Master’s Program in Area Studies,
Graduate School, University of Tsukuba
1. Outline of the Master’s Program in Area Studies:
Given the diverse nature of area studies, our program is designed to provide academic expertise, professional knowledge, and skills to understand the major regions around the world. We offer courses in a wide range of fields at the graduate level. Our program aims to integrate the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences to analyze such complex events around the world as ecological condition, historical development, social structure, and cultural issues. We welcome applications from outstanding students from Japan and around the world. Currently, 30% of entire students in our program are international students.
The Special Program in International Relations was established in 2002, sponsored by the Government of Japan (hereafter, let us call JDS Program). The objective of this program is to provide, within the time frame of one year (the time frame for Laos students is two years), academic training and the necessary skills for the conception, design and implementation of research for participants who engage in your professionals in developing countries. Since the August 2002, 22 students from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and Myanmar have admitted to our program. The program is one-year program (the program for Laos students is two –years), taught in English, which is integrated into the curriculum of the Master’s Program in Area Studies. We currently offer following 10 fields of study ;
(1) American Studies
(2) Canadian Studies
(3) Latin American Studies
(4) European Studies
(5) East Asian Studies
(6) Southeast and South Asian Studies
(7) Oceanian Studies
(8) Middle Eastern and North African Studies
(9) Japanese Studies
(10) Japanese Language Studies
Students are able to choose their specialization from above. We have a wide range of language courses (languages of international scholarship, literary languages, and field languages) which assist students to deepen their expertise. We also offer a language education course for teachers of Japanese language as a second language.
２. Courses of the 2007・2008 Academic Year（REFERENCE）
(1) Interdisciplinary Subjects
Title Credits
Study of Comparative Culture(1) 2.0
Study of Comparative Culture(4) 1.0
Study of Comparative Culture(5) 1.0
Study of Comparative Culture(6) 1.0
International Relations(1) 2.0
International Politics(1) 2.0
International Development(1) 2.0
International Public Policy in Education 2.0
Comparative Studies of Education and Culture(2) 2.0
Educational Anthropology(1) 2.0
Anthropology for Social Development(1) 2.0
International Economies(1) 2.0
International Economies(2) 2.0
Comparative Literature(1) 2.0
Economics of Development(2) 2.0
Social Development(1) 2.0
Public Policy for Social Development(1) 2.0
Public Policy for Social Development(2) 2.0
Study of Multicultural Communication(1) 1.0
Study of Multicultural Communication(2) 1.0
Study of Multicultural Communication(3) 1.0
(2) Area Study Subjects
(a) American Studies
Title Credits
Introduction to American Studies(2) 3.0
Seminar on American Studies(2) 3.0
American Thought and Religions 2.0
American Literature and Culture 2.0
Language and Speech in American Society 2.0
American Politics 1.0
Topics in American Studies(1) 2.0
Topics in American Studies(2) 2.0
(b) Canadian Studies
Title Credits
Introduction to Canadian Studies(2) 3.0
Canadian Studies Seminar(2) 3.0
Canadian Geographical Features 2.0
Topics in Canadian Studies(1) 2.0
(c) Latin American Course
Title Credits
Introduction to Latin American Studies(1) 1.0
Introduction to Latin American Studies(2) 1.0
Introduction to Latin American Studies(3) 1.0
Seminar on Latin American Studies(1) 3.0
Seminar on Latin American Studies(3) 3.0
Latin American Politics 2.0
Economics of Latin American 2.0
Topics in Latin American Studies(3): Education for Development 2.0
(d) European Studies Course
Title Credits
Introduction to European Studies(2) 3.0
Seminar on European Studies(1) 3.0
Seminar on European Studies(2) 3.0
European Geographical Features 2.0
European Literature and Culture(3) 2.0
European Politics 2.0
Special Topics in European Studies(3) 2.0
Topics in European Studies(4) 2.0
Topics in European Studies(6) 2.0
(e) East Asian Studies Course
Title Credits
Introduction to East Asian Studies(2) 3.0
Seminar on East Asian Studies(1) 3.0
Seminar on East Asian Studies(2) 3.0
East Asian History and Society 2.0
East Asian Politics 2.0
Topics in East Asian Studies(1) 2.0
Topics in East Asian Studies(2) 2.0
Topics in East Asian Studies(4) 2.0
Topics in East Asian Studies(5) 2.0
(f) Southeast and South Asian Studies Course
Title Credits
Introduction to Southeast and South Asian Studies(1) 1.0
Introduction to Southeast and South Asian Studies(2) 1.0
Introduction to Southeast and South Asian Studies(3) 1.0
Introduction to Southeast and South Asian Studies(4) 1.0
Introduction to Southeast and South Asian Studies(5) 1.0
Seminar on Southeast and South Asian Studies(1) 3.0
Seminar on Southeast and South Asian Studies(2) 3.0
Seminar on Southeast and South Asian Studies(3) 1.0
Seminar on Southeast and South Asian Studies(4) 1.0
Seminar on Southeast and South Asian Studies(5) 1.0
Southeast and South Asian Geographical Features 2.0
South East and South Asian Culture and Society 2.0
Southeast and South Asian Thought and Religion 2.0
Politics in Southeast and South Asia 2.0
Economics in South East and South Asia 2.0
Modern South East and South Asian History 2.0
Topics on Southeast and South Asian Studies(1) 2.0
Topics on Southeast and South Asian Studies(2) 2.0
(g) Oceanic Studies Course
Title Credits
Introduction to Oceanic Studies(1) 3.0
Seminar on Oceanic Studies(1) 3.0
Politics in Oceania 2.0
Cultures and Societies in Oceania 2.0
(h) Japanese Studies Course
Title Credits
Introduction to Japanese Studies(1) 2.0
Introduction to Japanese Studies(2) 2.0
Seminar on Japanese Studies(1) 2.0
Seminar on Japanese Studies(2) 2.0
Seminar on Japanese Studies(3) 3.0
Japanese Thought and Religion 2.0
Japanese Literature and Culture(1) 2.0
Japanese Literature and Culture(2) 2.0
Japanese Literature and Culture(3) 2.0
The Politics of Japan 2.0
Topics in Japanese Studies(2) 2.0
Demographic Issues in Japanese Society(1) 2.0
Demographic Issues in Japanese Society(2) 3.0
(i) Japanese Language Studies Course
Title Credits
Seminar on Japanese Studies(1) 3.0
Studies in Japanese Language Education(1) 2.0
Studies in Japanese Language Education(2) 2.0
Practice-Japanese Teaching (1) 1.0
Practice-Japanese Teaching(2) 1.0
Reading Materials for Japanese Language Research(1) 2.0
Theory of Japanese Language(2) 2.0
Theory of Japanese Language(3) 2.0
Theory of Japanese Language(4) 2.0
Seminar on Japanese Language Education(1) 2.0
Seminar of Japanese Studies(2) 2.0
(j) Middle East and North African Studies Course
Title Credits
Introduction to Middle East and North African Studies(1) 3.0
Seminar on Middle East and North African Studies(1) 3.0
History and Culture in Middle East and North African Studies(1) 2.0
Literature and Culture in Middle East and North Africa(1) 2.0
Topics Middle East and North African Studies(1) 2.0
Topics Middle East and North African Studies(2) 3.0
Topics Middle East and North African Studies(3) 2.0
(3) Language and Cultural Study Subjects
Title Credits
Study of Research Papers in Spanish(1) 2.0
Study of Italian Language and Culture(1) 1.0
Study of Italian Language and Culture(2) 2.0
Study of French Language and Culture(1) 1.0
Study of French Language and Culture(2) 1.0
Study of French Language and Culture(3) 1.0
Study of Research Papers in French(1) 3.0
Study of Research Papers in French(2) 2.0
Study of German Language and Culture(1) 1.0
Study of Research Papers in German(1) 2.0
Study of Research Papers in Russian(1) 2.0
Study of Research Papers in Russian(2) 2.0
Study of Chinese Language and Culture(1) 2.0
Study of Chinese Language and Culture(2) 2.0
Study of Chinese Language and Culture(3) 2.0
Study of Research Papers in Chinese(1) 2.0
Study of Research Papers in Korean(1) 2.0
Study of Korean Language and Culture(2) 2.0
Study of Thai Language and Culture(1) 1.0
Study of Thai Language and Culture(2) 1.0
Study of Cambodian Language and Culture(1) 1.0
Study of Cambodian Language and Culture(2) 1.0
Study of Research Papers in Modern Hebrew(1) 2.0
Study of Arabic Language and Culture(1) 2.0
Study of Arabic Language and Culture(2) 2.0
Study of Arabic Language and Culture(3) 1.0
Study of Arabic Language and Culture(4) 1.0
Study of Arabic Language and Culture(5) 1.0
Study of Research Papers in Latin(3) 2.0
Study of Research Papers in Classical Greek(3) 2.0
Study of Japanese Grammar(advanced) 2.0
Study of Japanese Grammar(intermediate) 2.0
Study of Japanese Reading (advanced) 3.0
Study of Japanese Reading (intermediate) 2.0
Study of Japanese Language and Culture(intermediate) 2.0
Seminar on Japanese Language and Culture(advanced) 2.0
Seminar on Japanese Language and Culture(intermediate) 2.0
(4) Introductory Courses in Basic Japanese (Especially prepared for JDS Students.)
Beginner’s courses in Japanese language for JDS students will be offered.
3. The Special Program for JDS
The JDS Program is a one-year program (the JDS Program for Laos students is two –years program) and taught in English, which is integrated into the curriculum of the Master’s Program in Area Studies. This Program welcomes international participants having interested in studying and making research on International Relations, Public Policy, Educational Administration and other relevant fields. Participants of the program will be in the course of the Southeast and South Asian Studies, and required to complete the compulsory courses and the elective courses of the curriculum. Totaling 32 credits are required to take from the following categories;
(a) Interdisciplinary Subjects + Language and Cultural Study Subjects
（compulsory:16 credits)
(b) Area Study Subjects (compulsory: 12 credits)
(c) Other Area Studies Subjects (electives)
(d) Master’s Thesis or Special Research Papers (compulsory 4 credits)
In accordance with the three(3) main area of study within this program, the curriculum is designed in such a way as to provide fundamental analytical skills and basic knowledge. From the Interdisciplinary Subjects, students are advised to take following introductory lectures;
(i) International Relations; International Relations (2 credits),
International Politics (2 credits),
International Development (2 credits),
International Economies (1) (2 credits),
Economics of Development (2) (2 credits),
Social Development (1) (2 credits)
(ii) Public Policy; International Public Policy in Education (2 credits),
Policy in Foreign Affairs (2 credits),
Public Policy for Social Development (1) (2 credits),
Public Policy for Social Development (2) (2credits)
International Economies (1) (2 credits),
Economics of Development (2) (2 credits),
Social Development (1) (2 credits)
(ii) Educational Administration; International Public Policy in Education (2 credits),
Comparative Studies of Education & Culture (2) (2 credits),
Educational Anthropology (1) (2credits),
Social Development (1) (2credits)
As for the Area Studies Subjects, the full professor in charge of this program give a lecture of the “Introduction to Southeast and South Asian Studies(3 credits)” cooperating with the faculty in order to provide background and basic knowledge in particular relating to the Politics, Religion and Culture of that area.
Each student will be assigned three (3) academic advisers who supervise thesis and other academic activities. In addition, the full professor organizes the seminar for the JDS students every week; named “Seminar of Southeast and South Asian Studies(3 credits)”, cooperating with foreign professors from a variety of disciplines and research interests. Students are required to make a presentation about their research plan, framework, methodology etc. as well as to report the progress of their paper writings.
Students are strongly encouraged to enjoy several opportunities for language studies e.g. French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew etc. as well as Japanese. Beginner’s courses in Japanese language specially prepared by our faculty for the JDS students will be available. In addition, depending upon the ad hoc demand for students, special seminars by the outside speakers will also be provided as a part of the lectures in this program.
Above curriculum emphasizes high quality of advising and encourages faculty and research associates to keep themselves available for advisory and assistant work as often as possible. Upon successful fulfillment of the one-year or two-years required course work including the thesis writing, participants will be awarded the degree of Master’s of Arts in Area Studies by the Master’s Program in Area Studies.
The current research topics of the students in Area Studies relevant to this program are as follows;
・ASEAN Plus Three in Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy
・A Study of PAP’s Multi-racial Cultural Democracy Policy and its Applications Focusing on Asianising Singapore Issues through Education
・Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Development in Cambodia
・Japan’s Foreign Policy towards ASEAN
・The Impacts of Economic Reform towards Poverty Alleviation in Laos since 1986
・World Bank and Educational Development of Bangladesh: Policy Issues and Operational Implications
・Empowerment of Women in Cambodia: A focus on Micro-credit Scheme
・Development Assistances of Japan to Bangladesh : Toward a New Partnership for Development(JICA is a case study)
・Cambodia’s Foreign Policy toward China in the New Political Structure
・ASEAN Economic Integration and Issues of ASEAN Customs Cooperation
・Regional Economic Integration in South East Asia: The case of Lao P.D.R and Trade Cooperation
・The Privatization of Universities in Malaysia
・Protracted Conflict and Separatism in Aceh, Indonesia
・An Analysis of HIV/AIDS Programs and Policy Issues: A Case Study of Japan
・Establishment of ASEAN Community; Deepen and Strengthen Cooperation in ASEAN
・An Analysis of Post-War Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) on Food Security in Lao PDR
・Comparative Analysis on Customs Reform and Modernization: A Challenge in Moving Toward Proliferation of Free Trade (Study of Indonesia)
・The Impacts of September 11 Attacks on Immigration Policy of The United States of America
・Education and Economic Growth: Lessons from Japan for Bangladesh
・Promotion of Multicultural Education in Laos “Primary Education Curriculum Improvement to cover Ethnic Traditions”
・An Analysis of Disaster Preparedness through Community Based Approach: The Case of Earthquake Management in Japan and Lessons for Bangladesh
・Analysis of Tax Administration Reform Initiatives in Indonesia: Rationales and Challenges
・An Analysis of Lao Policy towards Small Medium Enterprise Development: A Case Study of Post-1986.
・Gender Equality in the Service of Republic – A Study of the Civil Service of Bangladesh
・Open and Distance Learning in Thailand: An historical study of Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU)
4. Academic Calendar Reference (for JDS Program 2007-2008):
■Trimester II : September 2007-November 2007
Entrance Ceremony 2nd Week of August
Classes Begin 1st week of September
Foundation Day October 1st
Last Day of Classes November 18th
Fall Break November 26th to 30th
■Trimester III : December 2007-March 2008
Classes Begin December 1st
Mid-term Presentation Second week of December
Winter Break December 26th to January 7th
Last Day of Classes February 28th
Spring Break March 8th to March 31st
■Trimester I: April 2008-July 2008
Classes Begin 2nd week of April
Last Day of Classes June 27th
Graduation Ceremony End of July
5. Faculty of the 2007-2008 Academic Year:
■Interdisciplinary Subjects:
Sumio Hatano Japanese Diplomatic History
Yuji Murayama Human Geography
Masaki Onozawa Cultural Anthropology
Akira Tezuka Human Geography
Yutaka Tsujinaka Comparative Politics
Hiroshi Yamanaka History of Religion, Sociology of Religion
Hirobumi Tsushiro Religious Studies
Kazuko Shiojiri Islamic Culture
Toshikazu Shinno Japanese Folklore
Masaki Kureha Human Geography, Regional Geography of Europe
Yoshito Takasaki Development Economics, Environmental Economics
Kazuto Suzuki International Relations, International Political Economy
Mari Minowa International Development, Educational Development
Masami Ishida* Economics of Southeast Asia
Marianne Kimura Comparative Literature
Edson Kenji Kondo International Co-operation Studies, Social Development
Educatinal Policy
Leslie E. Bauzon Comparative Culture
John G. Abott American History, Japanese History
Louis Augustin=Jean Economics of East Asia
Cecilia Ikeguchi* Applied Linguistics, Communication Studies
■American Studies Course:
Takeshi Kimura Religious Studies, American Studies
Risako Ide Linguistic anthropology, Ethnography of speaking,
Sociolinguistics
Sato Chitose American Socio-economic History
Yoichiro Miyamoto American Literature, Cultural Theory
■Canadian Studies Course:
Kazuo Kimura Canadian History
Yuji Murayama Human Geography
■Latin American Studies Course:
Mari Minowa Development Economics, Labor Economics
Shigeo Osonoi Latin American Politics
Neantro Saavedora-Rivano Development Economics
Edson Kenji Kondo Public Policy
■European Studies Course:
Herrad Geva Heselhaus German Literature, German Linguistics
Harald Kleinschmidt History of International Politics
Masaki Kureha Human Geography, Regional Geography of Europe
Kazuto Suzuki International Relations, International Political Economy,
European Studies
Kazuo Miyazaki History of Spain
Kouichi Tachikawa Social History of France
Akira Tezuka Regional Geography of Europe
Kouji Ueda German Cultural History
Shigekiyo Ishizuka German Linguistics
Toshinobu Usuyama Russian Linguistics
Yuri Kato Comparative Literature
■East Asian Studies Course:
Hiroshi Furuta Korean Studies
Daisaku Ihara Chinese Linguistics
Hideaki Ohtsuka Chinese Linguistics
Hiroshi Maruyama History of Chinese Religion
Koetsu Sato Ethics, History of Chinese Thought,
History of Comparative Thought in Japan, Korea and China
Shin Yamamoto History of Contemporary China and Taiwan
Hong-Wei Zhao* Chinese Politics
■Southeast and South Asian Studies Course:
Leslie Bauzon Southeast Asian History
Masaki Onozawa Cultural Anthropology, Southeast Asian Studies
Motoko Shuto International Relations, Politics in Southeast Asia
Nobutaka Suzuki Cultural Anthropology, Philippine Studies
■Middle East and North African Studies Course:
Manabu Akiyama Mediterranean Studies, Western Classics Studies
Jun Ikeda Hebrew Studies, Semitic Linguistics
Kazuko Shiojiri History of Religion
Shigeo Yamada Assyriology
Akira Tsuneki Archaeology of the Near East
■Oceanian Studies Course:
Keiji Maegawa Cultural Anthropology
Hisao Sekine Cultural Anthropology, Oceania Island Studies,
Development Anthropology
■Japanese Studies Course:
Aki Tokumaru Japanese Folklore
Etsuko Aoyanagi Study of Languages, French Literary Theory
Shinpei Furuie Japanese Folklore
Sumio Hatano Japanese Diplomatic History
Noriko Hiraishi Comparative Literature
Taiichi Inagaki Japanese Classical and Middle Age Literature
Noriko Kiyoto Japanese Literature
Toshikazu Shinno Japanese Folklore
Yutaka Tsujinaka Comparative Politics
Futoshi Kinoshita Cultural Anthropology, Demographic Studies
■Japanese Language Subjects:
Stefan Kaiser Japanese Linguistics, Writing Systems,
Teaching Japanese Language
Toshio Okazaki Studies in Japanese Language Education,
Applied Linguistics
Chieko Kano Japanese Language Education
Yoshimi Nishimura Japanese Language Education
Yoshiko Numata Japanese Linguistics
Takeshi Sugimoto Japanese Linguistics
Yuriko Sunakawa Japanese Linguistics, Teaching Japanese Languages
Makoto Takada Linguistics
Tadayuki Yuzawa Japanese Linguistics
Noriko Kobayashi Japanese Language Education, Japanese Language
Takako Sakai Japanese Language Education
Tomoko Hifumi Japanese Language Education
Takao Kinugawa Japanese Linguistics
Mitsuko Kido Japanese Linguisitics
■Language and Cultural Studies Course:
John G. Abott* English Education
Hiroshi Furuta Korean Studies
Jun Ikeda Hebrew
Shigekiyo Ishitzuka German Linguistics
Chieko Kano Teaching Japanese as Foreign Language
Infa Kim Korean Linguistics, Korean Language Education
Kazuo Miyamoto Spanish Language, Spanish History
Yoshiko Numata Japanese Linguistics
Hideaki Ohtsuka Chinese Linguistics
Toshio Okazaki Japanese Language Education, Applied Linguistics
Toshinobu Usuyama Russian Language
Shigeo Yamada Assyriology, Arabic
Hiroshi Yamada French Linguistics
Franck Villain French, French Literature
Yue Wu* Linguistics, Chinese Language
Nitaya Onozawa* Cultural Anthropology, Thai Literature
* indicates visiting lecturer.
For more information, please visit the pages below.
Program URL: http://www.chiiki.tsukuba.ac.jp/
University Main Page: http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/eng/index.html
University Library Page: http://www.tulips.tsukuba.ac.jp/welcome.english.html
