The East Asian Studies Certificate — open to all master's and doctoral students — gives students a broad understanding of East Asia's critical position in global politics and the world economy.
- A major engine of the global economy, East Asia is driving economic growth, market expansion, and technological advancement worldwide.
- Its influential music and film productions as well as innovative technologies in electronics, robotics, biotechnologies and gaming are shaping global trends.
- Its critical geopolitical position significantly impacts international relations and security dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region.
This certificate examines these trends across the region, which includes China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. The program offers three thematic areas of specialized studies.
Globalization, Conflict and Social Change
This theme examines social and cultural transformations in colonial and postcolonial periods of East Asia, with an emphasis on the challenges of living in a global world. Topics include socioeconomic development, urbanization, ethnic conflict, state violence and genocide, and other forms of public action for social change.
Gender, Ethnicity and Religion
This theme focuses on the identity categories that form the basis of modern communities and nation-states of East Asia. Topics include the construction of ethnic and national identities during colonial and post-colonial periods, the meanings and values associated with gender identities, and historical forces that change and shape religious traditions of the region.
Arts, Popular Culture and the Media
This theme explores East Asia’s complex and widely varied cultures, unique regional art forms, and rich diversity of performance practices. These traditional artistic expressions have been extended and reformed in modern popular cultures and in media representations. Topics include art history, modern and traditional literature of the region, and comparative media systems.
