Dual Degree (MA + MPA)

MA in East Asian Studies (EALC) and Master of Public Affairs (O'Neill School)

EALC’s dual degree with IU’s nationally top-ranked O’Neill School of Environmental and Public Affairs (formerly SPEA) provides an opportunity for students to develop both deep knowledge of East Asia—a dynamic and central nexus of the 21^st century global politics and business—and public affairs.

Admission Requirements

Students must separately apply to and be accepted into both the Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program (O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs) and the MA in East Asian Studies program (Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Hamilton Lugar School). The normal criteria for admission to each program apply. Students may apply for admission to both programs simultaneously. Alternatively, students may begin their studies in either school and then apply to the second program after admission into the first program.

MPA Course Requirements

As of this writing, 36 credit hours of graduate course work to be distributed between:

• professional development practicum courses;
• courses in the O’Neill School core;
• specialized concentration courses, which may include O’Neill, EALC, and other courses, to be selected in consultation with an O’Neill School advisor.

For the latest degree requirements, contact the O’Neill School graduate student services office, SPEA 260, 812-855-9485.

EALC Course Requirements

24 credit hours, including three social science courses, two history courses, and one other humanities course. Ordinarily, at least 18 of these credit hours must be from among the courses listed under “Culture and Area Courses” on the list that follows. At least three courses must be at the 500 level or above. Third- and fourth- year language courses do not count towards the requirement that one take at least 3 courses at the 500 level or above, but do count toward the 20 credit hours required for the major. Except for overseas study credits, normally a maximum of 3 credit hours of E595 may be counted toward the degree.

Language Requirement

Satisfactory completion of three years of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean, or the equivalent, as determined by examination. Language courses at the third-year level and above may be counted toward the degree. Language courses at the first- and second-year level will not count toward the degree.

Project Requirement

The student may choose either an MA thesis or an essay.

(1) A thesis (normally 50-80 pages) demonstrates the student's skills in the use of primary sources and scholarly research. May be taken for up to 4 credit hours. (The thesis option is strongly recommended to MA students who wish to be admitted to a PhD program after completing their degree).

(2) An essay (normally 40-50 pages) demonstrates the ability to master, use, and critically evaluate a body of scholarly literature in the student's field. May be taken for up to 4 credit hours.