Degree Title and Name: Master of Arts in International Studies
Program Name and Number: Asian Studies – MA4216
Department/Unit: Center for International Studies
Delivery Mode: Athens Campus
Term(s) of Entry: Fall
Program Overview: The Asian Studies program at Ohio University is an interdisciplinary program that strives to provide students with a strong grounding in core disciplines that constitute Asian Studies (including political science, history, anthropology, geography, linguistics) while giving them the opportunity to form their course of study around their professional and academic goals. Students in the Asian Studies program can concentrate in three areas of study:
- East Asia
- Southeast Asia
- Transnational Asia
While the first two specializations are designed for area studies students, the Transnational Asia specialization is designed for students to pursue a thematic field of study that involves Asian transnational and regional issues. Based on the research interests and specialties of the Asian Studies faculty, three thematic fields are developed under the Transnational Asia specialization, namely: Arts, Popular Culture and the Media; Gender, Ethnicity and Religion; and Globalization, Conflict and Social Change.
Program Learning Outcomes: The CIS M.A. programs provide students with a strong grounding in core disciplines while giving them the opportunity to form their course of study around their professional and academic goals. Students can enroll in courses offered by a range of schools and departments across the university in disciplines of their interest. This flexible design of graduate curricula supports individualized learning experiences across disciplinary boundaries and allows student to take courses and capstone options that help them achieve and demonstrate the CIS M.A. learning outcomes below:
- Students will be able to synthesize core area or international studies concepts and theories within multiple disciplinary subfields, and acquire the skills to apply and evaluate these concepts to global opportunities and challenges.
- Students will be able to develop effective written and oral communication skills, characterized by the ability to write and present in the styles and forms that are acceptable in the professional world and/or for research in international studies.
- Students will be able to develop an effective research skill and demonstrate it in their capstone experience.
Link to Program: https://www.ohio.edu/global/cis/asian/
Graduation Requirements: The curriculum for the M.A. in Asian Studies consists of Core Requirements (a minimum of 26 credit hours) and Specialization Requirements (a minimum of 22 credit hours) for a minimum of 48 semester credit hours to graduate.
Core Requirements
- Introduction to Asian Studies*: 4 credits
- Asian language requirement**: 8 credits
- Research method course***: 4 credits
- Thesis/Professional Project Option: INST 6940 or 6950: 10 credits
Non-Thesis Option: Asian electives and a comprehensive examination: 10 credits
* Students can take either Introduction to Southeast Asian Studies (INST 5200), or East Asia in World Politics (POLS 5440).
** Students are required to complete two years of an Asian language of their choice, but only 8 credit hours are counted toward graduation. Students who are eligible for the Asian language requirement waiver are encouraged to study another regional language, although they may opt to take Asian electives instead. The decision should be made in consultation with both the program director and their advisor.
*** Students can choose from a number of qualitative or quantitative courses. All methodology courses must be pre-approved by the director.
Specialization Requirements: Choose one specialization from the following: Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Transnational Asia. Students need to complete core courses (12 credits) and electives (10 credits) for each specialization.
Culminating Experience: A capstone project will be due in the final semester of the program. The capstone can take the format of a comprehensive exam, professional project, or a thesis.
- Comprehensive Exam: The examination permits a final synthesis, asking students to relate course work, research skills and literature. It is a final review of the student’s progress and an opportunity for students to draw together their disciplines. One of the major purposes of the comprehensive is, in fact, to cause the student to reflect upon the interdisciplinary dimensions of their program. Three possible overall results may emerge from the exam; Pass, Partial Pass where the student will have to follow-up with an oral exam; and Fail.
- Professional Project:The Professional Project is an exercise that demonstrates a student’s professional skills relevant to Asia. In this option, each student develops an individual project under the guidance of a faculty member. This faculty person acts as the chair of the student’s committee, which is composed of two additional faculty members. The student will conduct independent research and collect information from primary sources as necessary to carry out the project. The end product of a professional project should be a concise work of a quality suited to current professional standards – for example, a paper to be submitted for publication in a scholarly or professional journal or a grant proposal – as judged by the student’s committee. Students choosing to do a Professional Project are required to take a research methods course or its equivalent in their first year of study.
- Thesis: Students who wish to pursue this option should see the program director early in their first semester to discuss the possibilities and also consult the Electronic Thesis Guidelines provided by the Graduate College http://www.ohiou.edu/graduate/etd.htm
Culminating Experience: A capstone project will be due in the final semester of the program. The capstone can take the format of a comprehensive exam, professional project, or a thesis.
- Comprehensive Exam: The examination permits a final synthesis, asking students to relate course work, research skills and literature. It is a final review of the student’s progress and an opportunity for students to draw together their disciplines. One of the major purposes of the comprehensive exam is, in fact, to cause the student to reflect upon the interdisciplinary dimensions of their program. Three possible overall results may emerge from the exam; Pass, Partial Pass where the student will have to follow-up with an oral exam; and Fail.
- Professional Project: Students who are not planning to continue their education at the doctoral level may opt for a more practical educational experience. The professional project, typically in the form of a final paper intended for submission to an academic journal or a grant proposal intended for submission to a granting agency, allows students to prepare to enter the workforce by developing a submission quality grant proposal that may or may not be submitted to an actual organization. A committee of three faculty members must be chosen by the end of spring semester of the student’s first year of study.
- Thesis: Students who wish to pursue this option should see the program director early in their first semester to discuss the possibilities and also consult the Thesis and Dissertation (TAD) guidelines on the Graduate College website.
Admission Requirements: Admission requirements, beyond the university minimum of a 4-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and a TOEFL of 80 or above for non-native English speakers, are 3 letters of recommendation with at least 2 from individuals who can judge academic abilities, an autobiographical sketch providing applicant background, and statement of purpose which addresses why this program. We do not require the GRE exam for admission.
- 3 letters of recommendation (at least two from people who can judge your academic abilities and achievements)
- A two-page statement of purpose, discussing your educational and professional goals and how the Asian Studies program will help meet those goals. Be specific in discussing aspects of your personal and academic background that may lead to success in the program. (This is perhaps the most important item in your application package!).
- An autobiographical sketch (A one page personal statement that is descriptive of your life.)
- A curriculum vita or a resume) - a comprehensive list of your academic and/or professional accomplishments, including degrees and diplomas, work experience, conference presentations, publications, internships, volunteer work, and prizes, honors or awards
International Students: This program permits full-time enrollment in residence at Ohio University, and an I-20 may be issued based on admission to this program.