Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies

Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies: Introduction

Lead Faculty of the Collaborative Specialization

Arts and Science

Participating Degree Programs

Anthropology — MA
East Asian Studies — MA
Geography — MA
Global Affairs — MGA
History — MA
Management — MBA
Planning — MScPl
Political Science — MA
Public Policy — MPP
Social Work — MSW
Sociology — MA
Women and Gender Studies — MA

Overview

The Collaborative Master's Specialization in Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies (CESEAS) is designed to provide graduates with advanced training in a particular discipline and in the historical and social science studies of modern East and Southeast Asia. The major topics of emphasis are political economy, modern and contemporary social history, international relations, gender, political and social change, economic development, and cultural studies. The collaborative specialization contributes to the development of an integrated and interdisciplinary research community in Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies at the University.

The graduate programs listed above participate in the Collaborative Specialization in CESEAS at the University of Toronto. The collaborating units contribute courses and provide facilities and supervision for master's-level research. This specialization is administered by a committee chaired by a director.

Applicants are expected to meet the admission and degree requirements of both their home unit and the collaborative specialization in Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies. The specialization requirements can be met concurrently with, or in addition to, home unit requirements. Upon successful completion of the master's degree requirements of the participating home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization, students will receive the notation “Completed Collaborative Specialization in Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies” on their transcript.

Contact and Address

Web: munkschool.utoronto.ca/ai/collaborative-masters-specialization-contemporary-east-and-southeast-asian-studies
Email: asiapacific.ma@utoronto.ca
Telephone: (416) 946-8832
Fax: (416) 946-8838

Collaborative Master's Specialization in Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies
Asian Institute, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy
University of Toronto
1 Devonshire Place, Room 228N
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3K7
Canada

Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies: Master's Level

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants who wish to enrol in the collaborative specialization must apply to and be admitted to both the collaborative specialization and a graduate degree program in one of the collaborating graduate units.

  • To be considered for admission to the collaborative specialization in Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies, applicants are expected to have completed coursework on Asia or have had relevant working or living experience in East or Southeast Asia.

Specialization Requirements

  • Students must satisfy the degree requirements of both the home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization. This can be done concurrently with, or in addition to, home unit requirements.

  • Attend the year-long, interdisciplinary core seminar ASI1000Y Issues in Asia-Pacific Studies (1.0 full-course equivalent [FCE]). Topics vary from year to year.

  • Complete 0.5 elective FCE on East or Southeast Asia, or in Asia-related courses within the home graduate unit or any other units (subject to approval from the collaborative specialization director).

  • Complete a Major Research Paper, usually written in the context of a 0.5 FCE independent study course (for example, ASI1001H Independent Research in Asia-Pacific Studies). The Major Research Paper must address a topic on contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies, and be based on original and in-depth research that goes beyond a normal seminar paper at the graduate level. The length is approximately 50 to 60 pages, although certain types of research might well be communicated in formats of shorter length. The Major Research Paper requirement can be met in the home graduate unit for a major research paper, as long as the topic is related to Asia and is approved by the collaborative specialization director. In rare cases when a student undertakes a master's thesis in a home unit, the additional Major Research Paper will be waived. Students must seek approval for topics and format from the collaborative specialization director.

  • By the time of graduation from the master's degree program, every student is strongly encouraged to have a working knowledge of an East or Southeast Asian language as needed for his or her course of study.

Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies: Courses

Course List

Course Code Course Title
ASI1001H
Independent Research in Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies
ASI1000Y
Issues in Contemporary East and Southeast Asian Studies
ASI4140H The Public Event in Asia
ASI4200H Asia and the New Global Economy
ASI4300H Nationalism and Revolution in Asia
ASI4900H Special Topics in Contemporary Asian Studies

Please consult the website for courses offered by participating graduate units.