GRADUATE SCHOOL OF AMERICAN STUDIES

The MA program in the Graduate School provides students with a comprehensive introduction to the study of the United States along with an opportunity to engage in intensive, focused study in a chosen research area. With a wide range of courses that cover such fields as history, politics, culture, society, economics, literature, religion, law, and foreign policy, the Graduate School provides an ideal environment for the study of most topics relating to the United States. A low faculty/student ratio allows for small class sizes and very close interaction with principal advisers and other faculty members. The requirement to write an MA thesis (or comparable research paper) provides students with a chance to delve deeply into a topic of their choice, and to engage when appropriate in directed field study in the United States or elsewhere. Many of our students have attained interesting jobs in Japan, joined the PhD program at the Graduate School, or gone on to top-ranked PhD programs in the United States.

With a lively student body and diverse faculty, the Graduate School provides a stimulating setting for cultural exchange between America and Japan, not to mention the other countries that are now part of the broader field of American Studies. Regular visitors from abroad are integrated into the curriculum, and provide a unique opportunity to interact closely with some of the finest scholars in North America and Japan.

Requirements

The regulations of the Graduate School of Doshisha University stipulate that a "Master's Degree will be conferred upon those who complete more than 30 credits as regular students for more than 2 years, submit
Master’s Theses under supervision of the faculty, and pass their final examinations. Final examinations will center on the Master’s Thesis and related areas of study. Students in the Graduate Shool of American Studies, however, are not required to stay 2 years, but may complete the program in 1 year so long as they
demonstrate excellent academic achievement."

In spite of the above regulations, students in the Graduate School of American Studies may also complete the Master’s Degree by submitting research papers on specific research topics in lieu of a Master’s thesis when the faculty consider it appropriate (Regulations of the Graduate School of American Studies, Chapter 4, Article 7).

Two Ways for a Master's Degree in American Studies
1. Master's Degree with Thesis: the completion of more than 30 credits, including all the required courses (A Group and B Group) and the submission and successful examination of a Master’s Thesis; or

2. Master's Degree without Thesis: the completion of more than 38 credits, including all the required courses (A Group and B Group), and no Master’s Thesis.

Degree to Be Conferred

Master of Arts (American Studies) will be conferred upon completion of all the requirements.

Two-Semester System

Since its establishment in 1991, the Graduate School of American Studies follows a two-semester system (Spring Semester, April-September; and Fall Semester, October-March).

Recommended Courses
Students in the Master’s program are encouraged to take the following courses in sequence:
(1) Introduction to Research Methods in American Studies Required 2 credits First Semester
(2) American Civilization I Required 2 credits First Semester
(3) American Civilization II Required 2 credits Second Semester
(4) American History I 2 credits First Semester
(5) American History II 2 credits Second Semester
(6) Research Seminar 2 credits Second Semester
(7) Fieldwork 4 credits Third Semester
(8) American Studies Seminar Required 2 credits Third Semester
(9) Master's Thesis Fourth Semester

With the approval of the faculty or an Associate Dean, students can take the same courses for credit twice. This is particularly relevant to Research Seminar (“enshu”).

Textbooks and References

One copy of "Textbooks" and one copy of "References" listed in the syllabi of the Handbook for Graduate School of American Studies will be on reserve in the reading room of the Center for American Studies Library.

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH METHODS IN AMERICAN STUDIES

Writing and researching a Master’s thesis will be one of the most exciting and rewarding intellectual challenges you will ever face. You will never forget your topic and how hard you worked to produce it, and you will also be (at least a little) proud of what you have accomplished. This course is designed to help you understand the basic mechanics of how to research and write a successful Master’s thesis. The emphasis is on developing practical skills that will help you regardless of your specific research interests.

Schedule

Week 1 (April 11): Becoming a Graduate Student
Week 2 (April 18): Creating a Master’s Thesis
Week 3 (April 25): Finding a Master’s Thesis Topic
Week 4 (May 9): Writing Persuasively
Week 5 (May 16): Finding and Using Scholarly Resources
Week 6 (May 23): Finding and Using Scholarly Resources, Part 2
Week 7 (May 30): Conducting Fieldwork
Week 8 (June 6): Conducting Interviews
Week 9 (June 13): Understanding the Process of Writing and Revising
Week 10 (June 20): Understanding the Process of Writing and Revising, Part 2
Week 11 (June 27): Understanding the Process of Writing and Revising, Part 3
Week 12 (July 4): How to Work with Advisors
Research Proposal Due (3 copies)
Week 13 (July 11): Presentation
July 18 Presentation
July 31 Final Research Proposal Due (3 copies)

Presentations

The presentations aim is to stimulate further improvement and the completion of individual research by encouraging students to incorporate into their proposals the criticisms and suggestions made during the discussion of their presentation. Each student has 15 minutes: the first 5 minutes for oral presentation, and the remaining 10 minutes for comments and discussion by all faculty members and students.

Students are expected to prepare handouts for their presentation: a summary (in English and in Japanese, one page each) on A4-size paper, including a bibliography. [Copies can be made at the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies, free of charge.]

The schedule for presentations is posted on the bulletin board of the Graduate School of American Studies. Copies of student "Research Proposals" are submitted to the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies and available to any student and faculty member. Students not registered for the course are welcome to attend the oral presentation sessions.

Guidelines for the "Research Proposal"

1. The "Research Proposal", first revision, should be submitted to advisers (2 copies) and the Office of Graduate School of American Studies (one copy) by July 5, 2007 (Thursday), 17:00, and the final version to the Office of Graduate School of American Studies (3 copies) by July 31, 2007 (Monday), 16:00. The final version may be mailed but must reach the office by the deadline.
2. The "Research Proposal" should be 4,000 characters in Japanese on A4-size paper, with a one-page English abstract, typed double-spaced, on A4-size paper. Or the "Research Proposal" should be 7 pages in English, typed double-spaced, on A4-size paper. In either case, it should have a bibliography listing more than 10 items (books, articles, etc.).

Evaluation
Grades for this course will be based on the following items:
1. Class attendance
2. Active participation in class discussion
3. Homework, and
3. The quality of the "Research Proposal."

Textbooks
Michael Agar and Michael H., The Professional Stranger: An Informal Introduction to Ethnography, 2nd ed. (Academic Press, 1996)
Sarah Skwire and David Skwire, Writing With a Thesis 9th edition (Heinle, 2005).
Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life (Anchor, 1995).

AMERICAN SRUDIES SEMINAR

This seminar seeks to help a student sum up his/her research results conducted on the research proposal since admission. In the seminar each student is required to present his/her research results orally, followed by questions and answers from all of the faculty, as well as other students. All Graduate School of American Studies students are encouraged to take part in the American Studies Seminar.

At the end of the seminar, students who are registered are required to submit a revised "Seminar Paper" or "Thesis Paper" [kenkyu kadai] which incorporates their response to the questions, criticisms and suggestions offered during the seminar sessions. The revised " seminar paper" is no longer a research proposal but it has become a research result, i.e., the end product of research results, with conclusions.

Format for the final revised "Seminar Paper" ("Thesis Paper")

A. It can be an expanded or revised version of a paper submitted for another course or a paper which
comprehensively incorporates papers from other courses;

B. It can be an outline or portion of a Master's Thesis;

C. It can be a research report on some fieldwork research.

1. Deadlines

The "seminar paper" is due on April 4, 2007 (Wednesday), 14:00, for those who register for this seminar for the Spring Semester, and on September 28, 2007 (Friday), 17:00, for those registered for the Fall Semester 2007. For those who register this seminar in the Spring Semester 2008, the deadline is April 1, 2008 (Tuesday), 14:00.

The revised "Seminar Paper" is due on July 31, 2007 (Tuesday), 16:00, for those who register for this seminar for the Spring Semester 2007, and on January 24, 2008 (Thursday), 17:00, for those who register for this seminar for the Fall Semester 2007. For those who register for this seminar for the Spring Semester 2008, the deadline is July 31, 2008 (Thursday), 16:00.

A student who made an oral presentation, with adequate attendance, but did not submit a revised "Seminar Paper," is required to submit his/her revised "Seminar Paper" (Thesis Paper), on June 21, 2007 (Thursday), 17:00, December 6, 2007 (Thursday), 17:00, and June 20, 2008 (Friday), 17:00, respectively. In such case, s/he is exempted from attendance at the oral presentation in "American Studies Seminar" sessions.

2. Seminar Papers should be submitted to the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies.

3. 3 copies should be submitted.

4. Format

"Seminar Paper"
English papers: not more than 15 pages on A4-size paper, double-spaced;

Japanese papers: not more than 25 pages on 400-character paper or 10,000 characters on Japanese-wordprocessed A4-size paper

"Revised Seminar Paper" (Thesis Paper)
English papers: not more than 40 pages on A4-size paper, double-spaced, including bibliography; and

Japanese papers: not more than 60 pages on 400-character paper or 24,000 characters on Japanese-wordprocessed A4-size paper, including bibliography.

Each paper should have an abstract: A summary in Japanese for English "Seminar Paper" and a summary in English for Japanese "Seminar Paper".

Oral Presentation Sessions of the Seminar

Oral presentation sessions are designed to prompt and improve the research work of students through a question-and-answer period. Each student has 45 minutes--15 minutes for a concise oral presentation of his/her research results, followed by 10 minutes of comments from 2 student-discussants and 20 minutes of general discussion by all of the faculty and participants.

Each student prepares a one-page abstract or summary with bibliography (in English and in Japanese) in advance to hand out in the seminar (copies can be made at the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies, free of charge).

The original "Seminar Paper" submitted at the beginning of the semester is on reserve at the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies.

All students in the Graduate School of American Studies, registered or not for the seminar, are welcome to attend.

Orientation

There will be an orientation in the first week in each semester:
Spring Semester, April 10, 2007 (Tuesday), 9:30-10:30, at H203
Fall Semester, October 2, 2007 (Tuesday), 9:30-10:30, at H203
The schedule for the American Studies Seminar will be posted after ordination with students, discussants, and advisers.

Evaluations
Overall grading will be based on the followings:
1. Attendance;
2. Active participation in discussion; and
3. The oral presentation and the quality of revised "Seminar Paper"

Completing the Master's Degree Requirements without a Thesis

A student who plans to complete his/her Master's Degree requirements by submitting his/her "Seminar Paper" without doing a Master's Thesis is required to make all of the proposed revisions suggested by his/her adviser and submit one copy of the final revised "Seminar Paper" to the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies. This paper is kept as a permanent record in the Graduate School of American Studies. Such revised "Seminar Papers" are due on September 3, 2007 (Monday), 16:00 (they can be mailed, but they must reach the office by the deadline), and on January 24, 2008 (Thursday), 17:00. The revised "Seminar Paper" should have a cover sheet that includes the title, student ID, and name.

INDEPENDENT STUDY (FIELDWORK)

Fieldwork is a kind of research, usually conducted in the United States, which contributes to the writing of the Master's thesis. Each student should work out a fieldwork research plan with the advice and supervision of his/her adviser. All expenditures related to fieldwork (transportation, accommodation, tuition, etc.) must be borne by the student.

The Fieldwork Research Plan

A fieldwork research plan should be proposed and formulated following the guidelines for the "Introduction to Research Methods in American Studies". It should show the ways in which research skills, sources, computer resources and fieldwork will be combined to produce a quality fieldwork research paper.

Procedures

There will be an orientation on fieldwork research on April 4, 2007 (Wednesday), 9:30-10:30 in H203. Students who plan to do fieldwork are encouraged to attend.
1. A student will submit a "Fieldwork Research Plan" [fieldwork keikakusho] (a form is available at the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies) developed under the supervision of his/her adviser to the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies.
2. After approval of "Fieldwork Research Plan" by an Associate Dean, a student will do his/her fieldwork.
3. Upon completion of fieldwork research, each student is required to submit two reports: a "Fieldwork Report" [fieldwork kekka hokokusho] (a form is available at the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies) to the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies); and a "Fieldwork Research Report" [seika hokokusho] to his/her adviser.

The "Fieldwork Research Report"
*English papers: not more than 10 pages, double-spaced on A4-size paper
*Japanese papers: not more than 15 pages, 400-character paper or not more than 6,000 characters on A4-size paper

Reports are due on July 13, 2007 (Friday), 17:00 for the Spring Semester, and on January 17, 2008 (Thursday), 17:00 for the Fall Semester.

Guidelines for Fieldwork Research

1. The research period should be at least two weeks long. The research period could be divided into no more than two segments. Registration for Fieldwork is necessary each semester, if the fieldwork extends into more than one academic year.
2. Fieldwork can start in the second semester after admission. It can be done during spring and summer breaks.
3. A student is required to purchase overseas travel insurance for his/her fieldwork period.
4. A student can request a letter of introduction in advance of his/her fieldwork from the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies (this is free of charge, regardless of issues).

MASTER'S THESIS

Orientation
Those who register for the Master's Thesis are required to attend an orientation on the Master's Thesis on April 17, 2007 (Tuesday), 9:30-10:30 in H203.

Guidelines

1. Dates for Submission
For students who plan to finish at the end of the Spring Semester, the final draft of the thesis is due on June 21, 2007 (Thursday), at 17:00, and for those who plan to finish at the end of the Fall Semester the final draft is due on December 6, 2007 (Thursday), 17:00.
The completed final thesis deadline for Spring Semester completion is due on July 5, 2007 (Thursday), at 17:00, and for the Fall Semester it is due on January 24, 2008 (Thursday), 17:00.

2. Place
The final draft and the completed thesis must be submitted to the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies. All draft and thesis deadlines are strictly observed. Students who decide to postpone the submission of their thesis, or to complete the Master's program without submitting a thesis (taking at least 38 credits) should report this information to the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies.

3. Items for Thesis Submission
a. Thesis (no punch holes), 3 copies
b. Abstract (English or Japanese), 3 copies
c. Photo (8 cm x 6.5 cm), 3 copies
d. Binding fee, 4,620 yen, for 2 copies
e. One return address label (one thesis will be returned to the student in case of absence from the commencement ceremony, cash on delivery)

4. Thesis Format
a. Thesis (written in English)
(1) Approximately 50 pages on A4-size white paper, double-spaced. This includes a table of contents, chapters, endnotes, appendix, and bibliography.
(2) A 1-2 page abstract in Japanese.
b. Thesis (written in Japanese)
(1) Approximately 60-100 pages on A4-size Doshisha University thesis form paper, or in Japanese wordprocessed printouts on A4-size white paper formatted to accommodate 40 characters and 30 lines (1,200 Japanese characters). This includes a table of contents, chapters, endnotes, appendix, and bibliography.
(2) A 1-2 page abstract in English.
(N.B.) Footnotes and bibliography should be put at the end, and paper should be of acid-free durable quality, e.g., Xerox copy papers, etc.

5. Designs
a. Use lever-file type for final draft and thesis. The cover and title page should have Title, Graduate School of American Studies, Student ID, Name, and a photo in the center.
b. In the final draft and finished thesis place the title page, abstract, photo, table of contents, body, endnotes, appendices, and bibliography in that order.
c. Please see samples at the Office of the Graduate School of American Studies.
For specific information about styles, etc., see the Japanese version of the Handbook (“rishu no tebiki”), pp. 47-48.

Thesis Defense and Evaluation
The oral defense will be conducted on July 20, 2007 (Friday) for the Spring Semester, and on February 12-13, 2008 (Tuesday and Wednesday) for the Fall Semester. The Graduate Faculty Council of Doshisha University will evaluate on September 20, 2007 (Thursday) for the Spring Semester, and on March 6, 2008 (Thursday).

1. The date and time of the oral defense will be posted on the bulletin board of the Graduate School of American Studies. The oral defense is about 30 minutes: a 10-minute presentation by the student, and 20-minute question-and-answer period.

2. The Graduate Faculty Council (“Daigakuin iinkai”) of Doshisha University will make final judgment.