Master of Arts in Contemporary East Asian Studies (MA CEAS)

The Master’s in Contemporary East Asian Studies (MA CEAS) is an English-taught, social science-based programme with a contemporary and interdisciplinary profile. The programme offers research-focused training for highly motivated and qualified graduates with a BA or similar degree in political science, international relations, sociology or economic science. The principal focus of the MA CEAS programme is the theoretical and problem-centred analysis of societies, politics and economies in East Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea), accompanied by intensive training in an East Asian language. Its aim is to deepen and enrich the student's ability to assess contemporary change, the challenges for the East Asian region and the implications of such developments for Europe. The MA programme in Contemporary East Asian Studies develops three sets of core skills: It deepens students’ existing methodological skills by applying them to the analysis of the East Asian context. It broadens their regional, discipline-based and interdisciplinary knowledge of East Asia. It enhances their proficiency in one of three East Asian languages (Chinese, Japanese or Korean). The two-year MA CEAS (equivalent to four semesters) offers Chinese, Japanese or Korean language options along with the choice of a discipline corresponding to the student’s previous degree (sociology, political science or economics). It combines intensive language training with interdisciplinary and discipline-specific modules focusing on Chinese, Japanese and Korean studies. Methodological training is integrated into the advanced East Asian studies modules. Native speakers of one of the East Asian languages offered are required to choose a language option different from their native language, e.g. Korean native speakers have to choose Chinese or Japanese. The structure of the MA programme includes intensive language training, interdisciplinary modules as well as discipline-specific modules on East Asian studies. Discipline-specific methodological training may be both integrated within the modules and offered as separate modules. The Master's thesis brings together theoretical, methodological, regional and language competencies in the form of an independent piece of research about a cutting-edge topic in contemporary East Asia. Its purpose is to showcase the student’s newly acquired knowledge, theoretical and methodological skills in East Asian regional studies, and language proficiency. The curriculum of the MA CEAS programme (120 ECTS credits) comprises the following: three introductory modules (18 ECTS credits): Disciplinary Approaches to East Asian Studies (East Asia in Economic Science, Transnational Perspectives on East Asia, East Asia in the Social Sciences) three intensive language modules (36 ECTS credits): Intensive Japanese 1–3, Intensive Chinese 1–3, or Intensive Korean 1–3 six advanced East Asian Studies modules (36 ECTS credits) (listed below) a Master's thesis (with attached seminar/supervision) (30 ECTS credits) Students in the MA CEAS programme select a total of six modules in Advanced East Asian Studies (6 ECTS credits each, see below). Additional elective modules are offered on an irregular basis. Institutions and Organisations in Japan Japanese Society and Social Structure Institutions in Japanese Politics Japan's Political System International Economic and Business Issues of Japan Japan's Political Economy The Economy of China Business and Economy in China The Chinese Society Recent Developments in the Chinese Society China's International Relations State and Society in China The Economy of East Asia Economic Developments in East Asia Recent Developments in the Korean Society and Economy Korean Society and Politics Economic and Business Issues of Korea PDF Download