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.
The ITASIA Program requires Masters students to complete a set of core courses encompassing media and communication, technology, history, and international relations. These courses aim to provide students with a strong foundation in the humanities and social sciences, which is crucial for conducting research on Asian society in the information age. Drawing upon this foundational knowledge, students further specialize their expertise by selecting elective courses and authoring a Masters thesis under the supervision of faculty members.
| A1 (October 2-November 27) |
A2 (November 28-January 31) |
S1 (April 4-June 2) |
S2 (June 3-July 28) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ITASIA 101 | ITASIA 302 | |||
| ITASIA 201 | ITASIA 401 | ||||
| ITASIA 301 | |||||
| Year 2 | Elective Classes | Thesis Writing | |||
The ITASIA Program requires doctoral students to take ITASIA 301, a course designed to equip them with the latest methodological approaches and a deeper understanding of research ethics essential for studying Asian society in the information age. Building upon this foundational knowledge, students further enhance their expertise in specific areas by enrolling in elective courses and completing a Ph.D. dissertation under the guidance of faculty members.
| A1 (October 2-November 27) |
A2 (November 28-January 31) |
S1 (April 4-June 2) |
S2 (June 3-July 28) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ITASIA 301 | Elective Classes | |||
| Year 2 | Elective Classes | Elective Classes | |||
| Year 3 | Dissertation Writing | Dissertation Writing | |||
The ITASIA Program offers classes across various fields and disciplines with the aim of promoting interdisciplinary research. The courses offered are categorized into the following areas:
| Number | Title | Credits | Term | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITASIA 101 | Introduction to Asian Studies: History and International Relations (Lecture) | 2 | A1 | MATSUDA Yasuhiro KURAMOTO Ryosuke OGAWA Michihiro Pattajit TANGSINMUNKONG |
| ITASIA 201 | Introduction to Media and Communication (Seminar/Theory) | 2 | A1 A2 | Jason G. KARLIN |
| ITASIA 301 | Research Methods and Ethics (Lecture/Workshop) | 2 | A1 A2 | Jason G. KARLIN HISANO Ai |
| ITASIA 302 | Software and Critical Code Studies (Seminar/Methods) | 2 | S1 S2 | Michael FACIUS |
| 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 |
| 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 | A1 A2 | David SLATER |
* Students may take elective classes in any course of the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies or department of the University of Tokyo.
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.
Students in the ITASIA Program may elect to participate in various summer or short-term programs that provide valuable opportunities for further academic and cultural enrichment. By participating in these programs, students can gain a deeper understanding of their research topics and develop cross-cultural competencies. They have the opportunity to collaborate with scholars and experts from partner institutions around the globe and across the UTokyo campuses, expanding their academic network and enhancing their research capabilities. For a list of the various short-term, non-degree programs provided in English, please visit the University of Tokyo Go Global website.