Skip to Content

Graduate

The university offers an interdisciplinary program in East Asian Studies leading to the Master of Arts (MA) degree. The curriculum includes courses in anthropology, art history, Asian studies, Chinese language and literature, cinema studies, comparative literature, geography, history, international studies, Japanese language and literature, journalism, Korean language, linguistics, political science, religious studies, and sociology. Students who complete three years equivalent of Southeast and /or South Asia language study abroad or in other institutions may, with the support of an Asian Studies faculty advisor, construct a special concentration in Southeast and/or South Asian Studies. The program is administered by the Asian Studies Committee, which is composed of faculty members with Asian specialization.

A bachelor’s degree is required for admission, and it is expected that applicants have some undergraduate preparation in courses relating to Asia. Students lacking adequate Asian language or disciplinary training must take appropriate preparatory courses, for which no graduate credits are earned.

Prior to registration, the Asian Studies Committee assigns each student an advisor, who helps the student develop an individual program. During the first year, the student should request that an Asian Studies graduate committee be formed to provide guidance throughout the second year of study and thesis preparation. Graduate students should meet with their advisors at least once a term.

Asian Studies Masters Degree Requirements

Master’s Planner/Forms

Asian Studies MA Planner – Area Studies Track
Asian Studies MA Planner – Disciplinary Track

Permission to Register Form

Requirements for Graduation

Graduation Deadlines
Be sure to take the Thesis Certification Form to your thesis defense, or use this form if you are completing the Two Seminar Paper Option.

Graduate Employment

Asian Studies offers (when possible) Graduate Employment (GE) to its top applicants. Graduate Employment provides important benefits: 1) a tuition waiver up to 16 credits; 2) usually a .40 FTE salary, and 3) health benefits. The General Duties and Responsibilities Statement (GDRS) lays out the specifics of the rights and responsibilities of and for each GE. Asian Studies GDRS 2020-22. GE assignments may be in Asia content courses, taught in English, or in East Asian language classes, depending on applicant abilities and program needs.

Admission Application Instructions

The Asian Studies Graduate Application is an online process. You may upload PDF copies of your statement of objectives, transcripts, CV/Resume, optional GRE, language scores, and writing sample. Your letter of recommendation writers may upload PDF copies of your recommendation letters. You are responsible for making sure your test scores are reported through Educational Testing Services (ETS), and that your official transcripts are mailed to the Office of the Registrar. See address below.  Application deadline is JANUARY 5, 2024.

Step One: Before You Apply

1. GRE TestNo longer required. You may submit GRE scores if you wish. If you decide to include your GRE scores in your application, they must be reported to the University of Oregon (code 4846) and uploaded to the graduate program application (the online system will state that GRE scores are required, but they are now optional only).

2. English Language Proficiency – All applicants for whom English is not a native/primary language must satisfy one of the following English Language Proficiency criteria in order to be eligible for admission.

We suggest you take the TOEFL or IELTS exam 4-6 weeks before the application deadline. We must receive your official scores no later than JANUARY 31.

3. Graduate Employment (GE)—If you are applying for a GE appointment, you must submit your application in the graduate program application. We will use your letters of reference from your Asian Studies Graduate Application, so there is no need to send additional letters for this GE application.

GE assignments may be in Asia content courses, taught in English, or in East Asian language classes, depending on applicant abilities and program needs.

4. Transcripts – Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited 4-year university by the time of admission.  International applicants must submit the final transcripts in both the original language and an official English translation.

Applicants must submit official final transcripts from all colleges or universities where they received a bachelor’s degree and all subsequent degrees. Transcripts must show degrees awarded. Required documents must be sent directly from the institution to the Office of the Registrar.

Office of the Registrar
5257 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403

Please check the Graduate School website for Official Transcript Requirements and Acceptable Methods of Submission, here.

Graduation – If you have not graduated at the time of application, please send transcripts showing degree completed. If you are accepted for admission, your official degree transcript must be sent as soon as you have graduated.

Step Two: Apply Online

  1. The University of Oregon Application to the Graduate School and to the Asian Studies program can be found here.
    • Domestic applicants pay an application fee of $70; International applicants pay an application fee of $90.
    • Note: If you are an international applicant and do not have a social security number, leave that line blank.
  2. Some of the components of the application are:
    a. Special area:  tell us which part of the world you expect to focus your studies.
    b. Languages
    (other than English that you can read with competence): please list your second language(s).
  3. Statement of Objectives: Write a 2 to 3-page Statement of Objectives introducing yourself, explaining your motivation(s) for doing graduate work in Asian Studies, and how this Program will help you best meet your career goals.
  4. Writing Sample: Provide a research paper, essay or undergraduate thesis written in English, including citations, preferably on an Asia-related topic (no page limit). 
  5. Three letters of recommendation from references who can evaluate your academic potential will be uploaded by your letter writer after you’ve completed entering the following information for each: name, position, institution, street address, telephone and email.  We will contact each letter writer, and ask her/him to upload her/his recommendation. We encourage you to do this step early in your application process, to allow letter writers as much time as possible to upload their letters.

QUESTIONS?

Questions about the Asian Studies application process
Contact: Asian Studies Graduate Coordinators
Phone: 541-346-9780
Email: gslgradcoord@uoregon.edu

Questions about the Asian Studies Graduate Program
Contact: Luke Habberstad
Director of Asian Studies
Email: lukehabb@uoregon.edu