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.
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 | |
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:
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Number | Title | Credits | Term | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITASIA113 | Animal Law | 2 | A1 A2 | KHOHCHAHAR E. Chuluu |
| ITASIA114 | Comparative Politics Field Seminar | 2 | A1 A2 | Kenneth Mori MCELWAIN |
| ITASIA124 | Introduction to International Conflicts | 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 |
| ITASIA135 | Special Topics in Japanese Studies | 2 | A1 A2 | Joshua BAXTER |
| ITASIA142 | Cross-Strait Relations | 2 | S1 | MATSUDA Yasuhiro |
| 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 |
| ITASIA222 | Social Media, Computer-Mediated Communication, and Mediated Publicness | 2 | S1 S2 | Jason G. KARLIN |
| ITASIA223 | Journalism Studies | 2 | S1 S2 | Misook LEE |
| ITASIA224 | Trans-Pacific Cultural Studies | 2 | S1 S2 | YAGUCHI Yujin |
| ITASIA225 | Visual Culture, Technology, and 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 and 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 |
| ITASIA416 | Software Studies | 2 | A1 A2 | Michael FACIUS |
| ITASIA426 | Social Media Studies: Instagram | 2 | S1 S2 | Michael FACIUS |
| ITASIA801 | Academic Thesis 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.
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.