Master's in Modern East Asian Studies (MEAS)

I. An interdisciplinary, research-oriented and international Master’s programme During the course of this two-year MA programme, students will become experts on modern East Asia (including Southeast Asia), its historical roots, and the economic, legal, political and social issues encountered in this dynamic region. They will also improve their language skills. Students take beginners' or advanced language classes in either Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese or Korean. This will allow them to work with original sources and texts in their term papers and the MA thesis. Along the way, they will develop their methodological and theoretical skills as they attend lectures and take electives on a range of core disciplines, including history, law, management and political sciences. This interdisciplinary, research-oriented MA programme will prepare students for doing their PhD and pursuing an academic career relating to East Asia – or for a professional career in this field, working in an international company or organisation. II. Unity in diversity The programme is taught in English and is designed to attract students from all continents. A competitive admission process ensures a uniform and high-calibre academic standard within an environment of diversity in terms of disciplines, nationalities, cultures and languages. The key admission criteria are outstanding Bachelor's degree grades and advanced academic writing skills. III. Research in dialogue: the Interdisciplinary Centre for East Asian Studies The MEAS programme is affiliated with the Goethe University's Interdisciplinary Centre for East Asian Studies (IZO). This means that students benefit from the centre's extensive expertise as well as its research activities and events. I. Core lectures on East Asian societies The core lectures cover the four core disciplines of the programme: History: China's Great Transformations Law: Theoretical Approaches to Law in East Asia Management: Institutions and Innovation Political Sciences: Democracies, Autocracies, and In-Betweens: Comparing State-Society Relations in East Asia II. Language courses for beginners and advanced learners Depending on a student’s language level, they take beginners' or advanced language classes in Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese or Korean. We do not teach intermediate courses. Regarding the requirements for the advanced language courses, please see the MEAS website. Beginners' courses are open to students with no prior knowledge of the language. If you have studied any of the  languages, but do not meet the requirements for the advanced language course, please contact the MEAS coordinator. III. Elective courses on East Asian societies In these optional modules, students consider empirical phenomena relating to one East Asian country from a social-scientific perspective. IV. Enhancing research skills: methods and concepts Students attend a paper-reading course that focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to a range of topics, such as gender, sustainability and mobility in East Asia. In “Skills & Competences” seminars, students deepen their skills in the different methods used in social sciences and East Asia-related humanities. V. Research, language or professional track In the third semester, students will follow one of three possible pathways: a) Research Track: students analyse and conduct empirical research, take additional elective courses and research skills modules, attend events at IZO and undertake a small-scale research project. b) Language Track: students refine their language skills in the respective East Asian country and in accordance with their individual language level. c) Professional Track: students reflect and extend their academic know-how in an East Asia related professional environment via internship. They organise the internship themselves so that it fits their specific interests and disciplinary background. VI. Master's thesis In their fourth semester, students work on their Master’s theses, cul