Curriculum

ITASIA is comprised of two degree programs: one that grants an M.A.S. (Master of Arts and Sciences) degree and the other a Ph.D. (Doctorate in Information Studies) degree.

Students in the M.A.S. program are trained to grasp the changing political, economic, and social realities of globalizing Asia through the study of media, communication, and information studies. The M.A.S. program is appropriate for those interested in pursuing careers in public administration, media, business, and academia.

The Ph.D. program is intended to produce high-level researchers and professionals in the fields of Asian studies and information studies. Students will acquire a broad-based knowledge of arts and sciences as well as expertise in the investigative techniques and theoretical analysis required for advanced research in politics, economics, media studies, and other social sciences.

M.A.S. Program

Degree: Master of Arts and Sciences in the field of Information Studies
Required Credits: 30
Term: 2 years

  A1
(October 3-November 28)
A2
(November 29-January 30)
S1
(April 4-June 2)
S2
(June 3-July 28)
Year 1 ITASIA 101ITASIA 102ITASIA 201ITASIA 202ITASIA 301ITASIA 302ITASIA 401 Summer Programs
(optional)
Year 2 Elective Classes Elective Classes Thesis Writing  

Ph.D. Program

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Information Studies)
Required Credits: 20
Term: 3+ years

  A1
(October 3-November 28)
A2
(November 29-January 30)
S1
(April 4-June 2)
S2
(June 3-July 28)
Year 1 ITASIA 101ITASIA 102ITASIA 201ITASIA 202 Elective Classes Summer Programs
(optional)
Year 2 Elective Classes Elective Classes Elective Classes Summer Programs
(optional)
Year 3 Dissertation Writing Dissertation Writing Dissertation Writing  

In order to master the fundamentals of the humanities and social sciences needed to research Asian society in the information age, students in the ITASIA Program may complete coursework in the four areas below. Based on this foundational knowledge, students then will go on to deepen their understanding of specific fields by taking elective courses and writing a faculty-guided Master’s thesis or Ph.D. dissertation.

The courses offered in this program are categorized into the following areas:

  • ITASIA 100s: Asian Studies
  • ITASIA 200s: Media and Communication Studies
  • ITASIA 300s: Theories and Methods
  • ITASIA 400s: Information Technologies
  • ITASIA 700s: Academic Project Management
  • ITASIA 800s: Academic Skills

Required Classes

Number Title Credits Term Instructor
ITASIA 101 Introduction to Asian Studies: History and International Relations (Lecture)​ 2 A1 MATSUDA Yasuhiro
KURAMOTO Ryosuke
OGAWA Michihiro
Christopher BYRON-GERTEIS
Pattajit TANGSINMUNKONG
ITASIA 102 Introduction to Asian Studies: History and International Relations (Seminar) 2 A1 A2 Christopher BYRON-GERTEIS
ITASIA 201 Introduction to Media and Communication (Lecture) 2 A1 A2 Jason G. KARLIN
ITASIA 202 Introduction to Media and Communication (Seminar) 2 A1 A2 Jason G. KARLIN
ITASIA 301 Introduction to Social Research (Lecture) 2 A2 S1 SONODA Shigeto
HARADA Shiro
ITASIA 302 Introduction to Social Research (Workshop) 2 A2 S1 SONODA Shigeto
HARADA Shiro
ITASIA 401 Introduction to Information Technology 2 S1 HARADA Shiro
  M.A.S. Thesis Writing 4 year-round  
  Ph.D. Dissertation Writing 8 year-round  

Sample Elective Classes

Number Title Credits Term Instructor
ITASIA116 Comparative Constitutional Design 2 A1 A2 Kenneth Mori MCELWAIN
ITASIA121 International Politics in East Asia: US-China Rivalry and Its Impacts on Regional Order 2 A1 A2 SAHASHI Ryō
ITASIA122 Historical Perceptions in Asia 2 S1 S2 Pattajit TANGSINMUNKONG
ITASIA124 Global Conflicts and Cooperation: Understanding Governance in a Global Era 2 S1 S2 ENDŌ Ken
ITASIA128 Surviving Cancer in Asia: Collaboration with UICC (Union for International
Cancer Control)
2 A1 A2 SONODA Shigeto
ITASIA131 Japanese Foreign Policy 2 S1 S2 Phillip LIPSCY
ITASIA133 Japanese Foreign Economic Policy 4 A1 A2 IIDA Keisuke
ITASIA145 Contemporary Chinese Diplomacy 2 A1 A2 TAKAHARA Akio
ITASIA146 Contemporary Chinese Politics 2 A1 A2 LIM Jaehwan
ITASIA211 Introduction to Affect and Sensory Studies 2 A1 A2 HISANO Ai
ITASIA221 Gender and Media Theory 2 S1 S2 Jason G. KARLIN
ITASIA223 Journalism Studies 2 A1 A2 David MCNEIL
ITASIA225 Visual Culture, Technology, and the Everyday Life 2 S1 S2 ITATSU Yuko
ITASIA232 “Reinventing Japan” and Rethinking Area Studies 2 A1 A2 YAGUCHI Yujin
ITASIA311 Visual Ethnography 2 A1 A2 Dipesh KHAREL
ITASIA322 Populations, Logistics & Violence 2 S1 S2 Joshua BAXTER
ITASIA323 Issues and Methods in Cultural Anthropology and Ethnography 2 S1 S2 NAWA Katsuo
ITASIA411 Media Design 2 A1 A2 WATANAVE Hidenori
KAKEHI Yasuaki
Miles PENNINGTON
ITASIA415
Media Technologies, Machines, and Humanity
2 A1 A2 NISHIMURA Keiko
ITASIA416 Software Studies 2 A1 A2 Michael FACIUS
ITASIA426 ChatGPT Lab 2 S1 S2 Michael FACIUS
ITASIA801 Academic Discourse Writing 2 S1 S2 Dexter DA SILVA

* Students may take elective classes in any course of the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies or department of the University of Tokyo.

Japanese Language Classes

The University of Tokyo offers 10 different Japanese Language Programs for international students. The programs are offered through 9 School/Faculty/Department’s Japanese Language classes and the Center for Japanese Language Education. For more information, please visit the Portal Site for UTokyo Japanese Language Education.

Required classes and most elective classes in the ITASIA Program are offered in the afternoon and evening in order to allow for Japanese language study in the morning. Since intensive Japanese language classes may be too demanding to take together with required classes, M.A.S. students may elect to study intensive Japanese during their first year, graduating instead in three years. Ph.D. students may elect to study intensive Japanese at any time. Please consult with your tentative advisor regarding your study plan upon admission.