Twin Cities campus

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Twin Cities Campus

Asian Literatures, Cultures, and Media Ph.D.

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
College of Liberal Arts
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Department of Asian Languages and Literatures, 220 Folwell Hall, 9 Pleasant St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-625-6534; fax: 612-624-5513)
Email: all@umn.edu
Website: http://all.umn.edu
  • Program Type: Doctorate
  • Requirements for this program are current for Fall 2019
  • Length of program in credits: 72
  • This program does not require summer semesters for timely completion.
  • Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General Information section of this website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
The Asian literatures, cultures, and media (ALCM) program enables students to pursue the study of Asian texts and media, broadly understood. The program encourages work that questions the boundaries of traditional area studies, demands proficiency in the language(s) of concentration, and provides opportunities for students to design a flexible program of study.
Program Delivery
  • via classroom (the majority of instruction is face-to-face)
Prerequisites for Admission
Special Application Requirements:
--A bachelor's degree from an accredited US institution or foreign equivalent --Strong academic record from a relevant humanities or social science discipline --A proposed language of concentration (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi/Urdu, or other South Asian language with approval of the director of graduate studies) --At least three years of college-level study in the proposed language of concentration, or a demonstration of comparable linguistic proficiency as approved by the director of graduate studies
Applicants must submit their test score(s) from the following:
  • GRE
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
  • TOEFL
    • Internet Based - Total Score: 79
    • Internet Based - Writing Score: 21
    • Internet Based - Reading Score: 19
    • Paper Based - Total Score: 550
  • IELTS
    • Total Score: 6.5
  • MELAB
    • Final score: 80
Key to test abbreviations (GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the General Information section of this website.
Program Requirements
48 credits are required in the major.
0 credits are required outside the major.
24 thesis credits are required.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses toward program requirements is permitted under certain conditions with adviser approval.
Language Requirement: Reading and speaking competence in the language.
A minimum GPA of 3.50 is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 3 semesters must be completed before filing a Degree Program Form.
The language requirement is met by satisfactory completion of the MA-level qualifying examination.
Required Courses (6 credits)
Take the following courses:
AMES 8001 - Critical Approaches to Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (3.0 cr)
AMES 8002 - Research Seminar (3.0 cr)
Electives (42 credits)
Language Courses (0 to 8 credits)
Select up to 8 language credits as needed in consultation with the advisor.
ARAB 5101 - Advanced Arabic I (4.0 cr)
ARAB 5102 - Advanced Arabic II (4.0 cr)
CHN 4041 - Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese I (4.0 cr)
CHN 4042 - Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese II (4.0 cr)
HNDI 4005 - Advanced Hindi I for Graduate Research (4.0 cr)
HNDI 4006 - Advanced Hindi II for Graduate Research (4.0 cr)
JPN 4041 - Advanced Japanese Conversation and Composition I (4.0 cr)
JPN 4042 - Advanced Japanese Conversation and Composition II (4.0 cr)
KOR 4041 - Advanced Readings in Modern Korean I (4.0 cr)
KOR 4042 - Advanced Readings in Modern Korean II (4.0 cr)
URDU 4005 - Advanced Urdu I for Graduate Research (4.0 cr)
URDU 4006 - Advanced Urdu II for Graduate Research (4.0 cr)
Seminars and Courses (34 to 42 credits)
Select credits from the following in consultation with the advisor to complete the 42 course credits required. Alternative courses can be chosen with advisor approval.
ALL 5xxx
ALL 8xxx
ANTH 5980 - Topics in Anthropology (3.0 cr)
ANTH 8810 - Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology (3.0 cr)
ARTH 5765 {Inactive} (3.0 cr)
ARTH 8710 - Seminar: Islamic Art (3.0 cr)
ARTH 8720 - Seminar:East Asian Art (3.0 cr)
ARTH 8920 - Seminar: Film History and Criticism (3.0 cr)
ARTH 8950 - Seminar: Issues in the History of Art (3.0 cr)
GWSS 5490 - Topics: Political Economy and Global Studies (3.0 cr)
HIST 5940 {Inactive} (1.0-4.0 cr)
HIST 5960 - Topics in History (1.0-4.0 cr)
HIST 8960 - Topics in History (1.0-4.0 cr)
MIMS 8001 - Theories of the Moving Image (3.0 cr)
MIMS 8003 - Historiography of the Moving Image (3.0 cr)
Thesis Credits
Take 24 doctoral thesis credits.
AMES 8888 - Thesis Credit: Doctoral (1.0-24.0 cr)
 
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· College of Liberal Arts

View future requirement(s):
· Summer 2021
· Fall 2020

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AMES 8001 - Critical Approaches to Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall
This course aims to provide critical and theoretical foundations for incoming graduate students in Asian Literatures, Cultures, and Media program, while also addressing broader questions that would be of interest to students in other departments in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Our project will be to generate discussion about the theoretical and political complexities of studying Asia and the Middle East from a cross-cultural and transnational perspective, taking account of several inter-related questions at the heart of the work of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Beginning with Edward Said?s critique of orientalism as our point of departure, we will take up a range of questions revolving around debates over historiography (e.g., capitalism and the formations of race and gender, nationalism and imperialism, etc.) and the relationship between cultural studies and political-economy (e.g., the political unconscious, national allegory, translation and translingual practice, ethnographic gaze, etc.) with a particular attention to the complications posed by taking ?Asia? as the object of intellectual inquiry in any such analysis. Our discussions will consider key problematics in cultural theory, the uses of such theory in the Asian context and some of the issues thereby raised, and critical interventions by scholars of Asia.
AMES 8002 - Research Seminar
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Spring
Issues/approaches in academic study of Asian and/or Middle Eastern area studies. Problems in contemporary academic theory in humanities. Application of theory to issues in area studies raised. Interventions of critical theory. Ethics of professional peer review. Crisis in higher education.
ARAB 5101 - Advanced Arabic I
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Advanced readings in classical/modern Arabic. Compositions based on texts. prereq: Grade B- or higher in 3102 or instr consent
ARAB 5102 - Advanced Arabic II
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Readings of Arabic texts. Writing compositions based on texts. Continuation of 5101.
CHN 4041 - Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese I
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Writings of different styles. Short stories/essays written since 1949 that reflect Chinese society. Internet writing, use of language. Writings reflection of contemporary Chinese society, its culture/philosophies. prereq: 3032 or instr consent
CHN 4042 - Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese II
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Writings of different styles. Short stories/essays written since 1949 that reflect Chinese society. Internet writing, use of language. Writings' reflection of contemporary Chinese society, its culture/philosophies. prereq: 3032 or instr consent
HNDI 4005 - Advanced Hindi I for Graduate Research
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Hndi 3031/HnUr 4005/Urdu 3031/
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Continued emphasis on development of communication skills, ability to comprehend both written/spoken texts. Speak, read, write in Hindi beyond intermediate level. Meets with HNDI 3031. prereq: 4004 or instr consent
HNDI 4006 - Advanced Hindi II for Graduate Research
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Hndi 3032/Hndi 4006/Urdu 3032/
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
Continued emphasis on development of communication skills, ability to comprehend both written/spoken texts. Speak, read, write in Hindi beyond intermediate level. Meets with HNDI 3032. prereq: 4005 or instr consent
JPN 4041 - Advanced Japanese Conversation and Composition I
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Practice in advanced spoken/written Japanese. Assignments include essays, summaries, formal interviews in Japanese. prereq: 3032 or instr consent
JPN 4042 - Advanced Japanese Conversation and Composition II
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Practice in advanced spoken/written Japanese. Typical assignments include essays, summaries, formal interviews in Japanese. prereq: 4041 or instr consent
KOR 4041 - Advanced Readings in Modern Korean I
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall
Speaking, listening, reading, writing. Content/task-based course. Study vocabulary/read novels, journals, selections from Korean history/arts. Writing summaries, reports, simple reaction papers. prereq: 3032 or equiv or instr consent
KOR 4042 - Advanced Readings in Modern Korean II
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Speaking, listening, reading, writing. Content/task-based course. Study vocabulary/read novels, journals, selections from Korean history/arts. Writing summaries, reports, simple reaction papers. prereq: 4041 or equiv or instr consent
URDU 4005 - Advanced Urdu I for Graduate Research
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Hndi 3031/HnUr 4005/Urdu 3031/
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall
Continued emphasis on development of communication skills, ability to comprehend both written/spoken texts. Speak, read, write in Urdu beyond intermediate level. Meets with URDU 3031.
URDU 4006 - Advanced Urdu II for Graduate Research
Credits: 4.0 [max 4.0]
Course Equivalencies: Hndi 3032/Hndi 4006/Urdu 3032/
Grading Basis: OPT No Aud
Typically offered: Every Spring
This course is intended for students who have already completed four semesters of study in Urdu or have an equivalent Hindi-Urdu proficiency. The course builds on the skills acquired in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the first semester of Advanced Urdu instruction (URDU 3031/4005) and provides a more advanced foundation in Urdu. The course aims for the students to acquire an advanced-level proficiency in Urdu by developing language functions such as narration, description, and comparison. Students will be introduced to different genres and styles of spoken and written Urdu as well as grammatical details that facilitate accuracy and fluency. The students are expected to read and write coherent Urdu paragraphs and further develop and hone their conversational skills. We will also review and continue the study of Urdu grammar. Meets with URDU 3032.
ANTH 5980 - Topics in Anthropology
Credits: 3.0 [max 6.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall, Spring & Summer
Topics specified in Class Schedule.
ANTH 8810 - Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology
Credits: 3.0 [max 9.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Seminar examines particular aspects of method and/or theory. Topics vary according to student and faculty interests.
ARTH 8710 - Seminar: Islamic Art
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Focus depends on current research interests of the professor and needs and interests of graduate students in Islamic and Asian art history. prereq: instr consent
ARTH 8720 - Seminar:East Asian Art
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Research focuses on closely defined topic, such as a short period of Chinese art, a restricted subject, or role of a single artist. A substantive research paper is required and participation in the seminar dialogue is expected. prereq: instr consent
ARTH 8920 - Seminar: Film History and Criticism
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Selected topics in film history and theory, including specific directors, genres, movements, periods, and critical issues (e.g., violence). prereq: instr consent
ARTH 8950 - Seminar: Issues in the History of Art
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Periodic Fall & Spring
Theoretical or topical issues. Topics vary. prereq: 3 cr art history, instr consent
GWSS 5490 - Topics: Political Economy and Global Studies
Credits: 3.0 [max 12.0]
Typically offered: Every Spring
Topics specified in Class Schedule.
HIST 5960 - Topics in History
Credits: 1.0 -4.0 [max 16.0]
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Selected topics in history not covered in regular courses. Taught as staffing permits. prereq: [advanced undergrad with instr consent]
HIST 8960 - Topics in History
Credits: 1.0 -4.0 [max 20.0]
Grading Basis: A-F or Aud
Typically offered: Every Fall & Spring
Topics not covered in regular courses.
MIMS 8001 - Theories of the Moving Image
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Fall
Study of the moving image as the intersection between critical media studies and film studies. Not a historical overview, but rather current discussions in these areas contextualized with relevant readings in classical film and media theory.
MIMS 8003 - Historiography of the Moving Image
Credits: 3.0 [max 3.0]
Grading Basis: A-F only
Typically offered: Every Spring
Genealogies of the moving image. "Crisis" of film in debates about "old" and "new" media; Hollywood's role in defining commercial and oppositional forms of moving images; approaches to the writing of history in relation to media historiography.
AMES 8888 - Thesis Credit: Doctoral
Credits: 1.0 -24.0 [max 100.0]
Grading Basis: No Grade
Typically offered: Every Fall, Spring & Summer
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