LCA focuses on research and teaching in the social and humane disciplines concerning Asia, with an emphasis on languages, literatures and religions of Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Southwest Asia. UW-Madison is a national center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia (CREECA) studies, South Asian studies, and Southeast Asian studies. In addition to the degree programs in the department, graduate programs through the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, and the Land Tenure Center, as well as in the departments of Anthropology, Economics, History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, and Sociology provide for specialization in those areas of Asia that are included in departmental course offerings.

The M.A. in Languages and Cultures of Asia is designed for three broad groups of students: those planning to continue for a Ph.D. in Languages and Cultures of Asia; those seeking certification of regional expertise en route to a Ph.D. in some other discipline; and those seeking an M.A. en route to careers in Asia-related fields, including employment in business, government, information processing, the media, and international organizations.

The Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia provides three options for Ph.D. students:

Languages and Literatures
Civilizations and Cultures
Religions of Asia

In adddition to the department's general requirements for the Ph.D., each of these options has additional, specific requirements.

Students from other departments who wish to minor in the Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia must complete 12 credits above the 300 level with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia. Such students are required to take one course in linguistics or literature and one course in religion or philosophy. Any other courses to fulfill the Minor requirement are selected in prior consultation with the Department's minor adviser, who is designated as such by the Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia and is authorized to sign the Ph.D. Minor Agreement Form.

Courses cross-listed in a student's major department and the Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia do not count toward the minor requirement. Elementary and Intermediate Language courses or "Directed Study" courses are not accepted toward the fulfillment of the minor requirement in the Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia.

LCA Graduate Coordinator

608-262-3012
langasia@wisc.edu