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Credit hours

Each student must complete a total of 24 semester hours of graduate course work on Asia, primarily China, with a cumulative average of "B" or better. Only graduate-level courses (numbered 400 and above) are eligible for Rackham credit and can be counted toward the total semester hour requirement.

Required course work

A. The interdisciplinary seminars in Chinese studies: CCS 501 (social science) and
CCS 502 (humanities)

B. One course from the history department on Chinese history

C. One course focusing primarily on the imperial or pre-imperial period

D. One course focusing primarily on modern China

CCS 501 and 502 cannot be used to meet other course requirements. Other courses can fulfill more than one requirement. The distribution of courses must include courses from at least 2 different departments, not including CCS courses or language courses. The CCS Associate Director will adjudicate all questions concerning these requirements.

Master's Thesis

All M.A. students are expected to complete a substantial research paper reflecting interdisciplinary training and the ability to use the Western language literature and Chinese language sources. The essay must be read and approved by two Center for Chinese Studies faculty members from different disciplines, normally including the advisor, both of whom will grade the thesis. It is the student's responsibility to identify the two faculty members who will agree to serve as readers of the student's thesis. Students who complete the thesis while enrolled are encouraged to register for the thesis writing class in the department of their thesis advisor.

Under exceptional circumstances, students may petition to submit two shorter research papers to substitute for the Master's thesis. The papers can be based on those originally written for a graduate class, and should be of "A" quality. The student's faculty advisor should help the student evaluate what revisions to course papers are necessary to make them of appropriate length and quality. A student intending to file such a petition should consult with the Associate Director of CCS ahead of time to determine whether his or her circumstances merit such a petition. The petition itself should include a formal letter of request and be accompanied by complete copies of both papers. The papers will be reviewed by two faculty readers appointed by the CCS Associate Director.

Language Requirement

Each student must achieve at least third-year level competence in reading and speaking Chinese. Competency will be evaluated by the UM Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, either through a language test or successful completion of coursework in modern Chinese. For those who have already attained third-year language competency, continued language training is strongly recommended. Please be advised that second and third-year Chinese are not graduate-level courses and so cannot be counted towards the M.A. total credit requirement.

Advising

Each student, upon registration, will be assigned a Center faculty advisor designated by the CCS Associate Director. The advisor should be consulted about course selection and other substantive issues. Students also will meet with the CCS Associate Director at the beginning of each academic year to discuss course selection plans for the upcoming year. Each semester, students should submit a written course plan to the Student Services Coordinator before the registration deadline and should notify the Student Services Coordinator of any changes in course registration.

 

For further information, contact:

Jen Zhu, zzhu@umich.edu
Student Services Coordinator
Suite 3668 SSWB
1080 South University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106

Tel: 734-764-6308
Email: chinese.studies@umich.edu
www.ii.umich.edu/ccs