Bulletin

Interested in attending Stanford?
Visit Undergraduate Admissions opens in a new tab or Graduate Admissions opens in a new tab.

Resources

  • About Stanford
  • About Bulletin
  • Academic Calendar opens in a new tab
  • Bulletin Archive
  • Enrollment Overview opens in a new tab
  • Enrollment Deadlines opens in a new tab
  • Degrees at a Glance

Schools

  • Doerr School of Sustainability opens in a new tab
  • Graduate School of Business opens in a new tab
  • Graduate School of Education opens in a new tab
  • School of Engineering opens in a new tab
  • School of Humanities and Science opens in a new tab
  • School of Law opens in a new tab
  • School of Medicine opens in a new tab
Give Feedback

Stanford University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges opens in a new tab.

Give Feedback
Stanford
University
  • Stanford Home
  • Maps & Directions
  • Search Stanford
  • Emergency Info
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Trademarks
  • Non-Discrimination
  • Accessibility
© Stanford University.  Stanford, California 94305.
Skip to main content
Stanford University
Bulletin
East Asian Languages and Cultures
School of Humanities & Sciences
  • MA
  • PhD
  • Joint Degree
Program Info
  • About the Program
  • Master of Arts
    • Admissions
    • Advising
    • Policies
    • Learning Outcomes
  • Doctor of Philosophy
  • Courses
  • Contact Us
Loading program
  1. Home
  2. Programs
  3. Graduate
  4. East Asian Languages And Cultures
  5. Master of Arts

Master of Arts

MA
  • East Asian Languages and Cultures opens in a new tab
Program Minimum Units
45 Units
University Minimum Units
45 Units
Program Length
2 Years
Interests
Art: Visual & Performing, Languages, Literature & Culture, Media, Communications & Marketing, Studying the Past
Academic Areas
Humanities & Arts

Overview

The Master of Arts (MA) program in East Asian Languages and Cultures is designed for students with strong academic records and an interest in pursuing postgraduate research in East Asian archaeology, literature and culture, or linguistics but who have not yet acquired the language skills or disciplinary foundation necessary to enter a PhD program.

Requirements

Program Requirements

Program Requirements

Complete all of the following requirements:
Proseminar Sequence Requirement

Complete two proseminar courses, EALC 201 in the first year of study and an additional course as associated with the student's subplan. EALC 202 is required for all literature students, CHINA 290 is required for all Chinese linguistics students, and JAPAN 279 is required for all Japanese linguistics students. Students in Chinese archaeology must take an advisor-approved course with subject code CHINA, ARCHLGY, or ANTHRO.

Complete all of the following course(s):
EALC 201

Proseminar in East Asian Humanities I: Skills and Methods

3 Units
EALC 202

Proseminar in East Asian Humanities II: Current Scholarship

1 Units
or
CHINA 290

Research in Chinese Linguistics

2-3 Units
or
JAPAN 279

Research in Japanese Linguistics

2-5 Units
and
Advisor-Approved Additional Courses Requirement
Six advisor-approved courses in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and/or trans-Asian literature, culture, linguistics, anthropology, archaeology, art and art history, history, philosophy, political science, religious studies, sociology, or another field, as associated with the student's subplan or approved by the advisor, not including courses taken to fulfill the proseminar or language requirements.
and
Master's Thesis Requirement
Complete all of the following requirements:
Conditions
Submit a full draft of the student's M.A. thesis to the primary advisor by May 15 of Spring Quarter and the final version by the last Friday of May. Students are also required to present M.A. thesis research at the last meeting of the East Asian Humanities and East Asian Linguistics workshops (the joint student symposium) at the end of Spring Quarter.
and
Courses
Complete all of the following course(s):
EALC 299

Master's Thesis or Qualifying Paper

1-5 Units

Subplans

Required
Students must select a subplan to complete this program. A subplan is an officially declared and defined set of requirements that provides a way for students to go deeper into a discipline or focus within a program.

East Asian Literatures Subplan

Chinese Literature and Culture

Complete all of the following requirements:
Language Proficiency Requirement

Demonstrate proficiency in modern and classical Chinese by completing the following courses or by demonstrating an equivalent level of linguistic attainment by passing the appropriate certifying examinations.

Complete all of the following course(s):
CHINLANG 103

Third-Year Modern Chinese, Third Quarter

5 Units
or
CHINLANG 103B

Third-Year Modern Chinese for Bilingual Students, Third Quarter

3 Units
CHINA 208

Advanced Classical Chinese: Philosophical Texts

3-5 Units
or
CHINA 209

Advanced Classical Chinese: Historical Narration

2-5 Units
and
Courses Requirement
Complete all of the following requirements:
Conditions
Four advisor-approved courses in Chinese literature, culture, or linguistics from among the offerings of the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, not including courses taken to fulfill the language requirement.
and
Conditions
Two upper-division or graduate-level courses in fields such as Chinese anthropology, art history, history, philosophy, political science, religious studies, or another field, as approved by the student’s advisor.

Japanese Literature and Culture

Complete all of the following requirements:
Language Proficiency Requirement

Demonstrate proficiency in modern and classical Japanese by completing the following courses or by demonstrating an equivalent level of linguistic attainment by passing the appropriate certifying examinations.

Complete all of the following course(s):
JAPANLNG 213

Fourth-Year Japanese, Third Quarter

4 Units
JAPAN 264

Introduction to Premodern Japanese

3-5 Units
or
JAPAN 265

Readings in Premodern Japanese

2-5 Units
and
Courses Requirement
Complete all of the following requirements:
Four advisor-approved courses in Japanese literature, culture, or linguistics from among the offerings of the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, not including courses taken to fulfill the language requirement.
and
Two upper-division or graduate-level courses in fields such as Japanese anthropology, art history, history, philosophy, political science, religious studies, or another field, as approved by the student’s advisor.

Korean Literature and Culture

Complete all of the following requirements:
Language Proficiency Requirement

Demonstrate proficiency in modern Korean by completing the following course or demonstrating equivalent linguistic attainment by passing the appropriate certifying examinations.

Complete all of the following course(s):
KORLANG 213

Fourth-Year Korean,Third Quarter

4 Units
and
Courses Requirement
Complete all of the following requirements:
Conditions
Two advisor-approved courses in Korean literature from among the offerings of the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, not including courses taken to fulfill the language requirement.
and
Conditions
Two courses in Korean history, sociology, or another field, as approved by the student’s advisor.
and
Conditions
Two upper-division or graduate-level courses in fields such as Japanese and/or Chinese literature, linguistics, or another field, as approved by the student’s advisor.

Trans-Asian Studies

Complete all of the following requirements:
Language Proficiency Requirement

Demonstrate proficiency in at least two East Asian languages by completing the following courses or demonstrating equivalent linguistic attainment by passing the appropriate certifying examinations.

Complete at least 2 of the following courses:
CHINLANG 213

Fourth-Year Modern Chinese, Third Quarter

5 Units
or
CHINLANG 213B

Fourth-Year Modern Chinese for Bilingual Students, Third Quarter

3 Units
JAPANLNG 213

Fourth-Year Japanese, Third Quarter

4 Units
KORLANG 213

Fourth-Year Korean,Third Quarter

4 Units
and
Courses Requirement
Complete all of the following requirements:
Conditions
Two advisor-approved courses in Korean/Japanese/Chinese literature and culture or linguistics from among the offerings of the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, not including courses taken to fulfill the language requirement.
and
Complete the following and/or similar courses as approved by the student's advisor with a letter grade of B or higher.
Complete all of the following course(s):
MTL 334A

Concepts of Modernity I: Queer Theory - Literature, Performance, and Art

4 Units
MTL 334B

Concepts of Modernity II: Aesthetics and Phenomenology

5 Units
and
Conditions
Two upper-division or graduate-level Asia-focused courses in fields outside the department, as approved by the student’s advisor.

East Asian Linguistics Subplan

Chinese Linguistics

Complete all of the following requirements:
Language Proficiency Requirement

Demonstrate proficiency in modern and classical Chinese by completing the following courses or by demonstrating an equivalent level of linguistic attainment by passing the appropriate certifying examinations.

Complete all of the following course(s):
CHINLANG 103

Third-Year Modern Chinese, Third Quarter

5 Units
or
CHINLANG 103B

Third-Year Modern Chinese for Bilingual Students, Third Quarter

3 Units
CHINA 208

Advanced Classical Chinese: Philosophical Texts

3-5 Units
or
CHINA 209

Advanced Classical Chinese: Historical Narration

2-5 Units
and
Proseminar Sequence Requirement
Complete all of the following course(s):
EALC 201

Proseminar in East Asian Humanities I: Skills and Methods

3 Units
CHINA 290

Research in Chinese Linguistics

2-3 Units
and
Courses Requirement

Complete the following courses for a letter grade of B or higher.

Complete all of the following requirements:
Conditions
Four advisor-approved courses in Chinese literature, culture, or linguistics from among the offerings of the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, not including courses taken to fulfill the language requirement.
and
Two upper-division or graduate-level courses in fields such as Chinese anthropology, art history, history, philosophy, political science, religious studies, or another field, as approved by the student’s advisor.

Japanese Linguistics

Complete all of the following requirements:
Language Proficiency Requirement

Demonstrate proficiency in modern and classical Japanese by completing the following courses or by demonstrating an equivalent level of linguistic attainment by passing the appropriate certifying examinations.

Complete all of the following course(s):
JAPANLNG 213

Fourth-Year Japanese, Third Quarter

4 Units
JAPAN 264

Introduction to Premodern Japanese

3-5 Units
or
JAPAN 265

Readings in Premodern Japanese

2-5 Units
and
Proseminar Sequence Requirement
Complete all of the following course(s):
EALC 201

Proseminar in East Asian Humanities I: Skills and Methods

3 Units
JAPAN 279

Research in Japanese Linguistics

2-5 Units
and
Courses Requirement
Complete all of the following requirements:
Conditions
One course in Japanese literature numbered above 200 offered in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures.
and
Conditions
Three advisor-approved courses in Japanese linguistics numbered above 200 from among the offerings of the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, not including courses taken to fulfill the language requirement.
and
Conditions
Three upper-division or graduate-level courses in fields such as linguistics, anthropology, psychology, or another field, approved by the student’s advisor.

Chinese Archaeology Subplan

Chinese Archaeology

Complete all of the following requirements:
Language Proficiency Requirement

Demonstrate proficiency in modern and classical Chinese by completing the following courses or by demonstrating an equivalent level of linguistic attainment by passing the appropriate certifying examinations.

Complete all of the following course(s):
CHINLANG 103

Third-Year Modern Chinese, Third Quarter

5 Units
or
CHINLANG 103B

Third-Year Modern Chinese for Bilingual Students, Third Quarter

3 Units
CHINA 208

Advanced Classical Chinese: Philosophical Texts

3-5 Units
or
CHINA 209

Advanced Classical Chinese: Historical Narration

2-5 Units
and
Supporting Language or Laboratory Skill Requirement
Demonstrate proficiency in at least one supporting foreign language (in addition to Chinese and English), or in a laboratory skill, to be chosen in consultation with the primary advisor according to the candidate's specific research goals. Proficiency in language(s) and/or laboratory skills must be certified through a written examination or an appropriate amount of course work, to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
and
Courses Requirement

To bring the total number of units to 45, complete courses listed among the following graduate-level courses.

Complete all of the following requirements:
Courses
Complete all of the following course(s):
ANTHRO 299

Senior and Master's Paper Writing Workshop

1-2 Units
ANTHRO 303

Introduction to Archaeological Thought

5 Units
ANTHRO 307

Archaeological Methods

5 Units
ARCHLGY 233

Experimental Archaeology

3-5 Units
CHINA 275

Constructing National History in East Asian Archaeology

3-5 Units
CHINA 276

Emergence of Chinese Civilization from Caves to Palaces

3-4 Units
and
Conditions
Two upper-division or graduate-level courses in fields such as Chinese anthropology, art history, history, philosophy, political science, religious studies, or another field, as approved by the student's advisor.