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College of Arts & Sciences
Department of Asian & Asian American Studies
HomeAsian & Asian American Studies Programs MastersMasters in Contemporary Asian and Asian American Studies

M.A. in Contemporary Asian & Asian American Studies

Graduate Director:  Atsuko Oyama

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What does it mean to be an Asian in America? What are the contributions by and challenges facing Asian Americans? What is the role of linguistic, racial and ethnic identities in shaping global communication? What are the language and cultural resources we can use to combat discrimination against racialized and minoritized communities? How can we leverage Asian and Asian American languages and cultures for personal growth and societal transformation?

The Master of Arts in Contemporary Asia and Asian American Studies provides students with an interdisciplinary training to develop critical skills and stances in areas ranging from Asian diaspora and cultural studies to multilingualism and intercultural communication to literary and translation studies to intellectual history.

The program prepares students for careers in teaching of Asian languages, global business, government, nonprofit organizations, education, communication, or further advanced studies in Asian and Asian American languages and cultures. The program will also provide students with opportunities for experiential learning and professional development.

We welcome students of all backgrounds who are eager to learn about Asia and Asian America in depth as they relate to the contemporary transnational and multicultural world.

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Course Requirements and Specializations

30-credits, including 24-credits of course work and 6-credits of thesis/project work, over two semesters. More specifically, students are required to take the following:

  1. a fall pro-seminar in research methods (3 credits)
  2. one course in each of five categories (15 credits):
    • Language and Cross-Cultural Communication
    • Religions and Philosophies of Asia
    • Culture and Heritage
    • Politics and Society
    • Contemporary Asian Diaspora
  3. two elective courses in any field of interest, chosen in consultation with and subject to approval of the Graduate Director (6 credits)
  4. a thesis or final project (6 credits)

Students who have a strong background and interest in Asian Languages or Multilingualism and Intercultural Communication Studies should consult with the Graduate Program Director in order to choose courses for requirements 2 and 3, to appropriately focus on these areas.

  • The Asian Languages (AL) Specialization

    Students who have a strong interest in languages may take graduate level Asian language courses as their two elective courses (For “Requirement (3)”). 

    Graduate level Asian Language courses:

    Chinese language courses: https://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/graduatebulletin/current/courses/chi/

    • CHI 501: Advanced Chinese I
    • CHI 502: Advanced Chinese II
    • CHI 511:  Readings: Journalistic Chinese
    • CHI 512:  Readings in Classical Chinese
    • CHI 521:  Chinese Poetry & Short Stories

    Japanese language courses: https://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/graduatebulletin/current/courses/jpn/

    • JPN 501: Advanced Japanese I
    • JPN502: Advanced Japanese II
    • JPN510: Business Japanese
    • JPN511: Advanced Japanese III
    • JPN512: Advanced Japanese IV

    Japanese language courses: https://www.stonybrook.edu/sb/graduatebulletin/current/courses/jpn/

    • KOR 501: Advanced Korean I
    • KOR 502: Advanced Korean II
    • KOR 511: Advanced Korean III
    • KOR 512: Advanced Korean IV

     

    Faculty: 

    Chinese:Tingda (Hannah) Li, Dongmei Zeng, Yi Wang

    Japanese: Eva Nagase, Chikako Nakamura, Atsuko Oyama, Eriko Sato

    Korean: Jiwon Hwang, Heejeong Sohn

  • Multilingualism and Intercultural Communication Specialization

    Students who have a strong background and interest in Multilingualism and Intercultural Communication may choose relevant courses for four of the five categories in “Requirement (2)” and for two elective courses in “Requirement (3).”

    Courses:

    • AAS534: Englishes in Asia   
    • AAS585: Translation Studies of Asian languages
    • AAS545: Learning of Asian Languages
    • AAS555: Heritage Languages of Asian Americans  
    • AAS560: Chinese Sociolinguistics
    • AAS570: Intercultural Communication
    • AAS574: Accent and Language Justice
    • AAS 575: Multilingualism & Communication in Asia  
    • AAS576: Culture and Conversation Styles
    • AAS577: Language, Culture, and Social Change
    • CHI 526: Structure of Mandarin Chinese 
    • JPN 526: Structure of Japanese 
    • KOR 526: Structure of Korean  

    Faculty: 

    Agnes Weiyun He, Jiwon Hwang, Eriko Sato, Shikaripur N. Sridhar, Yi Wang

  • Competence in Globalization Specialization

    Our CAAS M.A. degree can be earned with a NEW GLI Focus. This new, point-based credential focuses on giving students practical, competency based experience in issues pertaining to globalization alongside their academic study. Aimed at budding practitioners, the GLI Focus will expand your MA degree to put knowledge into practice and situate Asian-American Studies on the global scale. 

    Adding the GLI Focus to your MA is straightforward and does not require any extra credits. Alongside your CAAS MA degree, complete various GLI Tasks with the advising of the Institute for Globalization Studies.  Read more here about the tasks required for a GLI Focus in your MA degree.

    Students who have a strong interest in globalization and Asian diaspora studies may take relevant courses in AAAS and other departments (e.g., History, English, Sociology, etc.) as part of “Requirements (2) and (3).”

    AAS courses pertaining to globalization and Asian diaspora

    • AAS 560: Empire, Memory and Narratives of Asian America
    • AAS 565: Food, Labor and Asian America

    Contact Dr. Andrea Fedi for more information.

    andrea.fedi@stonybrook.edu

    Faculty: Nerissa S. Balce, Sandra So Hee Chi Kim

    Affiliated Faculty

Admission

  • Statement of purpose (500-1000 words)
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Undergraduate transcript
  • Official report of TOEFL (including TOEFL Home Edition), or IELTS (for international applicants from non-English speaking countries). See the details.
  • GRE is NOT required

Deadlines

Fall admissions: May 1st

Spring admissions: November 1st

Early consideration deadline for all students: February 15, 2024

Priority deadline for domestic students for a scholarship consideration: January 15, 2024

Scholarship

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