MA Asian Languages/Civilizations (Chinese) at Arizona State University

Programme overview

The Chinese graduate program in the School of International Letters and Cultures offers you a Master of Arts degree with a focus in one of two areas: culture (literature, linguistics, religion) or pedagogy. The two areas of instruction prepare you to succeed in Chinese language environments with cultural competence. Each of these two areas also introduces you to the fundamentals of sinology and East Asian studies, which can prepare you for further scholarly, educational and professional pursuits.

What you will study

30 credit hours and a thesis, or 30 credit hours including the required applied project course (CHI 593) Required Core (3 credit hours) CHI 501 or JPN 501 Proseminar: East Asian Humanities (3) Concentration (3 credit hours) SLC 596 Second Language Methodologies (3) Electives (15 credit hours) Other Requirements (3 credit hours) CHI 598 Topic: History of the Chinese Language (3) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) CHI 593 Applied Project (6) or CHI 599 Thesis (6) Additional Curriculum Information The MA in Asian languages and civilizations has concentrations in Chinese and Japanese.

Career pathways

Professionals with this degree can confidently move into academic, business and international fields. Skills developed through this program are valued for teaching positions, translation work or work in larger sectors such as governmental, diplomatic and international business. Career examples: foreign service, historians, interpreters and translators, lawyers, reporters and correspondents, social and community service managers, state department employees, supply chain managers.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in Chinese or a related field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: graduate admission application and application fee official transcripts personal statement writing sample resume three letters of recommendation proof of English proficiency Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. The writing sample should represent the applicant's thinking and writing skills on a topic connected with Chinese culture.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search; the application opens almost a year before the start term. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S. Apply with ASU's graduate application (Law applicants use the law college's site); GRE/GMAT requirements vary by programme.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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