Overview
Programs of Study
The Department of Asian Studies offers graduate courses leading to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree. The Department also offers a dual master's degree program--the M.A. in Asian Studies/M.A. in Diplomacy and International Relations--with the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations. The major program provides students with training in the languages and cultures of Asia, leading to careers in government, international services, research, teaching, or business as well as advanced graduate study. Languages offered by the Department are Chinese (Mandarin) and Japanese. Area courses cover the civilizations and affairs of Asia, with emphasis on China, India, and Japan.
M.A. students can complete either 39 credits of course work or 36 credits and a thesis. Core courses total 21 credits; the remaining credits are electives. The 60-credit dual M.A. program requires that students complete 45 credits in core courses (including 18 credits in diplomacy and international relations, 12 credits in traditional East Asia, and 6 credits in modern and contemporary East Asia), 3 credits in free electives, and 9 credits in research and practicum.
The Department of Asian Studies offers a track in Teaching Chinese Language and Culture. The program prepares students to meet the Chinese content area requirement for a New Jersey Certificate of Eligibility (CE). The curriculum includes courses in the Chinese language, literature, theory, civilization, Chinese linguistics, applied linguistics, and teaching methods. Upon successful completion of 39 credits, students receive a Master of Arts in Asian studies and are eligible to enter a New Jersey State Department of Education alternate route program. On completion of the alternate route program, students receive a New Jersey Certificate as teacher of Chinese.
For further information about graduate programs in Asian Studies, students should visit the Web site at http://www.shu.edu/academics/artsci/ma-asian-studies/index.cfm.
Research Facilities
In cooperation with the Asia Center, the Department conducts research on Asia, sponsors conferences, conducts summer institutes, and has an impressive program of publication.
The Language Resource Center (LRC) in the College of Arts and Sciences houses the theater-style Screening Room and a state-of-the-art computer workstation area. All computers have keyboards installed in a number of languages, including Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese, and have Internet access, video recording and editing software, and connections to a VCR/DVD combo for viewing. The LRC provides DVDs, videos, and other media in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Russian, and other languages and offers self-paced language learning materials for Seton Hall community members who wish to study a language on their own.
The Walsh Library, a state-of-the-art 155,000-square-foot building, houses 500,000 titles, 1,875 current periodicals, and an extensive collection of microform and other nonprint items that include videotapes, CD-ROM music, and other electronic media. Fahy Hall has twenty-eight classrooms, two TV studios, a Macintosh and IBM graphics lab, two classroom amphitheaters, and language and statistics labs. The recently renovated McNulty Hall has well-equipped science labs. Completed in 1997, Jubilee Hall, a six-story facility with 126,000 square feet of academic space, features high-tech classrooms with computer and multimedia capabilities and the Center for Securities Trading and Analysis, commonly referred to as the Trading Room.
Financial Aid
Each year the Department normally awards teaching assistantships to a limited number of qualified graduate students majoring in Asian studies. Full-time teaching assistants receive a monthly stipend for ten months (September-June) in addition to a waiver of the University's tuition (up to 12 credits per semester). Half-time teaching assistants receive half of the stipend and tuition remission for half of their credit hours. During the appointment period, teaching assistants are solely responsible for their travel expenses, room and board, and all other expenses of a personal nature. For general financial aid information, as well as information on graduate assistantships and teaching assistantships and their respective applications, students should visit http://www.shu.edu/applying/graduate/grad-finaid.cfm.
Cost of Study
In 2009-10, tuition is $901 per credit. Full-time students pay $305 per semester in University and technology fees; part-time students pay $185.
Living and Housing Costs
Housing and living costs in South Orange and surrounding towns are comparable to most suburban cities, with studio and one-bedroom apartments renting for $750 to $1000 per month.
Location
Seton Hall is located on 58 acres in the village of South Orange, New Jersey, a suburban residential area 14 miles southwest of New York City. The town center is a 10-minute walk from the campus and features bookstores, coffee shops, and restaurants. The heart of midtown Manhattan is about 30 minutes away by train; students can take advantage of everything this exciting city has to offer while still living in a suburban area.
The University and The Department
Founded in 1856, Seton Hall is a private coeducational Catholic institution--the nation's oldest diocesan institution of higher education in the United States. With a total enrollment of about 10,000, including approximately 4,500 graduate students, the University comprises nine colleges and schools. Seton Hall is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Through the incorporation of technology into the curriculum, the College of Arts and Sciences seeks to enhance and enliven the learning environment. Rooted in tradition, yet looking to the future, the College offers a rich set of opportunities for intellectual discovery. Graduate students are guided by scholars and specialists toward the mastery of academic and professional areas.
The Department of Asian Studies at Seton Hall University has long been recognized as a pioneer and leader in the field of Asian studies. Recently, the Fiske Guide to Colleges, published by the New York Times, cited the Department for excellence in the quality of its faculty and programs. The Department has a more-than-fifty-year tradition in Asian studies. It views itself and its achievements as a clear sign of Seton Hall's dedication to international studies. Purely by chance, when the name Seton Hall University is rendered into Chinese, it translates as "The West-East University." This coincidence proved true when Seton Hall became one of the first American universities to develop exchanges with Asian universities.
Applying
In addition to the general University requirements for admission to graduate studies, candidates should show a strong background in Asian studies or in one of the disciplines in which the Department offers courses. Students must submit the completed application (available online at http://www.shu.edu/academics/artsci/apply-graduate.cfm), the $50 application fee, a resume, a statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation, and transcripts from all previously attended universities or colleges. For the dual master¿s degree program, students must apply independently to each degree program, preferably indicating at the time of application that they intend to follow the joint Asian studies/diplomacy program when admitted. The deadlines for fall and spring admission are July 1 and November 1, respectively. Applications are processed on a rolling basis.
For the track in Teaching Chinese and Culture, all candidates are required to demonstrate a strong proficiency in both English and Chinese. Nonnative speakers of Chinese are required to take the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), a national standard Chinese language proficiency test. International students and those who have received their baccalaureate degrees from universities outside the United States are required to submit official TOEFL scores.
The Faculty and Their Research
Full-time Faculty
* Deborah Brown, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Adviser; Ph.D., Drew. Asian religions, modern and contemporary Asian history and politics.
* Dongdong Chen, Assistant Professor, Chinese Program Director; Ph.D., McGill. Linguistics, language acquisition, Chinese language.
* Edwin Pak-wah Leung, Professor and Chair; Ph.D., California, Santa Barbara. Modern Asian, modern Chinese history and politics, international politics and business.
* Michael Linderman, Assistant Professor; Ph.D., Pennsylvania.
* Shigeru Osuka, Associate Professor, Japanese Program Director, and Director of Graduate Studies; Ed.D., Hawaii. Japanese language, Japanese history, Asian religions, Buddhist studies, Japanese religions.
Adjunct Faculty
* Fen-Dow Chu, Ph.D., MIT. Traditional Chinese history.
* Claire Diab, M.A., Seton Hall. Asian religions and culture.
* Hwa-Soon Meyer, Ed.D., Columbia. Korean history and culture, ethno music and dance, Korean language.
* Hiroko Ogino, B.A., Tsuda Women's College. Japanese language and culture.
* Mei Zhao, Ph.D., Suzhou. Chinese language and literature.
Correspondence and Information
Seton Hall University
Dr. Shigeru Osuka, Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Asian Studies
Fahy Hall 211
400 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, New Jersey 07079
Telephone: 973-275-2712
Fax: 973-761-9596
Email: osukashi@shu.ed
