THE CHINA FAO AND GRAD SCHOOL
-- Where do you go from here?

          Back in language school, my ignorance about graduate school as an impressionable, young FAO captain was only surpassed by my ignorance about the Chinese language. After a broad, liberal education at West Point I thought TA stood for target acquisition and the GRE was an earlier version of the MRE. Since then I have come to realize that I was not the only blind fool to pass through DLI and hope this article helps future 48F's make more informed choices.

          It is important to explain that there are two, main categories of grad schools to choose from -- the professional school and the "academic" school (also known as a PhD factory). An academic school includes theories, a thesis requirement and PhD students. As a FAO, you will be in a distinct minority of people who are stopping at the master degree level. In contrast, a professional school is modelled more along the lines of a business school. Students have previous work experience, there is no thesis requirement, curriculum is heavy on economics, statistics and real-world problems, and no one goes on for a PhD. Graduates return to jobs in the government, private sector or with NGOs. Examples include Columbia's SIPA, Harvard's Kennedy School and John Hopkins SAIS. Regardless of which type of school you choose, there are four things that I believe you should take away from graduate school as a China FAO.

                     1. Broad China background -- including knowledge of history, politics, culture and society.

                     2. Specific PLA knowledge. While it would be a mistake to specialize without first obtaining a broad China background, ICT will not teach you about the PLA. If you do not obtain this knowledge in grad school then you will report to your first job without it. Learning on the fly can be uncomfortable when you are expected to be the "expert" after four to five years of training and are also engaged in the process of establishing your professional reputation.

                     3. Improved language ability. A 2/2 out of DLI is not sufficient. A 3/3 is the minimum standard -- similar to having your 5 jump parachute wings and asking for an airborne assignment. You will not hear that someone got the job because he/she was the best linguist but are plenty of examples of where the pool of possible candidates was first winnowed down by removing all non 3/3's.

                     4. Contacts among your professors and classmates. The field of China security professionals is not large and highly symbiotic. The earlier and better you know your contemporaries the better off you will be. An informal survey of working 48F's lists the following as the best, U.S.- based PLA watchers:

                     a. Harvard (Iain Johnston, Ezra Vogel, and Bob Ross)
                     b. MIT (Tom Christensen and Lucien Pye)
                     c. Georgetown (Nancy Tucker and Bob Sutter)
                     d. Boston U (Joseph Fewsmith)
                     e. John's Hopkins - SAIS (Michael Lampton)
                     f. George Washington (David Shambaugh)

          In addition, the best security-related think tanks are in Washington, DC while the preponderance of active and retired FAOs live and work there (at the think tanks) and Hawaii.

          In choosing a graduate school ensure that the program offers you adequate opportunity to achieve these four goals. Having gone to grad school in New York, after working as a FAO in Washington DC and Beijing, my personal opinion is that FAOs should look first at schools in the DC area. The concentration of PLA-focused academics and active/retired FAOs there offers unmatched benefits. Time in DC also provides opportunities to meet the most important decision makers in the 48F community as well as to interact with working 48F's on delegations (all of which go to DC), conferences (most of which are in the DC area) and possibly to do an internship (maybe for an OER) within a working 48F billet (especially if you have time to kill before ICT). Hawaii, to a lesser extent, also offers these advantages. As a 48F, Washington DC will become your second home just like Fort Knox is to tankers. Accept it and embrace it. If you have a family and stability is something you desire then going early and buying a house will provide you with that. Again, Hawaii offers these same advantages but to a lesser extent.

          Whatever school you attend will be fun and rewarding. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. To that end, below are some shared personal experiences -- the junior generation's gift to the nascent generation -- that we hope will be helpful to you.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY prepared by Ken Fu

          Long known for its outstanding scholarship in the area of Asian Studies, the University of California at Berkeley offers a first-rate interdisciplinary graduate program that provides a Master of Arts degree in Asian Studies. The program is subdivided into four geographical regions: East Asia (China), Northeast Asia (Japan and Korea), South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The East Asia (China) curriculum is the most diverse and robust within the program. The thesis plan (DA regulations state that you must write a thesis) requires completion of third year Chinese, a minimum of six courses and 20 semester units that focus on the East Asia region, and a Master's thesis. Three of the courses (at least eight units) must be at the graduate level in two or more departments. No more that 14 of the 20-unit minimum can be in a single department. Normally students complete the degree in two years. Foreign Area Officers can easily complete the degree within one and a half years without overloading their academic schedule much.

          Berkeley has a national reputation for academic excellence and is considered to have one of the best Asian Studies programs in the country. More that seventy faculty members, fifteen departments, and an extensive library system provide the student a fountain of academic knowledge to complete their education. Internationally prominent guest lecturers, visiting professors from nearby Stanford University, and some of the best graduate students from the world will academically stimulate and challenge China regional studies students. Berkeley probably has the most comprehensive and challenging Chinese language program available in the nation and will fully prepare you to handle China In-Country Training's language challenges. Despite extensive requirements for degree completion, students have the freedom and flexibility to design a program that is accommodating of their particular interests and approaches. This is and excellent opportunity for a China Foreign Area Officer to both broaden their China knowledge and to focus on a topic of particular interest. I took the opportunity to focus on Chinese military modernization and wrote a thesis on that subject to help me learn what I thought was professionally important. Additionally, Berkeley is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, a region that offers tremendous Asian cultural opportunities to supplement learning at the university. If you enjoyed the Monterey Bay area during Chinese language studies at the Defence Language Institute, you will love the Berkeley and Bay Area.

          The academic diversity of the program can make it difficult for Foreign Area Officers unfamiliar with the Asian Studies and international relations academic field to select an appropriate plan. Despite having political science and history departments rated second highest in the country, the interdisciplinary nature of this program leaves the onus on the student to select the best courses to satisfy their academic requirements. Unlike other nationally known top international relations programs around the country that have core set courses designed to prepare the student in that discipline, Berkeley lacks that focus needed to fully prepare a Foreign Area Officer in the field of international relations. Most graduate students there are more interested in non-related topics such as Tang Dynasty poetry, Chinese journalism, and ancient Qing Dynasty history, to name a few. Additionally, the difficult Chinese language program can be a major distraction for those who have had problems learning the language. Even though the third year language requirement is somewhat equivalent to the level reached by some Defence Language Institute students, the requirements for Chinese character writing for all assignments and tests and reading both traditional and simplified characters mean that Defence Language Institute graduates usually will not be able to test out of third year Chinese and will probably have to start with second year Chinese.

          I had a totally positive experience at the University of California at Berkeley. For those that are looking for the best international relations training in the country, I would recommend carefully comparing other programs with Berkeley's and realize what you will not get at Berkeley. Many of the courses offered are similar. However, it is up to the student to pick the correct ones and tie it into a comprehensive program. If you are interested in studying Chinese history and politics, and even dabbling into more diverse interests such as Chinese art, philosophy, or sociology, then Berkeley probably has the best overall Asian Studies program in the country and will more than suit your needs. Just make sure you are prepared to handle the rigorous Chinese Language requirements. As for the reputation of Berkeley being the most liberal school in the country, that actually is one of the most positive aspects of the program. That liberal spirit directly translates into academic excellence in both the faculty and student body, where everyone challenges and forces you to think "outside the box." You can take it from me, a graduate of West Point, the most conservative school in the nation. If you have any questions please contact me at kenfooster@yahoo.com.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY prepared by Mike Janser

          Overview. FAOs matriculate at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). SIPA is a professional school offering seven FAO fellowships, bringing the school within the Army budget. It is designed to prepare professionals for careers in the public sector and is similar to a business school. A master's degree is the highest degree offered. The first year is largely requirements and the second year electives; and all students are required to conduct an internship -- generally during the summer between the first and second years. The Masters of International Affairs (MIA) offers about 15 different concentrations that range from East Asian Studies, African Studies, etc., to International Finance and Banking (IFB), International Security Policy (ISP) and others. FAOs graduate in 18 months which totals four semesters after inclusion of the summer semester. CAS3 serves to validate the statistics requirement and ICT exempts the internship requirement. There is no thesis requirement but you are required to take an upper-level seminar with a long writing requirement. Many FAOs seek a second concentration in ISP, which leaves no room for language classes.

STRENGTHS.

          1. Chinese language program. I left DLI a 2+/3, took Chinese every semester (including full time in the summer), and was challenged every step of the way. I would have needed several more years to take everything. My results from the placement exam put me in fourth year for reading, fourth year for listening and first year for writing. After much persuasion (in Chinese), I entered at the middle of third year on a probationary status. I was ahead of the game in reading and listening and so put my effort into writing and did catch up. One interesting point, Columbia treats short form and long form as interchangeable. You never know what you will get for homework or on a test but you are free to respond in whatever form you desire. I always tried to take classes from mainland teachers and only encountered long form about 10 percent of the time. Last two points, learn your characters at DLI and join the Columbia summer language program in Beijing -- even if you do not go to Columbia. Not only, will you greatly improve your Chinese, but also all of your ICT questions will be answered.

          2. Breadth of Classes. More classes deal directly with China than one person can take. I took a semester of Chinese Law, a semester of Chinese Politics, a semester of Chinese Economic Development, a semester of Chinese Foreign Policy, Chinese History and others. ISP classes are good though not China specific.

          3. Location. New York is the capital of the world and everyone who is someone either lives in NY or passes through. Columbia capitalizes on its location by capturing top-notch, guest lectures or adjunct professors to supplement its stable of Nobel Laureates. Besides the number 6 train, which goes straight to Chinatown, you have Broadway, Greenwich Village, Central Park, and what Columbia is really famous for - Tom's Diner (made famous as the diner in Seinfeld as well as from the 1980's song "Tom's Diner" by Susan Vega).

WEAKNESSES.

          1. Depth of Classes. Due to all the requirements, you will not become an expert in any one thing. You will spend most of your time taking lower level grad classes with midterms and finals and not much opportunity to take the fun, limited enrolment seminars which only meet once a week where all you do is sit around a table spouting erudite opinions.

          2. PLA. Columbia has some famous China scholars but none of them are PLA focused.

          3. Location. Columbia is located in Harlem and your housing allowance will NOT cover adequate housing. The school itself is safe but not necessarily the surrounding area. My wife and I were very, very lucky to get good student housing which consisted of a one bedroom, six-floor walk-up (6th floor with no elevator). Those FAOs with children lived on post at Fort Hamilton in southern Brooklyn; paid for their children to attend private school and faced a 1-1.5 hour commute to school.

          Recommendation . If you do not have children, if your future plans do not entail a PhD., if you want to emphasize language classes over classes on the PLA, your wife wants to work, and you love an urban lifestyle then Columbia may be the place for you. SIPA has a very strong Wall Street bend with IFB, by far the largest concentration, but despite this has a great 48F history with alumnae in Beijing, CINCPAC, West Point and the Joint Staff. For further questions, please email me at jansermj@hotmail.com.

CORNELL UNIVERSITY submitted by Matt Whitney

          ENVIRONMENT. As legend has it, when Ezra Cornell told his friends in 1865 that he "would found an institution where any person could find instruction in any study," they chided, "If you do that, you will never be able to handle the number of people who will want to attend." He replied, "Wait until you see where I put it." Thus, located in Ithaca New York, (approximately 60 miles south of Syracuse,) Cornell University became one of the first strictly secular universities in the nation. Today Cornell's main campus boasts more than 260 major buildings on 745 acres. It is one of the most beautiful and classic campus environments I have ever seen. Everything about Cornell, from the library reading rooms to the Student Union building seems geared for academic rigor. Though the five Army Officers I knew at Cornell were challenged by the school's liberalism, we also all grew because of it.

          The student body consists of about 19,260 students, of whom 5,600 are graduate or professional students. A generous allocation of study-carols is set aside just for Graduate Students. While the average FAO doesn't seek out a school for its extra-curricular credentials, Cornell Hockey is the best thing going. You will be converted after just one home game. For most of the year, the weather is perfect and you could be seduced into thinking you should retire there. However, winter is just plain cold!

          PROGRAM. Where Asian Studies and National Security are concerned, Cornell still has a major influence in Washington. Graduates of Harvard's one-year, non-thesis Kennedy School are often found coming back to Cornell after a few years interning in D.C. Cornell Graduates that may be notable to a China FAO would be: Pearl S. Buck, Hu Shuh, Lee Tung-hui and Paul Wolfowitz. Cornell also boasts Bill Maher and Bill Nye the Science guy.

          The Graduate School welcomes Army Officers. They are very flexible and willing to work with the people at FAO Branch to streamline, and in one case I know of, waive, tuition. Once in the Graduate School, the China FAO has many options for study.

          Students may obtain their graduate degree through the Government, History, or most likely the Asian Studies Department. Cornell also has a world-renown East Asia Program that serves as a matrix group across almost every field of study at the School.

          Requirements for an MA in East Asian Studies include Language Proficiency (to and beyond third year Chinese), two resident semesters of course work, a Thesis and Oral Examination. It can all be accomplished in 18 months if you really work hard.

          One very unique option at Cornell is the Full-year Asian Language Concentration (FALCON) Program. If one tests into the course, he/she needn't take the entire year. In FALCON, a student spends four hours every day with four different Chinese Teachers. Class size almost never exceeds seven or eight students. This is one way to study up for ICT and earn your Language proficiency for the degree at the same time. It is especially good for those officers who didn't have a chance to attend DLI, or went through DLI prior to Grad School.

          WARNING & RECOMMENDATION. Cornell's Asian Studies program, especially regarding China, is strong. Yet, it is particularly strong in Chinese History and Language. Officers who want to depart the traditional international relations track and find out why China is what it is would enjoy Cornell. If you want an exclusive, IR/policy-focused degree, then Cornell isn't for you. Indeed, the perspective I gained at Cornell certainly places me in opposition to much of the 1970s consensus that pervades the current political landscape. Even so, there is something at Cornell for everyone. The Government and Anthropology courses were strong, if not as numerous as their History and Language counterparts. Whatever you seek, if you want to really work hard and be paid well for your labors, I would recommend Cornell to a China FAO.

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA prepared by Newman Yang

          The University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) offers a well-rounded and thoughtful approach to gaining a Masters Degree in East Asian Studies with a concentration ion China. Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, UHM is ideally situated in the heart of the Pacific enabling students to take advantage of, and experience the influences of East Asia, while still enjoying the comforts of living in the United States.

          The Chinese studies program is centered on a "mini-thesis" (approximately 40 pages). The thesis program is structured in a way that allows students to begin preliminary work in their first semester of study. Other than the thesis requirements, students must complete 36 credit hours of course work. of these 36 credits, 18 must be at the graduate level. In addition, 3 must be in the humanities/arts, 3 in the social sciences, and 3 in the political sciences. All courses must be at the least 300 level classes. If a graduate student takes an undergraduate course, the professor usually offers the option of writing a research paper in lieu of taking the mid-term and final examinations. There is also a language requirement to complete or validate 400 level Chinese language courses (8 credits). Woking in a two semester cycle, completing these requirements posses no problems, and students even have the opportunity to take more credits because tuition prices are capped once students enrol in 12 credits. Taking up to 16 credits a semester is not uncommon, and in certain circumstances I observed students taking as many as 19 credits in on e semester (I don't recommend this, and it must heave department head approval). The above requirements force students to take a wide variety of courses making the overall curriculum well rounded, and building a solid foundation of Chinese background and knowledge for each graduate.

          One of the greatest advantages of attending the University of Hawaii is its location. Oahu is home to many facilities, both military and civilian, that are helpful to the FAO in-training. U.S. Pacific Command headquarters is located at Camp Smith, less than 30 minutes from downtown Honolulu. Also available is the East-West Center, a research center co- located on the UHM campus, which provides excellent opportunities for additional research. Also, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), a military engagement tool for PACOM similar to the Marshal Center in Garmish, Germany is only 10 minutes away in Waikiki and provide summer school opportunities for FAOs to take security related classes with mid-level military and civilian leaders form a wide variety of nations across the Asia-Pacific region.

          Despite the many benefits of attending the University of Hawaii, there are a few drawbacks to consider before making a final decision on your advanced civil schooling program. First, the Chinese language program at UHM is not very intensive and may result in a deterioration of language skills while in ACS. Even the highest language levels, the program lacks the intensity and depth of the program at DLI. This is further magnified by a poor validation and placement program. I found myself in class at the 400level with students who had difficulty speaking, listening, and/or reading. Further, the placement exam does not accurately place students. For example, the placement officer stated that I might have some difficulty with the 400 level Chinese courses, which was definitely not the case, especially after graduating from DLI. Another problem I encountered regarding the language courses were that the class times often conflicted with other courses, which were offered at the same time. Although this did not pose a significant problem, I was unable to enrol in some classes that I wanted to take.

          Another shortcoming I experienced at UHM related to student body population. Large numbers of students concentrated on Chinese studies focus on the arts and humanities. Often classmates lacked an in-depth knowledge to discuss current events or security issues relating to China and East Asia as a whole. Naturally, the way to alleviate this issue is to concentrate more heavily on political science oriented courses, which offered numerous stimulating classes.

          Despite the small short-comings I encountered at UHM, I found the program to be very rewarding and educational. FAOs from all Asian regions frequently attend the University of Hawaii and have established a strong reputation for good work and enthusiasm among the staff and facility. I would not hesitate to recommend the University of Hawaii to prospective FAOs for ACS. It is not only a good Masters program, but being stationed in Hawaii also offers other professional opportunities to develop FAO skills. Anyone with questions regarding the Chinese studies program at UHM should feel to email me at NYang90@aol.com. For more in depth information, Mr. Regineald Kwok is the Chinese studies program director, and he can he contacted at rkwok@hawaii.edu.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY prepared by Nick Reisdorff

          Harvard University offers a two-year Master's Degree program out of its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) known as Regional Studies -- East Asia or RSEA. The program is an interdisciplinary curriculum tailored to the student's interests. If a FAO has a preference for history or politics he can take more classes in whichever area he so deems. Harvard has an abundant curriculum from which to draw. The program is designed to take two years to complete, but an industrious FAO can easily complete it in the allotted 18 months.

          The school's requirements for the program are as follows:

          The requirements for the A.M. degree are (1) a minimum of one year, and normally two years, in residence; (2) demonstration of competence in one East Asian language at the level of a completed third-year course; (3) completion of at least eight RSEA-approved half- courses in East Asian studies; (4) submission of a research seminar paper, in lieu of a master's thesis, in which the student demonstrates the ability to make substantial use of materials written in an East Asian language.

          Some of the benefits of the RSEA program include contact with some of the top-level academics in and outside of the nation. Moreover, Harvard's GSAS has cross registration with Tufts, MIT and Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government so that RSEA students can take courses in these other schools. Finally, Harvard's large endowment allows it to be amenable in developing a financial support package that allows FAOs to attend.

          The program also has its downsides. The environment is very academically rigorous. Additionally, the GSAS is not a professional school that brings people in their mid-careers. The focus of the GSAS is to produce PhD graduates who go on to a life in academia; this also results in a heavy focus on theory. These two criteria can put off FAOs who are looking for a more "real-world" degree program. The school is also still expensive, generally right at the maximum allowable by FAO branch.

          Overall, I strongly recommend the program to other FAOs. The "real world" is something we will all live and work in and a strong theoretical underpinning is a useful framework to build your experiences around. The experience of meeting and learning from the nation's academic leaders is invaluable. If there are any questions about the program, contact MAJ Nicholas Reisdorff at NReisdorff@aol.com. For more information on the program, visit its website at: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~rsea/

JOHN HOPKINS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (SAIS) prepared by Randy Lawrence

          After World War II, Paul H. Nitze and Christian Herter decided that a school was needed to train men and women in international affairs. The school provides rigorous training in language and economics and systematic exposure to theories of international relations. Programs at SAIS are multidisciplinary and offer both functional and regional studies. All international issues have an economic component within the curriculum and therefore the school requires all students to take extensive coursework in international economics. The curriculum provides students with a thorough understanding of theory and history as well as superior analytical and practical skills. Students enjoy great leeway in designing their own courses of study, but each must demonstrate a knowledge of the basic, or "core," elements of international affairs and must pass a comprehensive examination in international economics as well as a second field of study, chosen from among regional and functional fields.

          The MA program at SAIS is geared towards people who are looking for a practical degree, that teaches skills which directly carry over into the work place. Graduate students at SAIS are older than at most schools with prior work experience looked at carefully by the admissions board. Many graduates go on to work for Government agencies, World Bank, DC think tanks, and NGOs as well as private business. The degree has three significant requirements for graduation that make the program both challenging and rewarding. First, there is a language proficiency requirement that must be passed prior to graduation. The test consists of a half hour oral proficiency exam by a panel of language teachers. Second, there are also oral exams given in your area of concentration. The upside of this requirement as that there is no Masters degree thesis requirement. Finally, SAIS has a requirement for several advanced economics courses no matter what your area of concentration.

          I chose SAIS because I wanted an advanced degree that was geared toward the market place. I found the economic course requirements to enhance the overall program considerably. SAIS has many international students and is located in the center of Washington DC, which adds to the overall learning experience. The school draws talent from the DC area and uses those resources as faculty, speakers, and "Brown Bag" guest lecturers. SAIS is considered a very marketable degree.

          The largest down side is the price, which is well over $20,000 a year. However, SAIS was willing to lower the cost down to the Army ceiling. Some students have a hard time passing the language oral proficiency exam, but students coming out of DLI should have no problem with that requirement. Also, some people think the economic course requirements are excessive, but I would disagree and personally think that the economics/business slant is what sets this program apart from other MA programs. However, if econ and math are not your bag you may want to go elsewhere. Overall a great experience and I would highly recommend the school. If you have any question please feel free to email me at lawrencerh@state.gov

STANFORD UNIVERSITY submitted by Heino Klinck

          Overview. Stanford University offers a Master of Arts degree in East Asian Studies ideally suited for a China Foreign Area Officer (FAO). The program offers a great deal of flexibility in combining language training, interdisciplinary area studies, and a disciplinary concentration. Stanford's East Asian Studies program can be completed within the 18 months that the Army allots for FAO graduate school. Course requirements are typical and include a core course on East Asia and an additional nine courses specifically focused on the region. There are stipulations of minimum required types of course such as seminars, colloquia, or advanced courses. A master's paper representing a substantial piece of research is also a graduation requirement. Third-year level language proficiency is a requirement for the degree and is not included in the aforementioned course load.

          Good Points. Stanford is widely recognized as a university of the highest standard. Its course offerings provide the China FAO with an outstanding academic foundation for future political-military assignments. Some of the most enlightening courses for a China FAO would include Chinese Foreign Policy, Chinese Politics (Reform and Transformation), and Modern Chinese History. Other beneficial, non-China specific courses might include Decision-Making in US Foreign Policy, Rise of Industrial Asia, and International Security in a Changing World.

          Chinese language instruction is excellent and requires a lot of effort. It is expected that students are able to write in characters, which only receives minimal attention at the Defence Language Institute (DLI). Students are able to take a variety of language course beyond the basic types to include Business Chinese, Calligraphy, and regional dialects.

          The university's numerous research centers (such as the Asia/Pacific Research Center, the Hoover Institution, and the Center for International Security and Cooperation) offer FAOs additional opportunities to attend seminars, conferences, and interact with faculty and scholars that have previously served throughout the US government. Stanford University counts amongst its faculty and staff a former Secretary of Defence, Secretary of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as several National Security Council staff members. The current National Security Advisor to President Bush, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, is a Stanford Professor and former Provost. A mix of academic and real world experience combine to make the faculty uniquely qualified to mentor military officers about to embark in a career focused on one of the most important regions in US foreign policy.

          Stanford University is perfectly situated geographically for Asia-focused studies. Its California location and superlative reputation attract the most outstanding students from all over Asia, including China and Taiwan. Having classmates from the region is an educational side-benefit that should not be discounted by FAOs heading down range. Many officials and scholars stop at Stanford and give presentations as they travel to and from Asia. For a FAO, it is a relatively simple move from the DLI in Monterey to Palo Alto in Silicon Valley. San Francisco and its Chinatown is also only short commute from Stanford.

          Drawbacks. Stanford does not automatically offer any tuition breaks to FAOs unlike some other Ivy League schools. Despite its renowned status, Stanford is not on the FAO approved schools list. There is a precedent for FAOs attending Stanford, but it usually requires negotiating with both the university and FAO branch in order to get the final approval. A military infrastructure is lacking at Stanford since there is no on-campus ROTC program. The nearest major military installations are DLI and Travis AFB.

          It may be common to encounter some snobbish attitudes toward the military among some of Stanford's elite student body. This is based primarily on ignorance and lack of personal experience with military members and is easily overcome.

          The university is located in one of the most expensive areas of the country and affordable housing is difficult to obtain.

          Recommendation s. I encourage all China FAOs to actively research their choice for graduate school. Stanford University should be on everyone's short list of programs best suited for China FAOs. The skill sets that you obtain at Stanford from classes, seminars, informal gatherings, and everyday interactions will prepare you well for future assignments focusing on China. If you have any questions please contact me at hklinck@hotmail.com.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN prepared by Phil Dupont           Overview. In order to pursue a MA must have completed at least a year of college-level Chinese or Japanese with a grade of at least B, or must demonstrate equivalent competence, before admission to the program. Students can select a report option or thesis option. The report option consists of at least thirty-three semester hours of work, which includes the report course, a three-hour, one-semester project in which the student conducts research and writes a report on a given topic or body of material. The thesis option consists of thirty semester hours of work, including the thesis courses, a six-hour, two- semester project in which the student analyses or interprets a body of material. Core courses required of all students in the program are six semester hours of upper-division or graduate coursework in history and six semester hours of upper-division or graduate coursework in a language of the area of specialization. Students are expected to complete three years of language study or pass a proficiency examination in the Asian language of their choice to complete the degree program.

          Strengths. The good points of the program include the small number of students, quality of instructors, large population of native Chinese speakers. The small size of the Asian Studies program offers a couple of important advantages over large programs. At UT, it is possible, and quite likely, that a graduate student will at times be able to design a course that addresses individual interests. Also, the small student population ensures that most classes are small, providing more intimate interaction between instructors and students. Additionally, the large population of native Chinese speaking students provides ample opportunity to enhance language skills. UT offers the PALS (Partnerships to Advance Language Study) program, (http://www.utexas.edu/student/esl/pals/) which matches foreign students with American students, to foster cultural exchange and develop language skills.

          Drawbacks. Weak points of the program include the limited number of graduate level course offerings and the availability of professors. Because of the small size of the program, there are very few graduate courses that directly apply to a degree specializing in China studies. It is possible to take undergraduate offerings, which are supplemented by additional requirements to allow the student to receive graduate credit for the course. Also, because the faculty is relatively small in number, it may be difficult to arrange an individual course if there are limited course offerings available. On 2 occasions I made arrangements for individualized study course, only to have the instructors cancel due to scheduling conflicts. This also proved a difficulty with the language program. After completing the highest level offered, the instructor was unable to provide me with one- on-one instruction for my final semester; the only available course was classical Chinese.           The University of Texas at Austin program is certainly worth attending as part of the Army FAO training program. Despite the limitations in course offerings, or perhaps because of them, it is possible to construct a program of study that meets individual interests. For instance, I was able to focus my study on China's political system and the military while completing the degree requirements. This proved invaluable in providing a strong background for researching and writing my thesis. Anyone who has a clear idea of what their area of interest is and the initiative to do a little more work when registering for course will find the UT Asian Studies program extremely rewarding. For questions please email philip.dupont@us.army.mil.

MONTEREY INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES prepared by Jeb Stewart

          Overview. The Monterey Institute offers a high quality International Policy Studies Masters program for the FAO. The program does not require a thesis and is conducted in two regular semesters (fall and spring) and one summer semester. Required courses are:

1. Introduction to Policy Analysis 2. International Economics

          The FAO student will also choose among several international studies courses to fulfil the International Policy Studies requirement.

          The Monterey Institute has several strong points:

          1. Though normally a two-year program, the Monterey Institute recognizes that every FAO is language trained, most at the Defence Language Institute. The Monterey Institute grants language credit to the FAO student. This enables the student to complete the course in one year.

          2. The Monterey Institute's location is near both the Defence Language Institute (DLI) and the Naval Post Graduate School. This enables the FAO student to have the opportunity to start/continue language training informally at DLI and also to take advantage of opportunities to take unique classes (for credit) at the Naval Post Graduate School.

          3. Most importantly, the Monterey Institute offers the FAO the unique opportunity to attend classes where the majority of students are foreign nationals. This enables the FAO student to gain an important perspective on International Studies that is not inherently a United States perspective, an opportunity that is important for the FAO student to develop prior to any assignment.

          4. The Monterey Institute is flexible. The faculty has former FAOs on its staff. As a result, the faculty understands the objectives of the government for FAO students. This has enabled FAO students in the past to take advantage of the Monterey Institute's Directed Study Program. This program allows the FAO student to choose an international studies topic he wants to focus on, obtain a faculty member sponsor who will validate the topic and for the FAO student to receive academic credit upon completion of his research. In one case, a FAO student coordinated this program with an Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) grant from the Air Force Academy to study China Security Issues. The INSS grant enabled the FAO student to travel to Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Rangoon to conduct research. Upon completion of his trip to Asia, the FAO student wrote a research paper that satisfied both the INSS program for the grant, and the Monterey Institute for completion of the Directed Studies class.

          Recommendation to future FAOs regarding Graduate School. Graduate School is ultimately what you make of it. Just like badges in the military, a diploma from any school will only impress people for a very short period of time. Once you have proven yourself "competent" or "incompetent", the diploma/school won't matter. For questions please contact mffodacdr@aol.com

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH prepared by Eric Barto

          While not as "China"-intensive as some of the other programs, the Interdisciplinary Master's Degree (IDMA) in East Asian Studies with a concentration on China at the University of Pittsburgh can provide an excellent well-rounded primer for the aspiring China FAO. The University of Pittsburgh is on a two-semester cycle with a limited summer program. A degree can generally be completed easily in 18 months and might even be possible in one year plus a few credits in the summer if the prospective officer gets credit for previous work. The IDMA degree allows a student to work in a non-focused program and take classes from the variety of departments within the University. While registration preference is supposedly given to students of the hosting department, I never had trouble working my way into a full class. There is a requirement for a thesis. Other requirements include third-year language proficiency, a history course, and at least one course that is in the other East Asian core area (China specialists had to take one course on Japan and vice versa). The history and Japan requirement can be waived with proof of undergraduate or equivalent work in that area. While not mandatory, it may be necessary to include a few undergraduate courses to gain background knowledge in particular fields not offered at the graduate-level. The syllabus is limited in specific China courses, but students can easily make up for this by doing their research requirements within a class on China-related topics. Bottom line: If you are interested in a good, well rounded program with plenty of room for individual research on China and an excellent background on the East Asian region and US international and security policies, than this is a good bet. If you are looking to maximize your credit hours on all China-specific security related graduate courses you are probably better off looking elsewhere.

          Among the strongest points of the program is the access to the classes at the Graduate School for Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). This school offers the security and international relations courses. Most FAOs take a good majority of their classes in this school. My thesis advisor and thesis committee came solely from GSPIA. In retrospect, the two classes that have been the most useful for me as a FAO were the non-China specific courses on US security policy and the not to be missed World History both taught by the energetic and charismatic Dr. Donald Goldstein, a retired Air Force Colonel, and perennial FAO favorite. These two classes alone provide essential background for both policy and intel analysis. GSPIA also has the East Asian comparative politics classes and a few China specific courses. Many GSPIA graduates go to government work, particularly in the State Department, so it is helpful to see what these folks are learning.

          Another strong point is the ability to not focus on a specific area. Graduate students are often pressed by their advisors to find an increasingly specific niche with course work that demonstrates that focus. I found my advisors at Pitt were open to my needs and desires to sample different fares without justification for how 20th Century Art in China or Chinese Religious Traditions tied into my thesis on the security challenges in the South China Sea. During my ICT I found that it was the material from these classes that made for great conversation starters and added to my credibility as an overall student of China when I was able to discuss art, literature, and religion/philosophy.

          Finally, the East Asian Library and its staff on the second floor of the main Hillman Library are certainly strengths worth mentioning. The collection itself provided ample volumes for historical research and a good collection of Chinese and English language periodicals for security studies. The staff is particularly helpful and efficient in tracking down and getting copies of articles from the mainland. As essential is taking the mandatory one-credit East Asian Library Survey class the first semester. The annotated bibliography that serves as the final requirement was crucial in helping me shape my thesis early and gain a full understanding of the types of Chinese materials available and how to access them.

          For a DLI-trained China FAO, I felt that the language program was the most significant shortcoming, particularly since I did my graduate work prior to ICT and lost quite a bit of ground on my language ability while at grad school. This is not to criticize the program, but identify that the Pitt focus differs greatly from the DLI approach. Dr. Dale Barnes, a superb Chinese linguist, who was more than willing to work with me to find a way to maximize my experience, runs the language program. The main problem is that Dr. Barnes focuses his students on limited vocabulary with perfect pronunciation and grammar with a sacrifice of extensive vocabulary and ability to create language. What the Pitt students can say, they say superbly, but their highest-level class (third year) was still focused on discussions of one's life and societal differences between US and China. The reading portion was more writing (both jiantizi and fantizi), and was restricted to writing the same limited dialog from the speaking class. This is in sharp contrast to the DLI method of mass exposure to vocabulary with limited emphasis on speaking and almost none on writing. Another problem was the 7 hours/week for three credits for the speaking class alone. This everyday for an hour/ twice a week for two hours course cut right into the heart of the day and was often in conflict with the three-hour/once a week security classes that I felt were more critical to my development as a FAO. This can be overcome and augmented with individual study with a tutor from the language department and certainly should be supplemented with Dr. Cecilia Sun's excellent class on guwen or traditional Chinese, which exposes the student to many famous ancient Chinese short works as well as provides a good bridge to the semi-formal language often encountered in Chinese newspapers.

          The other shortcoming was the overall lack of upper-level China-specific government, security, and modern history courses. The implication of this is the accompanying lack of dedicated Sinologists in these fields to learn from and debate with. This situation may have changed since I was there from AUG 98-DEC 00. If this is a concern I recommend requesting a fall and spring syllabi from the previous years and querying as to what China courses will be offered the following year.

          Overall, my experience at Pitt was extremely rewarding and can best be described as well rounded. I was able to work China into all my classes, including my mandatory Japanese course (I took modern Japanese History and researched Zhang Zuolin and the Japanese occupation of Manchuria in lieu of a final exam). The administrators and faculty think highly of FAOs who have established reputations for excellence and enthusiasm in their studies. If anyone would like more information on my experiences at the University of Pittsburgh, please feel free to contact me eabarto@aol.com, an address that will remain valid even as my assignments change. I recommend contacting Ms. Dianne Dakis for more information about what the program looks like today.