East Asian Studies
General Information
Degree offered: Certificate, A.M.
Faculty working with students: 33
Students: 14
Students receiving Financial Aid: 30%
Deadline for Fall 2008 Application: December 15 (priority deadline)
Spring Application: no
Part time study available: yes
Test required: GRE general
Program Description
The Asian/Pacific Studies Institute at Duke offers both a master's degree in East Asian Studies, as well as a certificate in East Asian Studies (available to students enrolled in other degree programs at Duke in the Graduate School, the Nicholas School of Environment and Earth Sciences, the Law School, the Fuqua School of Business, the Pratt School of Engineering, and the Sanford Institute of Public Policy). The certificate requires completion of four courses from an approved list of courses relating to this region, as well as minimum language proficiency (two years) in an East Asian language.
The master's degree requires ten courses (30 semester hours -- including an integrated core course), of which at least eight courses (24 semester hours) must be in East Asian studies, drawn from two or more departments or programs. Two language courses (six semester hours) may be counted as part of the ten courses needed for the degree. In lieu of a thesis, each student, after consulting with his/her advisor, will submit a research paper or annotated bibiography, produced in a capstone course taken during the program, to the graduate committee. The degree is dependent on the acceptance of the research paper or annotated bibliography by the graduate committee and successful completion of an oral examination on this paper/annotated bibliography by an M.A. advisory committee. At the conclusion of the program, students must have attained advanced proficiency in one East Asian language, equivalent to three years of college level study. It is strongly recommended that applicants complete at least one year of language study before beginning the program at Duke. Students whose native tongue is an East Asian language are encouraged to take one year (two semesters) of another East Asian language. The focus of the East Asian Studies program is on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with particular emphasis on institutional transformations, nationalism, political economy, popular culture, race and ethnicity, and women's studies. Areas of specialization for China and Japan include: art history, cultural anthropology, economics, history, modern literature, political science, religion, sociology, and psychology. Korean language, literature and culture classes are also available.
The department also offers a joint JD/MA program with the Duke School of Law; contact the Law School Admissions Office at (919) 613-7200 for more information.
Other Requirements
* While priority is given to applications received by the Graduate School deadline of December 15, East Asian Studies will consider fall applications until May 1.