The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures offers a new interdisciplinary MA and PhD program in Asian Languages and Cultures. Students may take advantage of the many opportunities within the department and on campus to do in-depth research on Asia from multiple disciplinary perspectives and across the traditional area studies divisions of East, South, and Southeast Asia. We welcome applications from students who are interested in working transregionally, transdisciplinarily, or both. This includes students with a traditional background in Asian Studies and related academic fields as well as those whose path to studying Asia has been through professional work.
The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures has developed a lively intellectual community around Transasian Studies and is supporting student-led seminars, reading groups, workshops, and other events. Prospective graduate students are encouraged to reach out to faculty members who share their academic and research interests.
Asian Languages and Cultures is home to nearly twenty faculty whose research and teaching specialties cover a wide range of topics, including traditional medicine in India; the history of yoga; contemporary mindfulness practice with insights from Tibetan Buddhism; human rights in Thailand; Chinese ghost stories, traditional poetics and philology; sociolinguistics and discourse analysis of the Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian languages; analysis of classical Japanese tale fiction, early modern comedic narratives, manga, and anime; Japanese counterculture; and Korean food.
Asian Studies at UW–Madison has strong ties across departments, to research centers, area studies programs, extensive library connections, and alumni relations.
Admissions
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | January 10 |
| Spring Deadline | This program does not admit in the spring. |
| Summer Deadline | This program does not admit in the summer. |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not Required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Prior to submitting application and materials, applicants should carefully review the faculty’s expertise to determine the fit between their interest and the program. To this extent, prospective applicants may contact a specific faculty to discuss their research interest prior to submitting applications.
Applicants should also review the Graduate School's admission process and Graduate School's minimum requirements prior to submitting the online application and fee.
For more information on application materials, refer to the application and admissions information page.
Deadlines
In order to be considered for fellowships, project assistantships, and teaching assistantships, all application materials must be in by the fall deadline.
If you do not need any funding support, you may submit an application by April 15.
Funding
Graduate School Resources
The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Graduate Student Costs
For tuition and living costs, please view the Cost of Attendance page. International applicants recommended for admission to the Graduate School are required to show sufficient funds to attend the University during the course of studies (tuition, food and housing, incidentals and health insurance) to be officially accepted by the Graduate School.
Department Resources
The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures offers financial assistance in the forms of fellowships, teaching assistantships (TAships), and project assistantships (PAships). Please make note of the deadline of January 10 for financial assistance consideration. All necessary materials including test scores must be submitted by the deadline.
If you are an international applicant and receive a fellowship, PAship or TAship, please make note that you will likely be required to show additional financial documentation to meet the minimum required for your official acceptance to the Graduate School.
Other Awards & Fellowships
GRS (Graduate Research Scholar) Fellowship
Graduate Research Scholar (GRS) Communities are organized by the various schools and colleges within UW–Madison that offer fellowship support. For further information: https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/graduate-research-scholars/.
Project Assistantships
Availability of PAship varies from one year to another, depending on the types of projects the departmental faculty are engaged in. PAs assist faculty members’ research projects and/or respond to some programmatic needs of the department and other campus units.
Teaching Assistantships
Availability and types of TAship vary from one year to another, depending on the department’s curricular needs and student enrollment. TAs will support a number of our language and culture courses, typically team-teaching with faculty members. If you are interested in being a teaching assistant in our language programs, you must submit the TA application and necessary materials (1-2 page written autobiography that refers to your prior teaching experience, letter of recommendation that speaks to your teaching experience, video recording of your teaching, if available) through the Graduate School application system by January 10.
Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) Awards Office
IRIS manages its own funding opportunities (Scott Kloeck-Jenson Fellowships, IRIS Graduate Fieldwork Awards, Incubator Grants), coordinates the campus component of a number of external programs (Boren Fellowships, Fulbright US Student Program, Fulbright-Hays DDRA, Luce Scholars Program), assists students, faculty, and staff in exploring funding options, and much more. Visit: https://iris.wisc.edu/funding/ for more information on awards. Contact Mark Lilleleht, Assistant Director for Awards, with questions at awards@iris.wisc.edu & 608-265-6070.
Other Forms of Financial Aid
Loans and some on-campus job openings are handled through the Office of Student Financial Aid. Please contact them to obtain more information.
Students may also obtain information from the Grants Information Center in the Memorial Library, Room 262, 728 State St., Madison, WI 53706. Phone 608-262-3242.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Mode of Instruction
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | Students must earn a B or above in all coursework (300 or above, not including research credits) taken as a graduate student. |
| Assessments and Examinations | There are three possible exit requirements for the MA. One of the following three options will be chosen in consultation with the advisors.
|
| Language Requirements | Completion of the third year of study of an Asian language or the second year of study of two Asian languages, or the equivalent level of proficiency as established by examination by department faculty and staff. Additional language study may be required by the advisors. |
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Asia and Related Graduate Coursework | ||
| In consultation with advisor, students must complete at least 21 credits in Asia-related graduate courses in the department or elsewhere in campus. | 21 | |
| Additional Coursework | ||
| In consultation with advisor, students must complete at least 9 credits of additional coursework to meet the 30-credit minimum. | 9 | |
| Language Coursework | ||
| Students may complete coursework in language study at the third-year level and beyond. A maximum of 12 credits may fulfill the minimum credit requirement. | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Students may take courses and seminars drawn from offerings in other departments, or within Asian Languages and Cultures, as decided in collaboration between student and the co-advisors, such as:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 306 | Hinduism | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 307 | A Survey of Tibetan Buddhism | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY/RELIG ST 308 | Introduction to Buddhism | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 319 | The Vietnam Wars | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 335 | The Koreas: Korean War to the 21st Century | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 337 | Social and Intellectual History of China, 589 AD-1919 | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 341 | History of Modern China, 1800-1949 | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 342 | History of the Peoples Republic of China, 1949 to the Present | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 351 | Survey of Classical Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 352 | Survey of Modern Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 353 | Lovers, Warriors and Monks: Survey of Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 354 | Early Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 355 | Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 358 | Language in Japanese Society | 3 |
| ASIAN 361 | Love and Politics: The Tale of Genji | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 363 | China and World War II in Asia | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 367 | Haiku | 3 |
| ASIAN/AFRICAN/RELIG ST 370 | Islam: Religion and Culture | 3-4 |
| ASIAN 375 | Survey of Chinese Film | 3 |
| ASIAN 376 | Manga | 3 |
| ASIAN 378 | Anime | 3 |
| ASIAN/ART HIST 379 | Cities of Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN 403 | Southeast Asian Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN/ART HIST 428 | Visual Cultures of India | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 430 | Indian Traditions in the Modern Age | 3 |
| ASIAN 432 | Introduction to Chinese Linguistics | 3 |
| ASIAN 433 | Topics in East Asian Visual Cultures | 3 |
| ASIAN 434 | Introduction to Japanese Linguistics | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 454 | Samurai: History and Image | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 456 | Pearl Harbor & Hiroshima: Japan, the US & The Crisis in Asia | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY 458 | History of Southeast Asia Since 1800 | 3-4 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 460 | The History of Yoga | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 466 | Buddhist Thought | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 473 | Meditation in Indian Buddhism and Hinduism | 3 |
| ASIAN/ENGL 478 | Indian Writers Abroad: Literature, Diaspora and Globalization | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 505 | The Perfectible Body in Religions, Medicines, and Politics | 3 |
| ASIAN 563 | Readings in Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 573 | Readings in Classical Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 600 | Capstone Seminar in Asian Humanities | 3 |
| ASIAN/ART HIST 621 | Mapping, Making, and Representing Colonial Spaces | 3 |
| ASIAN 630 | Proseminar: Studies in Cultures of Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN 631 | History of the Chinese Language | 3 |
| ASIAN 632 | Studies in Chinese Linguistics | 3 |
| ASIAN 641 | History of Chinese Literature I | 3 |
| ASIAN 642 | History of Chinese Literature II | 3 |
| ASIAN/RELIG ST 650 | Proseminar in Buddhist Thought | 2-3 |
| ASIAN 672 | Studies in Chinese Fiction | 3 |
| ASIAN 701 | Proseminar in Chinese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 712 | Chinese Language Pedagogy | 3 |
| ASIAN 763 | Studies in Japanese Literature | 3 |
| ASIAN 775 | Japanese Applied Linguistics | 3 |
| ASIAN 799 | Reading for Research | 1-3 |
| ASIAN 815 | Seminar: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN 833 | Topics in East Asian Visual Cultures | 3 |
| ASIAN 873 | Seminar in Languages and Literatures of Asia | 3 |
| ASIAN 932 | Seminar in Chinese Linguistics | 2-3 |
| ASIAN 951 | Seminar in Chinese Literature | 3 |
Program Pathways
Initially working with two co-advisors, each student will craft a program of coursework that combines Asia-focused courses with disciplinary study in and beyond the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures. This may include linkages with other departments as well as UW-Madison’s rich array of centers and programs, including the Center for Healthy Minds, Center for Visual Cultures, Human Rights Program, Religious Studies Program, and the Center for East Asian Studies, the Center for South Asia, and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies.
Third Year/Advanced Language Study Course Options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese | ||
| ASIALANG 301 | Fifth Semester Chinese | 4 |
| ASIALANG 302 | Sixth Semester Chinese | 4 |
| ASIALANG 311 | First Semester Classical Chinese | 3 |
| ASIALANG 312 | Second Semester Classical Chinese | 3 |
| ASIALANG 378 | Chinese Conversation | 3 |
| ASIALANG 379 | Business Chinese | 3 |
| ASIALANG 454 | Advanced Chinese through Media | 3 |
| ASIALANG 475 | Advanced Topics in Asian Translation (Chinese only) | 3 |
| Filipino | ||
| ASIALANG 323 | Fifth Semester Filipino | 3 |
| ASIALANG 324 | Sixth Semester Filipino | 3 |
| Hindi | ||
| ASIALANG 333 | Fifth Semester Hindi | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 334 | Sixth Semester Hindi | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 421 | Seventh Semester Asian Language (Hindi only) | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 422 | Eighth Semester Asian Language (Hindi only) | 3-4 |
| Hmong | ||
| ASIALANG 325 | Fifth Semester Hmong | 3 |
| ASIALANG 326 | Sixth Semester Hmong | 3 |
| Indonesian | ||
| ASIALANG 348 | Fifth Semester Indonesian | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 328 | Sixth Semester Indonesian | 3-4 |
| Japanese | ||
| ASIALANG 303 | Fifth Semester Japanese | 4 |
| ASIALANG 313 | Classical Japanese | 3 |
| ASIALANG 376 | Japanese Conversation | 3 |
| ASIALANG 377 | Business Japanese Communication | 3 |
| ASIALANG 451 | Advanced Readings in Japanese | 3 |
| ASIALANG 452 | Advanced Japanese through Audio-Visual Media | 3 |
| ASIALANG 475 | Advanced Topics in Asian Translation (Japanese only) | 3 |
| Korean | ||
| ASIALANG 305 | Fifth Semester Korean | 3 |
| ASIALANG 306 | Sixth Semester Korean | 3 |
| ASIALANG 405 | Seventh Semester Korean | 3 |
| ASIALANG 406 | Eighth Semester Korean | 3 |
| ASIALANG 475 | Advanced Topics in Asian Translation (Korean only) | 3 |
| Persian | ||
| ASIALANG 337 | Fifth Semester Persian | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 338 | Sixth Semester Persian | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 421 | Seventh Semester Asian Language (Persian) | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 422 | Eighth Semester Asian Language (Persian) | 3-4 |
| Sanskrit | ||
| ASIALANG 517 | Fifth Semester Summer Asian Language (Sanskrit only) | 4 |
| ASIALANG 527 | Sixth Semester Summer Asian Language (Sanskrit only) | 4 |
| ASIALANG 421 | Seventh Semester Asian Language (Sanskrit only) | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 422 | Eighth Semester Asian Language (Sanskrit only) | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 675 | Advanced Readings in Sanskrit | 3 |
| Thai | ||
| ASIALANG 329 | Fifth Semester Thai | 3 |
| ASIALANG 330 | Sixth Semester Thai | 3 |
| Tibetan | ||
| ASIALANG 335 | Fifth Semester Tibetan | 4 |
| ASIALANG 336 | Sixth Semester Tibetan | 4 |
| ASIALANG 421 | Seventh Semester Asian Language (Tibetan only) | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 422 | Eighth Semester Asian Language (Tibetan only) | 3-4 |
| Urdu | ||
| ASIALANG 339 | Fifth Semester Urdu | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 340 | Sixth Semester Urdu | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 421 | Seventh Semester Asian Language (Urdu only) | 3-4 |
| ASIALANG 422 | Eighth Semester Asian Language (Urdu only) | 3-4 |
| Vietnamese | ||
| ASIALANG 331 | Fifth Semester Vietnamese | 3 |
| ASIALANG 332 | Sixth Semester Vietnamese | 3 |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures serve as the official document of record for Graduate School academic and administrative policies and procedures and are updated continuously. Note some policies redirect to entries in the official UW-Madison Policy Library. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 9 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.
Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison
With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 9 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to a master’s degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements.
Probation
If a student’s average falls below 3.0 in a given semester, the department will decide whether the student may continue on probation. A specific plan will be arranged with dates and deadlines in place in regard to removal of probationary status.
Advisor / Committee
Starting fall 2018, all students are required to have two co-advisors, identified at the time of admissions. During the course of study, students meet regularly with their advisors to ensure satisfactory progress.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credit maximum. Refer to the Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests policy.
Time Limits
The maximum time for completing all MA requirements and passing the MA examination is three years.
Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
L&S Policy for Graduate Student Academic Appeals
Graduate students have the right to appeal an academic decision related to an L&S graduate program if the student believes that the decision is inconsistent with published policy.
Academic decisions that may be appealed include:
- Dismissal from the graduate program
- Failure to pass a qualifying or preliminary examination
- Failure to achieve satisfactory academic progress
- Academic disciplinary action related to failure to meet professional conduct standards
Issues such as the following cannot be appealed using this process:
- A faculty member declining to serve as a graduate student’s advisor.
- Decisions regarding the student’s disciplinary knowledge, evaluation of the quality of work, or similar judgements. These are the domain of the department faculty.
- Course grades. These can be appealed instead using the L&S Policy for Grade Appeal.
- Incidents of bias or hate, hostile and intimidating behavior, or discrimination (Title IX, Office of Compliance). Direct these to the linked campus offices appropriate for the incident(s).
Appeal Process for Graduate Students
A graduate student wishing to appeal an academic decision must follow the process in the order listed below. Note time limits within each step.
- The student should first seek informal resolution, if possible, by discussing the concern with their academic advisor, the department’s Director of Graduate Studies, and/or the department chair.
- If the program has an appeal policy listed in their graduate program handbook, the student should follow the policy as written, including adhering to any indicated deadlines. In the absence of a specific departmental process, the chair or designee will be the reviewer and decision maker, and the student should submit a written appeal to the chair within 15 business days of the academic decision. The chair or designee will notify the student in writing of their decision.
- If the departmental process upholds the original decision, the graduate student may next initiate an appeal to L&S. To do so, the student must submit a written appeal to the L&S Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Academic Affairs within 15 business days of notification of the department’s decision.
- To the fullest extent possible, the written appeal should include, in a single document: a clear and concise statement of the academic decision being appealed, any relevant background on what led to the decision, the specific policies involved, the relief sought, any relevant documentation related to the departmental appeal, and the names and titles of any individuals contributing to or involved in the decision.
- The Assistant Dean will work with the Academic Associate Dean of the appropriate division to consider the appeal. They may seek additional information and/or meetings related to the case.
- The Assistant Dean and Academic Associate Dean will provide a written decision within 20 business days.
- If L&S upholds the original decision, the graduate student may appeal to the Graduate School. More information can be found on their website: Grievances and Appeals (see: Graduate School Appeal Process).
Other
n/a
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Program Resources
Throughout the academic year, professional development trainings, workshops, and graduate student-organized activities take place. The Director of Graduate Studies is eager to hear from students about what interests they have for such events.
Graduate School Office of Professional Development
The Graduate School Office of Professional Development (OPD) coordinates, develops, and promotes learning opportunities to foster the academic, professional, and life skills of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers and scholars.
Professional development topics include Individual Development Plans, communication, mentoring, grant writing, dissertation writing, career exploration, job search strategies, and more. OPD collaborates with the Writing Center, Libraries, DoIT Software Training for Students, Delta, career centers, and others to provide a wealth of resources and events tailored to the needs of UW–Madison graduate students.
The office developed and maintains DiscoverPD, an innovative tool for UW–Madison graduate students to advance their academic and professional goals. DiscoverPD introduces nine areas (or "facets") of professional development, includes a self-assessment, and provides a customized report of areas of strength and weakness. The report comes with recommendations to help graduate students strengthen their ability within each area.
More information on campus resources for student professional development is available at Graduate Student Professional Development. Students may keep up-to-date by reading GradConnections, the weekly newsletter for graduate students, and bookmarking the Events Calendar to keep tabs on upcoming workshops of interest.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the primary field(s) of study in a historical, comparative, and global context.
- Discuss the major theories, research methods, and approaches to inquiry in the selected area of the student's focus.
- Integrate theories into practice.
- Articulate and communicate knowledge in specialized field(s).
- Recognize and apply principles of professional and ethical conduct.