/dll/jpn/MA_japanese.html
For the School of International Letters and Cultures at ASU, visit: http://www.asu.edu/clas/silc/index.html