MA in East Asian Studies Degree Program

The MA in East Asian Studies provides rigorous interdisciplinary training for students seeking careers in academia or professional fields that require regional specialization.  The program introduces key area studies methodologies while providing flexibility for students to specialize in specific modes of inquiry.

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Program features

  • Students can select courses from a broad range of offerings in area studies, political science, literature, history, art history, religion, cultural anthropology, sociology, music, and visual and media studies
  • Students may enroll in up to one course per semester at UNC-Chapel Hill
  • Students typically complete the program within two years (four semesters); the final semester is typically reserved for writing
  • Students may complete an MA thesis or revise two academic research papers completed during coursework

Program opportunities

  • Prepare to enter a new profession in the diplomatic corps, law, education, journalism, consulting or business
  • Enhance your current career path with advanced academic training
  • Build a solid foundation for further study in social science or humanities doctoral programs
  • Attain proficiency in a regional language
  • Experience a unique exchange program in Tokyo, Japan, at Meiji University’s Graduate School of Political Science and Economics
  • Ten total courses (30 semester hours) are required for the degree; courses must be from two or more programs or departments.
  • Students pursuing an MA in East Asian Studies are given the option to either write an MA thesis or revise and submit two research papers originally developed during coursework to satisfy milestone requirements for the degree.  Students are required to declare their milestone option by September 30th of the second year.
  • All students, whether choosing the Thesis or Research Paper option, must take an East Asian Studies Core Course (EAS 700) as part of their EAS listed course requirements and demonstrate proficiency in an East Asian language equivalent to successful completion of the full 3rd-year language sequence at Duke.  
  • Up to two regional language courses taken at the graduate level may count toward course requirements.  

Students who intend to pursue a PhD after completing the MA program are strongly encouraged to select the thesis option.  A thesis is an original scholarly work, rooted in one or more relevant academic disciplines, that is crafted under the supervision and guidance of a thesis advisor.  Theses in EAS are typically 40-60 pages in length not including references.  The MA thesis must follow all guidelines stipulated by the Graduate School and must be defended before an examination committee of three or more faculty members. The Chair and at least one other committee member must be APSI core faculty. Students are required to form their committee by September 30th of their second year.

Students who elect to write an MA thesis must complete 10 graduate-level courses (30 semester hours) including 7 listed East Asian Studies courses and 1-2 independent studies (IS) with a thesis advisor to develop the thesis project, ideally taken during the second and/or third semester.  Thesis students may enroll in up to one additional independent study with an APSI core faculty member to count toward EAS listed course requirements.  Students must submit a separate application for research independent study for each IS.

Students who anticipate pursuing a career outside of academia are encouraged to consider this option, which allows students to revise and submit two significant academic research papers developed during coursework to an examination committee.  Both research papers must have received a letter grade ‘B’ or above in the course they were originally submitted and be revised based on faculty comments from the course.  Students are required to share faculty comments on each paper as early as possible with their committee Chair. Additionally, students must write a 4-5 page introduction to the research papers demonstrating the role the research has played in the students’ MA program of study.   The two research papers must be defended before an examination committee of three or more faculty members.  The committee Chair and at least one other member must be APSI core faculty. Students are required to form their committee and identify the papers they will use to fulfill the milestone requirement by September 30th of their second year.

To earn the MA, students must complete a total of 10 graduate-level courses (30 semester hours) including 8 listed East Asian Studies courses. Up to two graduate-level independent studies (IS) taken with APSI core faculty members may count as listed East Asian Studies courses.  Students must submit a separate application for research independent study for each IS.