The department offers students the opportunity to complete both the BA and MA in five
(5) years. The MA part of the program consists of six fields: Chinese Studies, Japanese
Studies, Korean Studies, South Asia Studies, Asian American and Diaspora Studies,
Global Asia Studies.
Prior to their senior year, students must complete 96 credits that meet all of the
undergraduate requirements for Harpur College including upper-level writing and general
education courses plus all but 12 credits needed for the major. During the senior
year, students will complete 12 credits in the major and the remaining 20 credits
needed for the undergraduate degree, which will be satisfied by graduate level DAAAS
MA coursework.
Students should apply for the 4+1 program in the third semester, and no later than
the beginning of the junior year. Admission decisions for the 4+1 program will be
made no later than spring of the junior year. Application and admissions processes
are through the Graduate School and the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies.
The AAAS B.A-M.A. 4+1 program will restrict admissions to students with exceptional
academic records; normally, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in the AAAS undergraduate
program is required. Students must submit a personal statement, official transcript(s),
the name of one professor who may serve as references, a recommendation letter from
a faculty member and a writing sample. The student will be evaluated based on the
quality of the personal statement, grades, references, writing sample, and interview.
Upon acceptance to the program, students will be advised that there are further requirements:
successful completion of the B.A. and all Harpur and Gen Ed requirements by the end
of the 4th year; graduate course requirements; a "B" or better in all graduate coursework
and satisfactory completion of the thesis and thesis defense.
Once admitted, students will be required to fulfill all the normal requirements for
the AAAS B.A. and M.A. degrees, with the exception that 12 credits of the 500-level
courses will count for both the B.A. requirements and the M.A. requirements. Course
offerings in the AAAS B.A.-M.A. 4+1 program will coincide with the normal offerings
of the existing AAAS B.A. and M.A. Programs.
Language Requirements
The first three fields (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Studies) require that students
reach proficiency in the corresponding Asian language through the third-year level
of study by the time of completion of the M.A.
For the South Asia field, the normal expectation is that the students will have proficiency
through the second-year level in an Asian language relevant to their thesis topic.
This requirement can be waived in particular cases, based on the student's individual
program of study.
The Asian American and Diaspora Studies field and the Global Asia field have no specific
language requirement, but if a particular language is relevant to the student's study
plan, that student will be expected to develop competence in that language by the
time of completion of the M.A.
Proficiency levels can be satisfied in one of two ways: transcript with the equivalent
of 6 semesters (as outlined above) of college-level study of a single language with
grade of B or better, or a proficiency examination administered by DAAAS faculty.
Thesis Requirements
A thesis is required for all fields. A provisional advisor is assigned when students
enroll. Students must select a permanent thesis advisor by the end of the seventh
semester. The thesis committee consists of the thesis advisor and at least two other
faculty members. An oral thesis defense is also required.
