www.arts.cornell.edu/asian/gradinfo.htm

There are numerous opportunities for graduate work in Asian Studies at Cornell University, so it is important that applicants understand the options and choose the course of study that will help you meet your individual goals. Please read the Department of Asian Studies material as well as the information you receive from the Graduate School carefully before applying.

The Cornell University Department of Asian Studies has two graduate program options. There is a M.A./Ph.D. program in East Asian Literature and an M.A. program in Asian Studies. The M.A. program has four areas of concentration: East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and a joint M.A./M.B.A. option.

M.A./Ph.D. study in various fields:

Please note that the term "Field" has a special meaning at Cornell, since graduate study here is organized into Fields that are only loosely related to Departments and Programs. Students who wish to work toward a doctorate and have had undergraduate training in Asian Studies and in another discipline should apply to the M.A. or Ph.D. program in the appropriate field (i.e., anthropology or history). In addition to the Fields of East Asian Literature and Asian Studies, a complete list of the fields of study offered at Cornell is provided by the Graduate School. Some fields have concentrations dealing directly with Asia (i.e., Chinese history), while others allow students to create an individualized Asian Studies minor.

Intensive language work:

Students wishing to do intensive, beginning work in Chinese (Mandarin) or Japanese should consider enrolling in FALCON (Full-year Asian Language Concentration). The Chinese and Japanese courses begin in June and require full-time work. FALCON is designed for students with no prior training in the language; however, in some cases it may also be the best course for students with up to two years of previous course work or for those who have studied the language on their own. Students may register for FALCON as non-degree graduate students or as part of any Cornell University program. In addition to applying to the Graduate School, applicants should apply directly to the FALCON program by filling out a special application form.

These vary somewhat by field and concentration. All students are required to submit GRE scores, and most students who are admitted score above 1200 in the combined Verbal and Quantitative sections. (Special consideration may be given to low GRE scores for non-native speakers of English, but taking the test is required for all applicants.) The Field of Asian Studies does not require any advanced subject tests, although students who apply to the joint M.A./M.B.A. program must also take the GMAT. Foreign nationals must take the TOEFL test and score at least 600 on the paper-based exam. Students achieving only 550 may be admitted, but will be required to take remedial English classes until the 600 score is attained.

Since all fields of graduate study at Cornell are competitive, you are advised to write a thoughtful statement of purpose, select your referees carefully and inform them of your goals, request your undergraduate records early, and complete your application as soon as possible.

The deadline for receiving completed applications, test scores, and all other application materials for the Field of East Asian Literature is January 15. The Field of Asian Studies does not have a formal deadline date, but applicants are encouraged to send in their application materials as soon as possible. The selection committee also reserves the right to defer applications received later in the decision process to the next academic year. You may check with the Graduate School for the final application dates for any other Cornell University fields of study.

Most of Cornell's financial support goes to students in Ph.D. degree programs. Normally, admission to a Ph.D. field includes a commitment from the Graduate School of five years of financial support, with the expectation that the student would work as a teaching assistant for three of those years. However, there is no university funding available for M.A. students. The area programs (East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia) may have information available about outside funding sources.

• For further information about the Field of Asian Studies or the Field of East Asian Literature, contact: Graduate Field Assistant, Department of Asian Studies, Cornell University, 388 Rockefeller Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-2502; telephone (607)255-9099; e-mail: asian@cornell.edu or east_asian_lit@cornell.edu; Department of Asian Studies Website.

• For further information about the FALCON intensive language study program, contact: FALCON Program, Cornell University, 125 Rockefeller Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-2502; telephone (607)255-6457; email: falcon@cornell.edu; FALCON Website.