Graduate Program

Applying to the M.A. Program in Asian Studies

Deadline for submitting application materials:

Fall – April 15

Spring – December 1st

To apply for the M.A. in Asian Studies at CSULB, applicants must complete both of the following:

1. Apply for admission to the Universit as a graduate student.
   Go to: http://www.csumentor.edu

   International students should contact the Center for International Education about applying at (562) 985-4106. International students need to pass the TOEFL exam. Results of the TOEFL should be sent to the Center for International Education.

2. Apply directly to the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies. The following materials should be submitted to Dr. Tim Xie by April 15 (Fall semester) or December 1 (Spring semester) :a) Statement of purpose (no more than 2 pages)
   b) A minimum of 2 letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a professor with whom the applicant has studied.

Prerequisites

1. GPA – 3.0 or above
2. A bachelor’s degree with a major in Asian Studies; or
3. The Certificate in Asian Studies, awarded by CSULB or its equivalent as evaluated by the Chair of the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies. Equivalency will normally be granted for work in Asia-related studies at CSULB and/or at other academic institutions. Only courses with a substantive Asian Studies content are acceptable; or
4. A bachelor’s degree in one of the fields in social science, humanities, or fine arts with 24 units of upper division Asia-related courses. These courses must be comparable to those required of a major in Asian Studies at this University. Deficiencies will be determined by the graduate advisor after consultation with the student and after study of transcript records. Students whose undergraduate prerequisites are inadequate will be required to fulfill these deficiencies before admission to the M.A. program in Asian Studies, and will receive unclassified graduate status until all deficiencies are removed.
5. International students should contact the Center for International Education about applying at (562) 985-4106. International students need to pass the TOEFL exam. Results of the TOEFL should be sent to the Center for International Education.
6. The language requirement may be waived if the applicant is a native speaker of an Asian language.
7. Applicants admitted on a “conditional” basis (meaning that they need to make up deficiencies in A/ST before they can begin the program) cannot count those units toward the 30 units of the M.A. program.

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Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to candidacy is the next step after achieving Classified Status and signifies approval of an accepted plan of study by the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies and the College of Liberal Arts. The prerequisites to advancement to candidacy are:

1. Satisfaction of the general University requirements for advancement to candidacy;
2. Completion of 6 or more of the required units (not including language) with a minimum of 3.0 overall grade point average;
3. Approval of proposed program of study; and
4. Satisfactory completion of the Writing Proficiency Examination.

Advancement to candidacy should occur during the semester or summer session prior to the semester (session) in which the student expects to graduate. For additional information concerning enrollment policies, satisfactory progress, leaves of absence, etc., students should consult the current University Catalog.

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Requirements for the Master’s Degree in Asian Studies

1. In their first semester of work, students should complete the Writing Proficiency Examination. The examination fee is payable at the Business Office, and the test is administered upon request at the Testing Office (Brotman Hall-126).
2. A minimum of 30 units of approved upper-division and graduate courses, including Asian Studies 592 and 610. At least 18 units must be in the 500-600 series composed of units earned at CSULB in graduate courses, graduate seminars, directed research or thesis work. Seminars may be repeated once, but no more than six units in total of Directed Studies, Directed Reading, or Directed Research may be used to satisfy degree requirements. A minimum of four and a maximum of six units of A/ST 698 is required for those taking the thesis option.
3. A minimum of three upper-division units in each of two disciplines of concentration must be taken preparatory to seminar work. Students should take at least six units of 500-600 level work in each of the two chosen disciplines of concentration. (N.B.: Determination of the disciplinary status of any Asian Studies or any other courses taken at CSULB or other academic institutions, shall be at the discretion of the Graduate Advisor in consultation with faculty, based on a review of syllabi and reading lists, assessment of transcripts, etc.)
4. A comprehensive written examination in each of the two disciplines of concentration, or an original thesis produced in conformity with University guidelines and regulations as outlined in the current CSULB Catalog. Students must receive permission of the Graduate Advisor, faulty advisor and prospective committee members before being allowed to file for the thesis option. Once selected, a student may not switch his/her option. Departmental guidelines are available from the Graduate Advisor.
5. Six units or more (beyond the B.A. level) in Chinese or Japanese or an Asian language approved by the Graduate Advisor. Waiver of this requirement, either by transfer of credits from another academic institution or by assessment of proficiency by resident faculty, is at the discretion of the Graduate Advisor of the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies.

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