ASIAN STUDIES PROGRAM

The Asian Studies Master of Arts and Master's programs are inter- and multi-disciplinary graduate degree programs that promote a deeper understanding and a wider perspective on Asia through area studies methodologies from diverse disciplines. These provide students with learning opportunities to acquire research, writing, and presentation abilities in the different approaches towards informed inquiries on the political, economic, cultural, and social discourse and questions confronting contemporary Asian states, cultures, and societies from a Philippine perspective.

The Asian Studies program offers thesis and non-thesis tracks in four cultural areas of specialization:  Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. Students must choose a core country or sub-region for specialization within the chosen culture area.

 Master of Arts in Asian Studies (Thesis)   •   Master of Asian Studies (Non-thesis)

Asia Across the Disciplines: Interdisciplinary Training Overview

Inter- and Multi-disciplinary Approach to Asia

Asian Studies majors take courses on politics and governance, social and economic development, and culture and society of their chosen area of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, or West Asia.
Grounded also in theories of area studies and research methods, they also learn from professors who specialize in various disciplines—from history and political economy to international relations, anthropology, literary criticism, just to name a few— and thus acquire a broader and more holistic perspective on their area of specialization.
In addition, students get to interact with their peers/classmates who themselves work/come from different industries.
Interdisciplinarity is highly encouraged in the program; though students specialize in a region, they are invited to take electives on other Asian regions, or other subjects, even those outside the UP Asian Center, depending on their research interests.

The Asian Studies program covers the following requirements:

•   Coursework (includes core courses, electives)
•   Language competency requirement
•   Comprehensive Exams
•   Thesis (if applicable)

Areas of Specialization:

Regardless of track, students must specialize on one of four regions:

•   Northeast Asia (China, Japan, Korea)
•   Southeast Asia
•   South Asia
•   West Asia

Thesis or Nonthesis?

The Asian Center offers two tracks for its MA programs in Asian Studies:

•   Master of Arts in Asian Studies (Thesis track) - 30 units
•   Master in Asian Studies (Non-thesis) - 36 units