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[1]
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
(2) Area Study Subjects (a) American Studies
(b) Canadian Studies
(c) Latin American Course
(d) European Studies Course
(e) East Asian Studies Course
(f) Southeast and South Asian Studies Course
(g) Oceanic Studies Course
(h) Japanese Studies Course
(i) Japanese Language Studies Course
(j) Middle East and North African Studies Course
(3) Language and Cultural Study Subjects
(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 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
