Academic Programs

Graduate

Graduate training on East Asia is offered by the Jackson School of International Studies, the Department of Asian Languages and Literature, the School of Law, and many other departments.

The Jackson School

The Jackson School offers Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) degree programs in China Studies, Japan Studies, and Korea Studies. Students may also pursue a minor focus on any of these regions or on East Asia in general through the International Studies (General) program. Most students in this general program are also pursuing concurrent degrees in professional schools such as Public Affairs, Law, and Business.

PLEASE NOTE: The Jackson School’s China, Japan and Korea MAIS degree programs are being reviewed to be updated into a new degree program: M.A., East Asia Studies. The degree will combine China, Japan, and Korea Studies programs. This new M.A. degree is in the final approval stage and should be granted in the new year. We are optimistic that with final approval the inaugural cohort will begin in AUTUMN 2025. (Applications are due Jan 31, 2025).

 Students interested in the M.A. of East Asia Studies should apply to the (current) Japan, China, or Korea Studies M.A. programs for the 2025-26 academic year. This new degree will have tracks where students will focus on China, Japan, Korea, or Taiwan and Studies while also studying about other parts of East Asia.

If you are interested in Taiwan Studies, please apply to either China, Korea, or Japan Studies M.A. programs but note in your application that you are interested in the Taiwan Track.

To pursue a concurrent degree, you must apply and be accepted into both programs. It is highly recommended to discuss academic planning with an adviser. Concurrent degree paths are as follows:

  • MPA through the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance
  • MBA through the Foster School of Business
  • JD through the School of Law
  • MMA through the School of Marine and and Environmental Affairs
  • MFR/MS through the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences
  • MPH through the School of Public Health

Asian Languages and Literature

For students that wish to deepen their knowledge in the language and literature of East Asia, the Department of Asian Languages and Literature offers majors and minors in the following areas:

The School of Law

The Asian Law Program at the School of Law, focusing on the countries of East Asia, is one of the largest in the country and is widely recognized as the premier center of learning in this field. In addition to an LL.M. and Ph.D. in Asian Law, the program offers an Asian Law concentration track within the regular J.D. degree. The School of Law offers:

Affiliated Departments

History, Political Science, Anthropology, and Art History have the largest numbers of graduate students with a focus on East Asia. However, it is possible to do a dissertation on East Asia in many other departments as well, ranging from Linguistics and Economics to Women Studies. Students interested in studying East Asia outside of the aforementioned schools should contact advisers from the affiliated departments listed below: