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.
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, Asian Religions, 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. See Intensive Language Program.
Admission requirements:
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 deadline for Asian Religions
is January 10. 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.
Financial Aid:
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.
Further information:
For further information about the Field of Asian Studies, the Field of Asian Religions or the Field of East Asian
Literature, contact: Graduate Field Assistant, Department of Asian Studies, Cornell
University, 350 Rockefeller Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-2502; telephone (607)255-9099; e-mail:
asian@cornell.edu,
asian-religions@cornell.edu or
east_asian_lit@cornell.edu
For further information about the FALCON intensive language study program, contact:
FALCON Program, Cornell University, 388 Rockefeller Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-2502; telephone
(607)255-6457; email: falcon@cornell.edu
