International Master's/Doctoral Degree Program: Information, Technology, and Society in Asia (ITASIA)

2 years English upcoming

5-stage learning journey

2 years · English

Year 1 — A1 and A2 terms (October to January) The autumn terms of the first year carry three of the five core courses, each running across A1 and A2. Term boundaries published by the programme: "A1 (October 2-November 27)" and "A2 (November 28-January 31)" (no year is printed). ITASIA 101 — Introduction to Asian Studies: History and International Relations ITASIA 201 — Introduction to Media and Communication ITASIA 301 — Research Methods and Ethics M.A.S. Thesis Writing (4 credits, year-round) begins alongside coursework under the assigned tentative advisor Year 1 — S1 and S2 terms (April to July) The spring and summer terms of the first year carry the remaining two core courses plus the first block of elective classes. Term boundaries published by the programme: "S1 (April 4-June 2)" and "S2 (June 3-July 28)" (no year is printed). M.A.S. students who wish to take intensive Japanese in the first year "may elect to study intensive Japanese during their first year, graduating instead in three years." ITASIA 302 — Introduction to Digital Technology and Society ITASIA 401 — Fundamentals of Information Technologies Elective classes (S1–S2 of Year 1, per the published M.A.S. course grid) ITASIA 113 Environmental and Climate Justice (2 cr, S1 S2); ITASIA 122 Historical Perceptions in Asia: Exploring Various Memories of World War II (2 cr, S1 S2); ITASIA 123 Law Bottom-up: Legal Consciousness in Europe and Japan Through the Lens of the Hakamada-case (2 cr, S1 S2); ITASIA 124 Global Conflicts and Cooperation: Understanding Governance in a Global Era (2 cr, S1 S2); ITASIA 131 Japanese Foreign Policy (2 cr, S1 S2); ITASIA 142 Cross-Strait Relations (2 cr, S1); ITASIA 225 Visual Culture, Technology, and the Everyday Life (2 cr, S1 S2); ITASIA 312 Ethnographic Methods (2 cr, S1 S2); ITASIA 323 Issues and Methods in Cultural Anthropology and Ethnography (2 cr, S1 S2); ITASIA 414 Science and Technology from the Vantage of Cultural Anthropology (1 cr, S2); ITASIA 415 Science and Technology Studies (2 cr, S1 S2); ITASIA 426 The Future of Text (2 cr, S1 S2) Any course of the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies or any department of the University of Tokyo, including courses taught in Japanese Year 2 — A1 and A2 terms (October to January) The second autumn is given over to elective classes, per the published M.A.S. course grid, alongside continuing thesis research. Elective classes (A1–A2 of Year 2, per the published M.A.S. course grid) ITASIA 114 Comparative Politics Field Seminar (2 cr, A1 A2); ITASIA 117 Outsiders and Criminal Justice in Japan (2 cr, A1 A2); ITASIA 121 International Politics in East Asia: US-China Rivalry and Its Impacts on Regional Order (2 cr, A1 A2); ITASIA 145 Contemporary Chinese Diplomacy (2 cr, A1 A2); ITASIA 146 Contemporary Chinese Politics (2 cr, A1 A2); ITASIA 211 Introduction to Affect and Sensory Studies (2 cr, A1 A2); ITASIA 232 Museum and Cultural Representations (2 cr, A1 A2); ITASIA 311 Visual Ethnography (2 cr, A1 A2); ITASIA 411 Media Design (2 cr, A1 A2); ITASIA 428 Platforms and Infrastructures (1 cr, A2); ITASIA 801 Dissertation Preparation and Writing (2 cr, A1 A2) Year 2 — S1 and S2 terms (April to July): thesis writing The final two terms are dedicated to thesis writing, shown as "Thesis Writing" spanning S1–S2 of Year 2 in the published M.A.S. course grid. "M.A.S. Thesis Writing" carries 4 credits and is listed as year-round. The thesis must be written and submitted in English. M.A.S. Thesis Writing Completion Award of the Master of Arts and Sciences in the field of Information Studies on completion of 30 credits and the master's thesis within the two-year standard term. 30 credits in total, including the required core courses and M.A.S. Thesis Writing

Year 1 — A1 and A2 terms (October to January) curriculum

The detailed course list for this stage has not been published yet.

Course domains

Asian Studies (ITASIA 100s) — History and international relations of Asia; comparative politics; Chinese politics and diplomacy; cross-strait relations; Japanese foreign policy; historical memory in A
Media and Communication Studies (ITASIA 200s) — Introduction to media and communication; affect and sensory studies; visual culture, technology and everyday life; museums and cultural representations.
Theories and Methods (ITASIA 300s) — Research methods and ethics; visual ethnography; ethnographic methods; issues and methods in cultural anthropology and ethnography.
Information Technologies (ITASIA 400s) — Fundamentals of information technologies; media design; science and technology studies; platforms and infrastructures; the future of text.
Academic Project Management (ITASIA 700s)
Academic Skills (ITASIA 800s) — Includes ITASIA 801 Dissertation Preparation and Writing.
Faculty research specialisations available for master's supervision — History, media, leisure and social minorities; material-driven experience design; media and cultural studies and social media anal

Doctoral study at ITASIA — ITASIA also offers a Ph.D. in the field of Information Studies (3+ years, 20 required credits). M.A.S. graduates may apply, and graduates of the ITASIA M.A.S. programme appl

Doctoral study elsewhere — "M.A.S. students in the ITASIA Program have been admitted to Ph.D. programs at these institutions: Columbia University (Graduate School of Arts and Sciences), Harvard Univer

Careers — "The M.A.S. program is appropriate for those interested in pursuing careers in public administration, media, business, and academia." The alumni page lists employers of M.A.S. graduates incl

Alumni network — "We encourage our alumni to maintain connections to each other and the University of Tokyo. Every year in October the ITASIA Program hosts a Homecoming Day event to welcome former stu

"The Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies (GSII) provides a unique interdisciplinary and practical learning environment in which students can develop the broad range of knowledge a

"Within the GSII, the 'Information, Technology, and Society in Asia' (ITASIA) Program offers intensive graduate-level education designed to foster analytical strength and insight into Asian societies

"The M.A.S. program of the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies (GSII) seeks students with the following abilities: (1) sufficient academic ability to pursue studies in a specializ

"The following factors will be considered in the selection process: whether the applicant has sufficient grasp of the fundamentals to not only attain the required level of knowledge in his/her chosen

"Students looking for a graduate education program in Japan that is conducted entirely in English. Students interested in acquiring a broad interdisciplinary perspective on Asian societies and culture

"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

Core learning formats

Five required taught courses (ITASIA 101, 201, 301, 302, 401), each 2 credits, taught entirely in English. "Yes, the ITASIA Program's required courses are taught entirely in English. These courses can
"Students may take elective classes in any course of the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies or department of the University of Tokyo." Elective courses taught in Japanese may als
Students "further specialize their expertise by selecting elective courses and authoring a Masters thesis under the supervision of faculty members". M.A.S. Thesis Writing carries 4 credits and runs ye
"Classes are small, with around 8 Ph.D. and 12 M.A.S. students admitted each year." Several electives are explicitly seminars or field courses (e.g. ITASIA 114 Comparative Politics Field Seminar, ITAS
"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 langua
"The University of Tokyo offers Japanese language education for international students through two complementary structures: courses provided within individual graduate schools and faculties for their
"Students in the ITASIA Program may elect to participate in various summer or short-term programs that provide valuable opportunities for further academic and cultural enrichment... They have the oppo
Programme sources (11)