Reason #1: You’re fascinated by history, culture, politics, technology, and modern issues.
Each track provides a framework of interdisciplinary study. All students take Proseminar in East Asian Studies, which introduces an overview of China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and relations in the broader region. The remainder of the degree can be individually customized and tailored to your track. Core courses (at least two must be a part of your degree):
- Survey of Korean Society covers North and South Korean politics and society, introducing literature from the 20th century. Taught by Professor Yong-Chool Ha, director of the Center for Korea Studies.
- Making Modern Taiwan looks at the defining themes that have shaped Taiwan’s history, government, identity, society, and democracy up to the present day. This seminar is taught by Taiwan Studies Program Chair and Associate Professor James Lin.
- Introduction to Japanese Studies provides a social science introduction to the field of Japanese Studies, tailored for Jackson School students. Taught by Chair of the Japan Studies Program and Professor Robert Pekkanen.
- Introduction to the Interdisciplinary Study of China, a seminar taught by China Studies Program Chair and Professor David Bachman, explores problems occurring in modern China through a diverse selection of readings.
Reason #2: You want to become a skilled speaker of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean.
Demonstrating language proficiency is not a requirement for admission into the program! All levels are welcome – whether you’re starting fresh or wanting to fine-tune your competencies, a core piece of the program’s structure involves continuous language study.
Students are encouraged to incorporate language learning into their regular schedule with the goal of completing, at minimum, 2nd-year language level competency through courses offered by the Department of Asian Languages and Literature. Advanced language speakers can complete the program in as little as one year and can take literature courses to expand their vocabularies.
Reason #3: You envision yourself working in business, government, NGOs, journalism, education, or other professional fields.
“These are all fields that students who’ve done the China, Japan, Korea [master’s degree programs] have done and have continued on in the past,” said James Lin, faculty adviser for the Taiwan track. “They’re all perfect kind of career goals that align with what we’ve intended for the program.”
According to Lin, this degree is applicable not only to a wide range of careers, but can also be used as a “stepping stone” into academia that can surpass common barriers to entry like language proficiency requirements.
“If you’re thinking about a Ph.D. program in anthropology, sociology, political science, history, geography, media studies, literature, any of these fields where area studies expertise in Taiwan is required, then this is also kind of the perfect program for you,” Lin added.
Reason #4: You plan to travel, live, or work in East Asia.
Graduates of the MAIS often leave the U.S. soon after completing their degrees. “A lot of them will go to Japan for some time. That’s fairly common. And then re-engage when they come back,” said Professor Robert Pekkanen, faculty adviser for the Japan track.
Former students can build their own relationships with each area they visit and continue researching or working abroad as they plan for the future.
“Many of them want to be engaged with Japan professionally. They want to work in Japanese business in Japan, or in American business that trades with Japan, or a Japanese company in the U.S. … they’re going to have a framework for understanding that will help them to advance their career goals,” said Pekkanen.
According to the program website, Microsoft, Nintendo, Amazon, Accenture, and Weyerhauser are just a few of the businesses where program alumni are employed in both the U.S. and abroad. Other alumni have pursued doctoral degrees, going on to teach at Harvard, Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of California-Los Angeles.
Want to learn more? Contact Graduate Program Coordinator Jesús Hidalgo at jsisma@uw.edu.
Next article: A Flexible, Customizable Degree: The MAIS in East Asia
