MA Programs

The MA program in Japanese is designed to offer students maximum general exposure to the history of Japanese literature and culture while also requiring intensive study of particular genres and periods. Each of the program’s faculty members specializes in one or more of the major historical periods, including classical, medieval, early-modern, modern, and contemporary, and has additional competence in other areas. The program therefore provides a stimulating academic environment for students wishing to pursue advanced studies in Japanese literature and culture.

The program focuses on preparing students both for PhD study and for non-academic careers in a multiplicity of Japan-related fields. In recent years graduates of the Japanese MA program have gone on to doctoral study in Japanese literature, religion, and art history at institutions such as Harvard, Yale, UCLA, the University of Michigan, and the University of Wisconsin. They have also pursued careers in business, translation, secondary and post-secondary education; in governmental and non-governmental organizations; and in a variety of other institutions in both the public and private sectors of the United States and Japan.

Curriculum

All entering students must take JPNS 5310 (“Advanced Classical Japanese 1”) at the earliest opportunity, unless they have already received advanced-level training in classical Japanese. Students employed as Teaching Assistants also must take JPNS 5980 (“Practical Issues in Japanese Language Pedagogy”). Selection of courses beyond these is made in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies in Japanese. Students planning to continue on to doctoral work in premodern Japanese literature are encouraged to take JPNS 5320 (“Advanced Classical Japanese 2”), and to begin acquisition of Chinese as soon as possible. Students interested in pursuing doctoral work in modern Japanese literature are advised to gain competency in at least one language useful for their research in addition to English and Japanese. Reading knowledge of the additional research language or languages must normally be presented at the PhD level, but early proficiency is also encouraged.

At the MA level, the student must become familiar with the history and genres of Japanese literature, master the linguistic intricacies of the language, and be able to trace the broad outlines of Japanese culture. Graduates of the program will have a firm foundation upon which to erect the more specialized studies of doctoral work, or a broad-based fund of knowledge from which to draw in pursuing a Japan-related career.

Regular degree students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA each semester or summer term on all work taken, whether or not it is to be applied toward the intended graduate degree.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, a student must present at least 30 hours of approved coursework, or, in exceptional cases, 24 hours of coursework plus a thesis. All courses counted toward the degree must be completed at the 5000 level or above. However, up to six credits from other departments may be completed at the 3000 or 4000 level at the discretion of the Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations.

For detailed descriptions of graduate courses offered, see the University Catalog.