Master of Arts in International Studies Degree

Program Description - Japan Studies

The MAIS degree in Japan Studies offers students a chance to develop deeper knowledge and understanding of Japan through graduate-level study. Japan Studies is an interdisciplinary program that provides concentrated Japanese language and area training. The core curriculum is offered through the Jackson School and is supplemented by numerous classes on Japan in political science, history, Asian languages and literature, art and art history, drama, architecture, law, and business. The program is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of many facets of Japan, particularly contemporary and modern Japan. This opportunity for well-rounded study is enhanced by specialized training in areas of individual interest, allowing students to develop their academic skills and to pursue their professional goals.

The Japan Studies master's program is specifically designed 1) for students with BAs who need language and interdisciplinary training on Japan to pursue their career goals or who simply want to further their understanding of Japan, and 2) as preparation for PhD work in an academic discipline involving Japan. In conjunction with the Masters of International Studies (Japan) graduate degree program, the Michael G. Foster School of Business offers a concurrent degree for MBA/MAIS. Other concurrent programs can be arranged, including an MPA/MAIS combination with the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs. These three-year dual-degree programs combine professional training with a strong Japan background to prepare graduates for careers in business and government.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet basic UW Graduate School requirements, which include a 3.00 GPA for the last 90 quarter (60 semester) graded credits, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, and submission of test results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Applicants must also meet all application requirements and deadlines set by the Jackson School and described in its application guidelines. Please visit the Jackson School Graduate Program information pages for details and deadlines. Because this is a competitive program, however, meeting minimum standards does not ensure admission. Those with combined Verbal and Quantitative GRE scores of less than 1200 might want to consider taking the exam again. At least one year of prior training in Japanese language is strongly recommended.
Applicants to the concurrent MBA-MAIS degree, or to an individually arranged concurrent degree program such as MPA-MAIS, must also meet all application requirements and deadlines for the partner program.

Degree Requirements

Students must attain competency in the Japanese language through at least the third-year level. This competency may be demonstrated either by results from the UW proficiency test or through coursework. Students are strongly encouraged to take language throughout their studies at the University of Washington. Those who enter the program with proficiency beyond the third-year level may continue language study through classes in fourth-year and classical Japanese, readings in Japanese in the social sciences, technical Japanese, or a variety of literature courses based on Japanese-language texts. Summer courses in intensive language training are offered at beginning levels only.
 

Coursework

Required Courses:

SISEA 555 / Introduction to Modern Japanese Studies (5 Credits)
Introduction to the study of Japan, analysis of primary and secondary materials, and writing.

SISEA 557 / Issues in Japan Studies (2 Credits)
Introduction to faculty research and to major methods and disciplines in the study of Japan.

SISEA 559 / Interdisciplinary Seminar on Japan (6 Credits)
Interdisciplinary social science introduction to various aspects of contemporary Japan, such as its politics, economics, and society. May be waived.

Other Coursework: Students are required to complete 38 additional credits with at least 5 at or above the 500-level in discipline coursework including at least one course in history and one in the social sciences. With adviser approval, students may take a maximum of two courses not specifically focused on Japan that serve to fulfill a necessary disciplinary or professional component of their individual programs. Up to 15 credits from Japanese language courses may be counted toward these 38 additional credits.
 
Final Papers and Oral Exam

Students write an Essay of Distinction and have an oral defense of their work, or write two research papers and take an oral exam their penultimate quarter in the program.

Library Facilities
The University of Washington's Japan collection is one of the most important of its kind in the nation. The East Asia Library and the Law Library together house over 140,000 volumes of Japanese-language materials. The libraries on campus maintain an up-to-date collection of English- and European-language works in the humanities, social sciences, and art and a good collection of prewar and nineteenth-century books and periodicals.