1. Who can apply for the MACS program and what criteria do they
need to fulfill?
2. How do I apply to the program?
3. What are the tuition and fees for the MACS program?
4. What benefits will I receive from the MACS program?
5. Who teaches the MACS courses?
6. How many students will be accepted into the MACS program?
7. Will I have the opportunity to study abroad?
8. How long does the program take to complete?
9. What courses will I be required to take?
10. What types of jobs or post-graduate opportunities can I use
my MACS degree to apply for?
11. When are the classes offered?
12. What extracurricular activities can I participate in as a
MACS student?
13. What housing arrangements are available for graduate
students?
14. What scholarships or student employment options are
available to a MACS student?
15. Can I combine the MACS degree with any other graduate
programs?
16. Where is Valparaiso University located and what does
Valparaiso as a city have to offer to students enrolled in
VU graduate programs?
17. Whom should I contact if I am interested in the program or
have questions?
1. Who can apply for the MACS program and what criteria do they need to fulfill?
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School, including a GPA of 3.0, certified transcripts of a bachelor's degree, two letters of reference (at least one from an academic advisor or faculty), and the application fee. In addition, applicants must demonstrate Chinese language competency through any of the following: (1) Completion of three years of college Chinese with average grades of B or higher; (2) Completion of two years of college Chinese and based on the results of admission interviews conducted by VU faculty after receiving his or her application; (3) Strong background in Chinese language (e.g., through family heritage) and 4) A "B" or above certificate on the basic level examination of the HSK standardized test (check with Professor Zhimin Lin (Zhimin.Lin@valpo.edu) for more information on this test). Students having only two years of Chinese or less, or who do not meet the program admission requirements in other ways, may be admitted on the condition that they complete adequate preparatory coursework before being enroll formally in the program.
2. How do I apply to the program?
Applicants may request an application packet by emailing graduate.studies@valpo.edu or calling 219-464-5313. Applications online can be found at http://www.valpo.edu/gce/graduate/prospective/apply.php.
3. What are the tuition and fees for the MACS program?
Tuition and fees total approximately $14,000 for the 2007-2008 academic year. Students attending the summer total immersion program in China are also responsible for their own meals and incidental expenses while in China (room and local transportation are provided by the MACS program). Eligible students will also receive a travel grant of up to $1,000 to cover international travel costs.
The living expenses for fall and spring may vary. However, on average, the living expenses, books, and personal travel cost totaling $10,000 per academic year.
For more information on general tuition and fees, please visit the Graduate Studies officewebsite at http://www.valpo.edu/gce/graduate/prospective/tuition.php.
4. What benefits will I receive from the MACS program?
The MACS program provides a unique mix of learning experiences and professional development opportunities not found in similar programs. Attractive features and benefits include:
5. Who teaches the MACS courses?
Faculty for the 2007-2008 MACS program include Zhimin Lin (chair of the Chinese and Japanese Studies Department and Associate Professor of Political Science), Luying Chen (assistant professor of Chinese language and literature, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures), James Nelson (Associate Professor of Psychology), Jaishankar Raman (Assistant Professor, Department of Economics), and Brent Whitefield (Assistant Professor, Department of History),
6. How many students will be accepted into the MACS program?
Approximately 8 to 12 students will be accepted annually into the MACS program.
7. Will I have the opportunity to study abroad?
Yes, the summer total immersion program will be the first opportunity to study abroad in the MACS program. Other opportunities will be planned on an individual basis for internships, enrollment at Chinese universities after graduation, etc.
8. How long does the program take to complete?
A full time student can complete the program in one full year (or three full semesters) - beginning in summer 2007 and ending in May 2007. Part time students will have up to five years to complete the program.
9. What courses will I be required to take?
The course requirements are:
10. What types of jobs or post-graduate opportunities can I use my MACS degree to apply for?
MACS graduates will be able to use their degrees in a variety of fields including, federal government agencies that require a high level of language skills, US and international companies and corporations that require language proficiency for their employees, educational institutions such as high schools or even colleges, NGOs such as foundations, programs and churches, and the ability to apply and enter into competitive PhD programs both in the US and overseas.
11. When are the classes offered?
For fall and spring, most classes are offered Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 9:15 pm.
12. What extracurricular activities can I participate in as a MACS student?
Graduate students at VU are able to participate in most of the undergraduate activities, including the highly-active Chinese and Japanese Clubs, opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and Graduate Office activities such as dinners, cultural events, and social outings, and have plenty of opportunities to interact with many native Chinese undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in VU.
13. What housing arrangements are available for graduate students?
Off-campus apartments are available for rental. Plans are being made to allow MACS students to live with a number of Chinese native speakers in a university-owned apartment equipped with Chinese-language television programming.
14. What scholarships or student employment options are available to a MACS student?
15. Can I combine the MACS degree with any other graduate programs?
There are no dual degree programs for the MACS degree and another graduate degree as of yet. However, on an individual basis, arrangements can be designed to avoid overlap in courses for any students interested in obtaining more than one graduate degree from Valparaiso University. Please address questions regarding multiple degrees to the Office of Graduate Studies at graduate.studies@valpo.edu.
16. Where is Valparaiso University located and what does Valparaiso as a city have to offer to students enrolled in VU graduate programs?
Valparaiso University is located about 50 miles southwest of Chicago. From the city, one can access numerous cultural and social events. For more information, please visit http://www.valpo.edu/about_valpo/. For information about the city of Valparaiso and surrounding areas, including housing, entertainment and nearby attractions, please visit http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/.
17. Whom should I contact if I am interested in the program or have questions?
Please contact Mrs. Jamie Haney (jamie.haney@valpo.edu, 219-464-5313 or 800-821-7685), MACS Program Coordinator; Professor Zhimin Lin (Zhimin.lin@valpo.edu), Chair of Chinese and Japanese Studies Program; or the Office of Graduate Studies (graduate.studies@valpo.edu, 219-464-5313 or 800-821-7685).