Asian Studies | College of Liberal Arts
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ANS MA

The flexibility of the degree program for the Masters in Asian Studies allows for a wide range of interests and long-term goals. Students obtaining the Masters in Asian Studies are interested in pursuing careers in the public or private sector, government, non-profit organizations, and other fields. Some students continue on to a PhD in another or related field.  The Masters in Asian Studies can usually be completed in two academic years. 

We do not offer a PhD in Asian Studies.  Students may apply for admission to the Asian Cultures and Languages PhD program on completion of the Masters in Asian Studies, but admission to the doctoral program is not guaranteed and is only likely if the student has successfully followed a course of study comparable to that of the Masters in Asian Cultures and Languages.

Specialization in East Asia: Students who specialize in East Asia normally have a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean language and literature, or an area studies degree with a concentration in East Asia. Students must have completed at least two years of college-level Chinese, Japanese, or Korean with a grade of at least B in each course, or must demonstrate equivalent competence, before admission to the program.

Specialization in South Asia: Students who specialize in South Asia normally have a Bachelor of Arts in area studies or in a traditional discipline, with a concentration in South Asia. Most applicants have knowledge of a South Asian language before applying for admission. Students without this knowledge but whose applications are otherwise outstanding may also be accepted.

Degree Programs

The following information is effective as of the 2024-2025 Graduate Handbook.  Every effort has been made to insure the accuracy of this information.  In the event of discrepancy between this information and the Graduate Catalog, the Graduate Catalog takes precedence.

Thesis option:

  • 12 hours of Asian Studies electives (with not more than 6 in any one discipline, such as literature, religion, visual culture, etc.)
  • 3 hours Asian history courses
  • 3 additional hours in Asian history courses or 3 hours in social sciences relating to the student's regional area of study
  • 6 hours in advanced Asian language courses (third-year level or beyond)
  • 6 hours of Masters Thesis

Report option:

  • 15 hours of Asian Studies electives (with not more than 9 in any one discipline, such as literature, religion, visual culture, etc.)
  • 3 hours Asian history courses
  • 3 additional hours in Asian history courses or 3 hours in social sciences relating to the student's regional area of study
  • 6 hours in advanced language courses (third-year level or beyond)
  • 3 hours of Masters Report

Dual-degree program in Asian Studies/Public Affairs

  • All of the Asian Studies Master's requirements, detailed above (either thesis or report option), plus the following Public Affairs coursework:
  • 21 hours of required Public Affairs core courses (Policy Development, Public Administration and Management, etc.)
  • 6 hours Policy Research Project
  • 9 hours Public Affairs electives
  • Summer internship (in or related to Asia)

Dual-degree program in Asian Studies/Global Policy Studies

  • All of the Asian Studies Master's requirements, detailed above (either thesis or report option), plus the following Global Policy Studies coursework:
  • 22 hours of required Global Policy Study core courses (Policymaking, Microeconomics, Internatinal Systems, Crisis Management, etc.)
  • 15 hours in an area of specialization
  • Summer internship (in or related to Asia)
  • Demonstrated proficiency in a language other than English

Dual-degree program: Asian Studies/Business Administration

  • 27 hours of MBA core courses
  • 9 hours of approved business electives
  • 6 upper-division or graduate hours Asian history courses
  • 6 hours of Asian Studies electives with at least 50% business content
  • 6 hours in advanced language courses (third-year level or beyond)
  • 6 hours of non-business Asian Studies electives and 6 hours Asian Studies Master's Thesis
    OR
  • 12 hours of non-business Asian Studies electives and 3 hours of Asian Studies Master's Report

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