Asian Languages and
Civilizations (Chinese) MA
East Asian Languages and
Civilization (Chinese) PhD
Graduate Handbook
School of International Letters and Cultures
(Updated Summer 2021)
Table of Contents
Foreword
01
Program Goals
01
Academic Standards and Policies
02
Master of Arts Degree Requirements
09
Program of Study
09
Coursework
09
Time Limitations
10
M.A. Supervisory Committee
11
Changes of M.A. Supervisory Committee
11
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
11
Admission
11
Coursework
11
Field Requirements
12
Language Requirements
12
Comprehensive Examinations, Dissertation, and Oral Defense
12
Time Limitation
13
Ph.D. Supervisory Committee
13
International Students
13
Selection of Graduate Assistants/Associates for Academic Year Appointments
14
Evaluation of Continuing Graduate Students
14
SILC Certificates
15
1
FOREWORD
For general information about Arizona State University and its graduate programs, please see the
ASU Graduate College website.
For more information about the graduate programs in the School of International Letters and
Cultures, please read the SILC website.
For information on admissions and applications, please visit:
- https://admission.asu.edu/graduate or
- Consult the corresponding section in this handbook.
This graduate handbook provides general information on degree requirements as well as
academic standards, policies, and procedures. It should be used in conjunction with the current
Arizona State University Graduate Catalog. Since it is the students’ responsibility to comply with
all university, school, and faculty requirements, it is in their best interests to be thoroughly familiar
with this handbook and to consult with the SILC Associate Director of Graduate Studies, the SILC
Graduate Student Coordinator, and more particularly with the Representative of Graduate Studies
for East Asian Studies.
Information on Graduate College procedures can be found at:
https://graduate.asu.edu/sites/default/files/asu-graduate-policies-and-procedures_032019_0.pdf
Information for Research and Teaching Assistant can be found:
https://graduate.asu.edu/sites/default/files/ta-ra-policies-and-procedures-handbook-8-42017_0.pdf
Arizona State University is an affirmative action/equal employment opportunity institution and does
not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national
origin, citizenship, age, disability, Vietnam-era veteran status, special disabled veteran status, or
any other unlawful discriminatory grounds in its programs or employment.
Tempe, May 2015
2
Program Goals
The graduate program in East Asian Languages and Civilizations (Chinese) provides a
research intensive, inter-disciplinary, area-based program of study in the traditional and modern
languages and cultures of China. Students may focus on literature, literary criticism, thoughts and
religion, comparative cultural studies, cultural history, religious texts, or linguistics. In every case,
students will be expected to acquire a solid grounding in classical and modern Mandarin Chinese.
THE M.A. PROGRAM prepares students to pursue further academic training and graduate work,
or to teach in the K–16 sequence, or to go on to professional schools in such fields as law,
business or journalism, or to perform well in jobs involving China or Chinese.
THE Ph.D. PROGRAM prepares students to become scholars and teachers of Chinese literature
and culture or prepares them for the increasing number of professional careers that utilize knowledge
at a high-level of proficiency in Chinese language and culture.
Academic Standards and Policies
Admission Procedures
Candidates who have completed a B.A. in Chinese studies, or close equivalent, from an
accredited institution will be given preference for admission to the Graduate Program. Other
factors taken into consideration include:
• quality of the writing sample;
• letters of recommendation assessing the student’s command of Chinese and English and
potential for graduate work;
• quality of previous educational experience;
• the applicant’s G.P.A.;
• experience of study abroad.
Students with a non-traditional background can be considered on an ad-hoc basis, but they
should contact the Faculty Advisor for East Asian Studies before applying.
In the case of Ph.D. applicants, the same factors are taken into consideration, with a normal
grade point average in Master’s work expected to be 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. In addition,
because the doctorate is a research degree that normally prepares the student for university
teaching and scholarly investigation, the committee considers the level of work in graduate
literature and related courses at the Master’s level.
Students applying for admission to the Ph.D. program must submit recent scores from the
Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students applying to the M.A are not required to submit
GRE scores, but are encouraged to do so. Students who are from a country whose native
3
Academic Standards and Policies
language is not English or who have not earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally
accredited college or university in the U.S. should submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
Deadlines
To be considered for any form of financial aid in East Asian Languages and Civilizations,
including Teaching or Research Assistantships or Associateships, an applicant’s application for
admission for the Fall semester of the next academic year must be received before 11:59 p.m.
on the specified deadline (typically January 15). For all others, the deadline is April 15 of the year
in which he or she will enroll. Applications for Graduate Assistantships are not considered until
the applicant has been admitted with regular status to the Graduate College. The application for a
Teaching or Research Assistantship should be submitted to the School of International Letters
and Cultures along with your admission application. Assistantships are normally awarded only for
the full academic year (fall and spring semesters).
Counting Transfer Credit and Course Work Taken in Non-degree Status Toward the M.A.
Under normal circumstances, no more than 6 units of graduate-level credit completed at an
outside university may count toward the Master’s program of study. No more than 9 units of
graduate level credit completed at ASU as an unclassified graduate student may count toward the
Masters’ program of study.
Graduate Student and Graduate Assistant Enrollment
It is expected that all students enrolled in the program will carry a full load of coursework. Note
that, without exception, graduate assistants on half-time Research Assistant or Teaching
Assistant appointments (20 hours per week), must be enrolled for at least 6 approved credit hours
(exclusive of audited courses) each semester. In order to maintain active status, students must
be enrolled in the University for at least one credit hour in every academic semester until their
program is completed. All students holding graduate Teaching Assistantships will be required to
enroll in SLC 596 ("Second Language Methodologies") during the first fall semester of their first
assignment. For more information see https://graduate.asu.edu/sites/default/files/ta-ra-policies-
andprocedures-handbook-8-4-2017_0.pdf.
TAs may not hold any additional or outside employment beyond their TAship during the fall or
spring semesters (although they may in the summer). Engaging in such activities may result in
the termination of your assistantship. Additionally, students who have accepted a TA offer must
reside in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, regardless of course instruction mode.
Incompletes
Students who receive an Incomplete in courses at the 500-level or above have up to one
calendar year to complete the course for a grade although individual faculty members may set a
deadline earlier than one calendar year. After one calendar year the incomplete will become a
permanent part of the transcript. To repeat the course for credit a student must re-register and
pay fees. The grade for the repeated course will appear on the transcript, but will not replace the
permanent incomplete.
4
Academic Standards and Policies
No student may accumulate three or more Incompletes at any one time. Courses in which a
student has taken incompletes and that appear on an already approved Plan of Study must be
completed before the student requests the date of the oral defense of the thesis or dissertation. In
addition, three incompletes will constitute evidence of insufficient progress and the student may
lose his or her TA position or fellowship support.
Reading and Conference Courses
Reading and Conference courses will be given only under exceptional circumstances, and cannot
duplicate standard courses that are regularly available. These courses may be counted toward
degree progress if they have been approved by the student's Supervisory Committee. Students
enrolling in such courses must obtain the necessary signatures on forms available in the SILC
Graduate Student Coordinator’s office.
Provisional Status
Students who have been admitted on provisional status must 1) make up the deficiency identified
in their offer letter and, 2) earn a grade of B+ or better in all coursework taken in that status. A
lower grade will result in recommendation for dismissal from the program. P (Pass) and Y
(Satisfactory) grades will not be accepted for courses taken under provisional status.
Retention
All students are expected to make systematic progress toward completion of their degree. This
progress includes satisfying the conditions listed below, and achieving the benchmarks and
requirements set by this degree program. If a student fails to satisfy the requirements of their
degree program, and/or benchmarks below, the student may be dismissed from their program
based on the unit’s recommendation to the Graduate College.
• M.A. students are required to maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA in graduate-level courses; Ph.D.
students are required to maintain a 3.6 GPA. Students who at any time fall below these averages
will be considered on probation for the following semester. If, during that semester, they do not
meet minimal requirements, we will recommend to the Graduate College dean that the student
be dismissed from the program.
• Grades of C and below do not meet the requirements of a graduate degree.
• Satisfy all requirements of the graduate degree program.
• Successfully pass comprehensive exams, qualifying exams, foreign language exams, and the
oral defense of the proposal/prospectus for the thesis or dissertation.
Graduate students must stay continuously enrolled in their degree program. Failing to do so
without a Graduate College approved Request to Maintain Continuous Enrollment is considered
to be lack of academic progress and may lead to automatic dismissal from the program.
Review and Dismissal
All students admitted to the M.A. and Ph.D. programs will be reviewed annually and a written
5
Academic Standards and Policies
report will be shared with the student by the Director of Graduate Studies. Students whose work is
judged unacceptable or insufficient academic progress will be given one year to correct
deficiencies. If deficiencies have not been corrected, the student will be recommended for
dismissal to the Graduate College.
M.A. Applicants to the Ph.D. Program
Students who complete the M.A. degree and who wish to continue graduate studies toward the
doctorate must apply through the Graduate College for admission to the doctoral program.
Admission to the doctoral program will be contingent upon successful completion and defense of
the M.A. thesis within one semester from being admitted to the doctoral program. Acceptance into
the M.A. program does not necessarily imply acceptance into the Ph.D. program.
ASU Graduate Policies and Procedures
Please visit the Graduate College’s Graduate Policies and Procedures handbook.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Please visit https://students.asu.edu/policies/satisfactory-academic-progress.
Scholarship/Fellowships/Awards
For Scholarship/Fellowships/Awards, please visit the SILC Website as well as the ASU Graduate
College Website, and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Other resources: Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA), Institute for the
Humanities Research-ASU, ACMRS Academic Programs Awards and Grants.
Archived Handbooks
Previous versions of all SILC graduate program handbooks can be found in the SILC intranet as
well as the SILC Canvas. Current students who are not able to access either the intranet or Canvas
should contact the Graduate Program Student Services Support Coordinator.
Student Academic Progress
For information on the university’s policy regarding student academic progress (SAP), please visit
the Satisfacoty Academic Progress webpage.
Entrepreneurship + Innovation
Do you have an idea for a product or service that could solve a problem, fill a need or enhance
people's lives? Entrepreneurship + Innovation at Arizona State University connects you to the
information, resources and people that can help you turn your ideas into reality.
Coursework
Students will register for all coursework online through their My ASU page. Graduate-level
courses are those numbered 500 or higher. Details regarding registration and course drop/add
6
Academic Standards and Policies
procedures are provided in the Registration and Tuition Payment Guide.
Internships
The internship course for Chinese is CHI 784. Although students may not use internship credit as
a substitution for courses required by the program, internship courses may be used on the iPOS
as part of the total hours for the degree. One (1) credit hour may be awarded per 50 hours of
internship work with prior approval.
Please visit ASU Career and Professional Development Services.
Leave of Absence
Once admitted to a graduate degree program or graduate certificate program, students must be
registered for a minimum of one credit hour during all phases of their graduate education,
including the term in which they graduate. If a student cannot meet this requirement, they must
request a leave of absence, which can be done as a petition through the Interactive Plan of
Study. Once submitted, the petition must be approved by the academic unit and Graduate
College before the anticipated semester of non- registration. Students may request up to two
semesters of nonregistration during their graduate program.
Academic Integrity
The highest standards of academic integrity and compliance with the university’s Student Code of
Conduct are expected of all graduate students in academic coursework and research activities.
The failure of any graduate student to uphold these standards may result in serious consequences
including suspension or expulsion from the university and/or other sanctions as specified in the
academic integrity policies of individual colleges as well as the university. Violations of academic
integrity include, but are not limited to: cheating, fabrication of data, tampering, plagiarism, or
aiding and/or facilitating such activities. At the graduate level, it is expected that students are
familiar with these issues and that each student assumes personal responsibility in their work.
Withdrawal
Voluntary withdrawal from ASU: If a student wishes to withdraw from his/her graduate degree
program and the university, they must complete the Voluntary Withdrawal Form. Students must
separately complete the appropriate forms with the University Registrar to withdraw from their
courses. International students should contact the International Student and Scholars Center
(ISSC) before submitting a Voluntary Withdrawal form, as it most likely will affect their visa status.
Voluntary withdrawal from a graduate degree program: If a student wishes to transition from one
graduate degree program to another graduate degree program, the student should complete the
Voluntary Withdrawal form. The student should not take this action until they have been admitted
to the other graduate degree program.
Other types of withdrawal: There are appropriate circumstances when students may need to
withdraw from the university (i.e. medical withdrawal, compassionate leave). The policies for such
withdrawals are the same for both undergraduate and graduate students. Types of withdrawals
7
Academic Standards and Policies
and procedures can be found at the University Registrar’s Office.
International Students
Students who need assistance with visas, immigration status, or other immigration questions
should contact the International Student and Scholars Center (ISSC).
Health, Wellness and Accessibility Resources
ASU offers many health and wellness resources for our students. Please visit ASU Health
Services for information on counseling, public safety, and Sun Devil Fitness. ASU’s Student
Accessibity and Inclusive Learning Services is a great resource for students with disabilities.
Additional resources for wellbeing can be found here: Graduate Wellness Resources and 10
Best Practices in Graduate Student Wellbeing.
Interactive Plan of Study (iPOS)
Graduate students will file their Doctoral Plan of Study using a secure online process called the
Interactive Plan of Study (iPOS). This electronic process will guide you through a step-by-step
process and present a list of eligible courses to choose from. A number of edits are built in to
ensure that students have met university requirements prior to submitting their iPOS. Students
must submit their iPOS by the time they have enrolled for 50 percent of the minimum credit hours
required for their degree program. Students will be able to login to review the status at any point
along the way.
Graduation Process
Apply to Graduate: https://students.asu.edu/registration/graduation-apply
Graduation Deadlines: https://graduate.asu.edu/current-students/policies-forms-
anddeadlines/graduation-deadlines
Transfer Credits
Credit hours completed at ASU or at another regionally accredited U.S. institution or international
institution officially recognized by that country, before the semester and year of admission to an
ASU graduate degree program, are considered pre-admission credits. With the approval of the
academic unit and the Graduate College office, students may include a maximum of 12 graduate-
level credit hours with grades of “B” or better that were not used towards a previous degree.
Preadmission credits must have been taken within three years of admission to the ASU degree or
certificate program to be accepted.
Grade Appeals/Grievances
A. The aggrieved student must first undergo the informal procedure of conferring with the instructor,
stating any evidence and reasons for questioning that the grade received was not given in good
faith. The instructor is obliged to review the matter, explain the grading procedure used and show
how the grade in question was determined. If the instructor is a graduate assistant and this
8
Academic Standards and Policies
interview does not resolve the difficulty, the student may then take the problem to the faculty
member in charge of the course (regular faculty member or director of the course sequence).
B. If the grading dispute is not resolved in step A, the student may appeal to the department chair
or other appropriate chair of the area within the department (if any). The department chair may
confer with the instructor to handle the problem. Step B applies only in departmentalized colleges
or schools.
C. If these discussions are not adequate to settle the matter to the complainant's satisfaction, the
student may then confer with the dean of the college or school concerned (or the dean-
designate) who will review the case. If unresolved, the dean or designate may refer the case to
the college or school academic grievance hearing committee to review the case formally. In most
instances, however, the grievance procedure does not go beyond this level.
University Resources
ASU Libraries, Graduate Student Writing and Academic Centers, Graduate & Professional
Student Association, Provost’s Office, Career Services, Campus Parking, Student Business
Services, Sun Devil Student ID Card, IT Help, Memorial Union, Campus Dining, Student Banking,
and Student Organizations
Responsibilities of the Chair of the student’s Supervisory Committee
The Chair of the student’s Supervisory Committee shall:
- Meet with the student within the first two weeks of each semester;
- Work with the student to submit the iPOS (interactive Plan of Study) to the Graduate College by
the beginning of the third semester both for Master’s and Doctoral degrees;
- Write an annual evaluation of the student in accordance with the established criteria;
- Ensure that the examination, thesis and dissertation process follow the criteria established in the
ASU Graduate Handbook and in this manual.
9
Master’s Degree Requirements
Programs of Study
The Chinese Program in SILC offers Master of Arts Degrees in two areas: Area 1: Literature, Linguistics,
and Culture and Area 2: Pedagogy
Area 1 seeks to prepare students for further academic training, for entrance to professional schools in
such fields as law, business or journalism, and for a general level of knowledge about the languages and
cultures of China as an asset to a professional career.
Area 2 is intended for students whose major interest is in teaching modern Chinese in K-16 environments.
Requirements for admission:
- Completion of 30 units or the equivalent of modern Chinese (Mandarin)
- 6 units of classical Chinese at the university level
- 6 units in Chinese Literature in Translation, or 3 units in Chinese Literature in Translation and 3 units in
courses on Chinese religion or thought that utilize primary texts in translation.
- 3 units of linguistics courses on Chinese
- 3 units of a general survey of Chinese culture and civilization
Students may be admitted with deficiencies that must be made up during the first year (see Admission
Procedures, p.2).
Coursework
Candidates must complete at least 30 units of 400-500 level graduate courses with a CHI heading (24
units of coursework, and 6 hours of Thesis [CHI599] or Applied Project [CHI 593]). No more than 6 units of
400 level courses may be counted. Coursework will normally include two seminars and three 400/500
level reading courses. The writing and defense of a thesis completes the M.A. program in Area 1; writing
and defense of a thesis or a substantial project, in Area 2.
Core Requirement:
CHI 501
Proseminar: East Asian Humanities
3 units
Required Concentration Course
SLC 596
Second Language Methodologies
3 units
Other Required Course
CHI 598
Topic: History of the Chinese Language
3 units
Electives (selected in consultation with committee chair)
15 units
Culminating Experience
CHI 593
OR
CHI 599
Applied Project
OR
Thesis
6 units
10
Master’s Degree Requirements
All students need to file an official Plan of Study through the iPOS system following the requirements of the
graduate programs in SILC. Students need to work with their Supervisory Committee Chair and submit the
Plan of Study to the Graduate College no later than the beginning of their third semester of study. Changes
in the Plan of Study may be made later if necessary. Once the Plan of Study has been completed, it must
be checked and signed by the Chair of the Supervisory Committee and by the Faculty Advisor for East
Asia. See the Graduate Student Coordinator for assistance.
Time Limitations
M.A. programs are expected to be completed within three years. The time allowed can be flexible,
particularly for students who will want to do a year abroad. But all work done toward the Master's degree
program must be completed within six consecutive years.
M.A. Supervisory Committee
The purpose of the Supervisory committee is to assist students in planning a program that fits his/her own
needs and interests, to supervise the student's yearly academic progress, and to arrange the oral defense of
the thesis. The committee members will normally be chosen from the faculty with whom the student has
taken or will take course work in the program and subject areas chosen.
The Supervisory Committee chair will be a member of the EALC graduate faculty. If a student’s research
warrants, the chair of the student’s Supervisory Committee may request the inclusion of a thesis
committee member from outside the EALC faculty. The program cannot assume any expenses incurred
by having an external member of the committee.
Change of M.A. Supervisory Committee
Under unusual circumstances, the student will be allowed to change Supervisors only until the semester in
which the student defend his or her culminating experience. Changes may be requested due to a change in
research topic or a prolonged absence on the part of a faculty member, etc. The committee change form
may be obtained through iPOS system from the Graduate College.
11
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
Admission
Potential applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in a related
field are eligible to apply to the program. The following entry-level competencies are needed for
admission to the program: for Chinese concentration, completion of three years of modern Chinese
and one year of university-level classical Chinese. Applicants are required to submit an official ASU
graduate application, official GRE scores, official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course
work, a statement of career and educational goals, and three letters of recommendation (two of which
should be academic recommendations). A separate writing sample, no more than 15 pages in length
should be sent to the department. For students applying for a Teaching Assistantship (TA), a TA
application must be completed and returned to SILC by January 15. Regular admission may be
granted to applicants who have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 (4.0 scale) or better in the last
two years of work leading to the bachelor’s degree and who are competitive in the applicant pool as
evidenced by GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical), writing sample, the statement of career
and educational goals, and letters of recommendation.
Coursework
The program will require a minimum of 84 credit hours. Up to 30 hours earned in a Master’s degree
program that is directly relevant to the degree may be counted toward that number. However, a
minimum of 30 credit hours of course work, 12 hours of research and electives, and 12 hours of
Dissertation (CHI799) are required beyond the M.A. level. If a student already has an equivalent M.A.,
it will not be necessary to complete the existing SILC M.A. in Asian Languages and Civilizations.
However, the student will be required to satisfy all course requirements for the M.A. After their first
year in the Ph.D. program, all students will be evaluated before being permitted to continue. Students
who enter directly from the B.A. can be granted an M.A. in passing after completing the
Comprehensive Examinations.
All students are required to complete CHI 501 Proseminar. Each student must complete the following
requirements in the Chinese Concentration: 81 units plus CHI 501 (3).
Core Course
-CHI 501 Proseminar: East Asian Humanities (3 units)
Required Concentration Course
-CHI 514: Advanced Classical Chinese (6 units)
Other Required Courses
-CHI 691 Seminar* (15 units)
-CHI 598 Special Topics* (18 units)
-CHI 598 Topic: History of Chinese Literature (I or II) (3 units)
-CHI 598 Topic: History of the Chinese Language (3 units)
Electives* (24 units)
Culminating Experience
-CHI 799 Dissertation (12 units)
*18 credit hours of CHI 598 Special Topics must be comprised of six reading courses and 15 credit
hours of CHI 691 must be comprised of five seminar courses. Other requirements and elective
coursework for the degree are to be chosen in consultation with the program chair. Courses for the
other requirements may be substituted with the approval of the academic unit.
12
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
Field requirements
A "field" is an area of study within the overall domain of Chinese language and civilization that the Ph.D.
student shall investigate in some depth. The student shall be expected to be familiar with both the original
texts and the secondary scholarship of the field and to show some potential for carrying out original
research in the area in question. Each student must pursue four such fields of special study, and will be
examined separately by an appropriate faculty member or members. The field examinations must be
written.
Three of the fields shall be chosen from areas that are well represented within the EALC graduate
curriculum. The student’s Ph.D. advisory committee shall, in consultation with the student, determine
the actual content of the fields. A fourth field will be chosen from beyond the SILC Chinese program
and involve working with faculty from other ASU schools and departments. This may be a supporting
field in another area of Chinese culture and civilization (e.g., history, religion, art history), in another
language and culture contingent to China or with long historical association (e.g., Japan, Korea,
Vietnam), or in a particular methodological or theoretical area (e.g., gender studies, place studies).
The student shall prepare this field through coursework or independent study with a person selected
by the student and authorized by the committee.
Language Requirements
The student must demonstrate a high level of classical Chinese in Advanced Literary Chinese classes
that are required for all students and as approved by the faculty advisor. Prior to the Comprehensive
Examinations and reading knowledge of an additional pertinent Asian language and one pertinent
European language, aside from English, by completing a reading examination in those languages.
(The student may apply any foreign language reading examination required for a previously obtained
MA to this requirement.)
Comprehensive Examination, Dissertation, Oral Defense
Upon the successful completion of the student's program of course work and study, the completion of
the field examinations, and the completion of the foreign language requirement, the student’s
supervisory committee will administer the Comprehensive Examination. This will be a written and oral
examination that covers principally, but not exclusively, the four fields that the student has prepared.
Within one semester after passing this examination, the student presents a dissertation prospectus to
his or her dissertation adviser. The dissertation prospectus is normally closely related to one of the
field examinations. After approval of the prospectus, the student writes the dissertation under the
direction of the adviser. Please note that in the U.S., dissertations on Chinese and Japanese topics
are uniformly written in English. This increases the readership and makes it easier for would-be
employers to judge the students’ work. The acceptance of the finished dissertation and passing the
oral defense of the dissertation completes the degree requirements for this program.
Time Limitation
Students are expected to complete their coursework within the first 6 years of their study. Students
who enter with M.A. may take less time to finish coursework. All degree requirements are expected to
be completed no more than 10 years after enrolling in the first year.
Ph.D. Supervisory Committee
The purpose of the Supervisory committee is
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Ph.D. Degree Requirements
- to assist the student in planning a program that fits his/her own needs and interests
- to supervise the student’s yearly academic progress
- to arrange the oral defense of the thesis.
The committee members will normally be chosen from the faculty with whom the student has taken or will
take course work in the program and subject areas chosen.
The Supervisory Committee chair will be a member of the EALC graduate faculty. If a student’s
research warrants, the chair of the student’s Supervisory Committee may request the inclusion of a
thesis committee member from outside the EALC faculty. The program cannot assume any expenses
incurred by having an external member of the committee.
International Students
All Graduate Teaching Assistants/Associates for whom English is not a native language must have a
minimum TOEFL score of 550 for paper-based, 213 for computer-based and 83 for internet-based for
admission; and must also take the Test of Spoken English (TSE) or the ASU SPEAK Test (only given
on campus at the ITA program office). Potential TAs must pass this test with a minimum of 55 (230 on
the old scale), in order to secure their position. It is advisable that students take the TSE test in their
home country, preferably at the time they take the TOEFL. If potential TAs do not take and pass the
test prior to being offered a TA contract, they will have to arrange it as soon as possible—this is often
logistically difficult and may put a TA position in jeopardy if not handled well in advance. If a potential
TA does not receive the minimum passing score, their contract will automatically be voided. For more
information contact the SILC Graduate Program Student Services Support Coordinator at
[email protected]. International students should apply as early as possible in the fall semester.
14
Selection of Graduate Assistants/Associates for
Academic Year Appointments
The following priorities are in effect:
1. Ph.D. students who demonstrate satisfactory progress toward completion of degree requirements are
normally supported for a maximum of five years.
2. M.A. students who demonstrate satisfactory progress toward completion of degree requirements are
normally supported for a maximum of two years.
The deadline for submission of applications is usually 15 January of each year. Interested students
should not miss this deadline. TAships are only granted beginning in the fall semester. Students who
are selected for a TAship must complete the SLC 596 Second Language Methodologies course in
August before they begin their first semester of teaching.
Continuing students must complete an annual application before February 10. This application should
be accompanied by a copy of the statement of teaching experience and academic goals mentioned
below.
Evaluation of Continuing Graduate Students
On or before February 1 of each academic year the chair of the student’s Supervisory
Committee and the Director of Graduate Study are charged with evaluating students’ academic progress
and teaching performance.
At the beginning of the second semester of each academic year students must present a printout of his/her
graduate courses taken at ASU and a brief statement about their teaching experience and academic goals
for the next year. The statement, less than 1 page in length, should include:
1. how many semesters of support s/he has received in their current program;
2. whether s/he filed the official Plan of Study, taken exams, participated in conferences;
3. other pertinent information for the period covered by the evaluation.
Optionally, each teaching assistant may arrange, through his/her supervisor, to be evaluated by another
faculty member. This evaluation will result in a narrative statement.
It is the student's responsibility to submit all the required paperwork by the deadline and to ensure that
his/her academic adviser has filed the appropriate report. Incomplete dossiers cannot be considered.
15
SILC Certificates
Many SILC students choose to supplement their programs with additional certificates. No more than
one-fifth (20 percent) of the minimum required credit hours for a graduate certificate may be
transferred from another university. All transfer work must meet the Graduate College transfer
policies. All coursework used to complete an ASU graduate certificate must be completed within a
six-year time limit. Courses at a 400-level may be allowed with prior approval from the appropriate
certificate program; however, a minimum of two-thirds of the courses taken to complete the certificate
must be at the 500-level or above. No more than 40% of coursework towards the requirements of a
graduate certificate can be completed prior to admission to the certificate program. Credit hours
earned in a certificate program may also be used towards a degree program, standard preadmission
rules apply.
Listed below are all certificates available through SILC along with the contact information for the
directors of each.
Computer Assisted Language Learning*
Program Director: Bryan Smith [email protected]
Core Courses (6 credits)
ENG 557
Computer-Assisted Language Learning
3
SLC 510
Computer-Assisted Language Learning Praxis
3
Restricted Elective (3 credits)
LIN 520 OR
SLC 515
Second-Language Acquisition Theories OR
Second-Language Acquisition
3
Electives (6 credits) – Chosen in consultation with program chair
*proposal submitted to move certificate to English Dept.
Digital Humanities
Program Director: Mike Tueller [email protected]
Core Course (3 credits)
CDH 501
Digital Humanities: Critical Theory and Methods
3
Required Course (3 credits)
CDH 580
Practicum
3
Electives (6 credits) – Chosen in consultation with program chair
Culminating Experience (3 credits)
CDH 593
Applied Project
3
Translation Studies
Program Co-Director (English Dept.): Richard Newhauser [email protected]
Program Co-Director (SILC): Christopher Johnson [email protected]
Core Courses (6 credits)
ENG 550
Translation
3
SLC 551
Global Approaches to Translation
3
Electives (6 credits) – Chosen in consultation with program chair
Culminating Experience (3 credits)
16
SILC Certificates
ENG/SLC 593
Applied Project
3
Core Course (3 credits)
SPA 596
Second Language Methodologies
3
Restricted Electives (9 credits)
SPA 543
Structure of Spanish
3
SPA 546
Heritage Language Pedagogy
3
SPA 598
Topic: Spanish Second Language Acquisition
3
Electives (6 credits) – Choose two of the courses listed below
ENG 557
Computer-Assisted Language Learning
3
LIN 523
Language Testing & Assessment
3
LIN 524
Curriculum Design & Materials Development
3
SPA 542
Studies in Spanish in the Southwest
3
SPA 598
Topic: Bilingualism
3
SPA 598
Topic: Language Program Administration
3
SPA 598
Topic: Sociolinguistics
3
SPA 598
Topic: Spanish Applied Linguistics
3
SPA 598
Topic: Teaching Language through Culture and Literature
3
Culminating Experience
Portfolio
