<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I am applying to interdisciplinary/terminal M.A. East Asian Studies programs this fall and haven't found much information (outside of school websites) about what each programs specialize in or are particularly known for. I have a list of about 13 schools but do not know enough about them to whittle it down. The Ivy standards of course (Columbia, Cornell, Yale, Harvard, and then Berkeley, Stanford) are highly rated for "Asian History" but does anyone have any specific insight into a particular school? Ie: what disciplines they favor, what the dept is known for, what sort of research areas they are interested in, etc. I plan to focus on some aspect of contemporary Chinese culture, and I am also looking at the profs and what they have published but if someone has some firsthand knowledge - that would be greatly helpful!</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I'm in a interdisciplinary program (in Jewish Studies) so I know what you mean. What you should do is find out where the top Asian history, literature, religion, political science, etc programs are. Those are going to have a lot of those professors on the faculty. So if you're applying to a school with strong Asian history, you're bound to see a number of classes relating to Asian history (or relating to it). Find out what the grad students are focusing on and where they ultimately get their PhD in. So you're interested in China, look for program that's heavy in Chinese faculty (I mean those who study China, not who are ethnically Chinese!). You won't want to be surrounded by Japanese or Korean that you won't have a chance to master or narrow your focus to a certain aspect of Chinese culture (sociology, history, literature, etc).</p>
<p>You'll need to look at the bigger picture and don't be shy to e-mail the programs asking for this kind of information. Also, are there any particular faculty members that you want to work with in schools that have Asian studies? Go for those schools. They'll be your guides and give you advice how to direct your path to the MA (and then PhD if you decide to apply).</p>
<p>Don't forget your own professors!!!</p>