Asian Studies Program of Study

To earn your Master of Arts in Asian Studies you must successfully complete our 40 credit program which includes 9 credits in core courses, 9 credits of electives, 9 credits in your thematic specialization, 6 credits in your professional specialization, and a 3 credit methods course. You must also complete a 4 credit capstone project and have the option for writing a thesis.

Master of Arts in Asian Studies Program of Study

Core Courses

History - All students must take the following course:

History 6601 Asia: History, Memory, and Violence

Political Science and International Affairs - All students must take 2 of the following 5 courses:

Political Science 6373 The Political Economy of Industrializing Asia

Political Science 6375 States and Societies in East Asia

Political Science 6467 Asian Security

Political Science 6475 International Politics of Asia

IAFF 6308 International Relations of South Asia

Capstone

You must complete a Capstone project as a culminating experience during your final year of study at the Elliott School.

Elliott School Capstone projects provide an opportunity for you to apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired through your coursework to a current policy question.

IAFF 6898 Capstone Workshop

IAFF 6899 Capstone Course

Global Capstone Project

Optional Thesis

If you want to to continue to a Ph.D. program or pursue a research-oriented job, you may consider writing a thesis, which is an independent, in-depth research project that takes a year or more to complete. If you choose to complete a thesis, you must do so in addition to the Capstone requirement. Thesis credits will be counted as elective or specialization credits with Program Director approval. To pursue a thesis you need a minimum of a 3.5 GPA and approval from the faculty member you wish to serve as your thesis director. Thesis students also need to complete at least one research methods course.

Thesis Option

Methods Course

Students must take one methods course from a list of approved methods courses. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure that students have familiarity with the types of research methods that are commonly used in the fields in which they aspire to gain employment. A student may be exempted from the methods requirement if he or she has obtained substantial graduate-level methods training prior to coming to graduate school. Such an exemption will be at the discretion of the program director.

We strongly encourage students take this course within their first three semesters to help prepare for their capstone in the fourth and final semester. Students may choose their methods course from among the following courses:

ANTH 6331 Research Methods in Development Anthropology

EDUC 6114 Intro to Quantitative Research

EDUC 8122 Qualitative Research Methods

EDUC 8130 Survey Research Methods

EDUC 8131 Case Study Research Methods

GEOG 6201 Geographic Thought and Methods

GEOG 6293 Qualitative Methods

GEOG 6304 Geographical Information Systems I

GEOG 6305 Geospatial Statistics

IAFF 6118 Special Topics in International Affairs

Qualitative Methods

PPPA 6002 Research Methods and Applied Statistics

PPPA 6013 Econometrics—Policy Research

PPPA 6014 Economics in Policy Analysis

PSC 8101 Introduction to Empirical Political Analysis

PUBH 6247 Design of Health Studies

PUBH 6249 Use of Statistical Packages: Data Management and Data Analysis

PUBH 6260 Advanced Data Analysis for Public Health

PUBH 6264 Quantitative Methods

PUBH 6266 Biostatistical Methods

PUBH 6410 Global Health Study Design & Ethics

PUBH 6411 Global Health Data Collection

PUBH 6412 Global Health Quantitative Research Methods

PUBH 6533 Design of Community Health Surveys

SOC 6230 Sociological Research Methods

SOC 6231 Data Analysis

SOC 6232 Qualitative Methodology: Field Research

IAFF 6501 Applied Quantitative Analysis for International Affairs Practitioners

Research Methods in Global Gender Issues

Thematic Specialization

The required thematic specialization will deepen your understanding of issues in contemporary Asia. You may choose from among five thematic specializations: History of Modern Asia; Politics and Policy in Asia; International Relations of Asia; Asian Business and Development; and Culture, Art and Religions of Asia. Alternatively, you may design your own thematic specialization in consultation with the program director. You can find specific course listings for your chosen Thematic Specialization in the GW Bulletin.

History of Modern Asia

Choose at least three:

HIST 6001 Special Topics Seminar:

China-Japan Relations in History
Gender, Power, and Sexuality in East Asia

HIST 6301 US-Asia Relations

IAFF 6302 Taiwan: Internal Development & Foreign Policy

HIST 6601 Topics: Asian History

Geography and Politics of Afghanistan and South & Central Asia
China-Japan Relations in History

HIST 6610 Reading Seminar: Late Imperial China

HIST 6611 Reading Seminar: 20th Century China

HIST 6625 Japan's Empire and Its Legacies

HIST 6630 Special Topics in Korean History (Modern Korea)

HIST 6641 Modern Southeast Asia

HIST 6801 Topics in Middle East History (Central Asia: Crossroads of Empire)

PSC 6388 Topics in Comparative Politics (Vietnam Post War)

Politics and Policy in Asia

Choose at least three:

HIST 6601 Topics: Asian History (Geography and Politics of Afghanistan and South & Central Asia)

IAFF 6186 Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (The Chinese Military)

IAFF 6302 Taiwan: Internal Development and Foreign Policy

IAFF 6318 Special Topics in Asian Studies

Chinese Business Law
Chinese Law and Legal Institutions
Law of the People's Republic of China

PSC 6368 Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy

PSC 6370 Politics of China I

PSC 6371 Politics of China II

PSC 6374 Korean Politics

PSC 6375 States and Societies in East Asia

PSC 6388 Special Topics in Comparative Politics

Political Economy of India
Politics and Policy in Asia

International Relations of Asia

Choose at least three:

HIST 6301 Topics: U.S. History (US-Asia Relations)

HIST 6625 Japan's Empire and Its Legacies

IAFF 6186 Special Topics in Security Policy Studies (The Chinese Military)

IAFF 6302 Taiwan: Internal Development and Foreign Policy

IAFF 6305 US-South Asian Relations

IAFF 6308 International Relations of South Asia

PSC 6372 Foreign Policy of China

PSC 6467 Asian Security

PSC 6489 Topics in International Relations (U.S.-China Relations)

Asian Business and Development

Choose at least three:

ECON 6269 Economy of China I

ECON 6270 Economy of China II

IAFF 6318 Special Topics in Asian Studies (Chinese Business Law)

MBAD 6290 Special Topics (Chinese Economy and the Business Environment)

PSC 6336 The Political Economy of China, India, and Beyond

PSC 6388 Special Topics in Comparative Politics (The Political Economy of India)

Culture, Art, and Religions of Asia

Choose at least three:

AH 6262 Seminar in South Asian Art

AH 6265 Seminar in Islamic Art and Architecture

CHIN 3163/6163 Taiwanese Literature and Film

CHIN 6109 Introduction to Classical Chinese

CHIN 6110 Introduction to Classical Chinese

CHIN 6111 Chinese Literature in Translation

CHIN 6112 Chinese Literature in Translation

CHIN 6171 Poetry of the Tang and Song Periods I

CHIN 6172 Poetry of the Tang and Song Periods II

ENGL 6260 Seminar in Medieval and Early Modern Studies (Screening Race, Gender and Shakespeare)

ENGL 6510 Writing, Race, and Nation (Asian North American Literature)

ENGL 6560 Postcolonialism (Representing Displacement: Gender, Religion and Migration in Postcolonial South Asia and Beyond

ENGL 6260 Seminar in Medieval and Early Modern Studies (Screening Race, Gender and Shakespeare)

REL 3990/6557 Selected Topics in Religion (India's Great Epics)

China/Taiwan

CHIN 3163/6163 Taiwanese Literature and Film

CHIN 3173/6173 Chinese Drama and Theatre

CHIN 6111 Chinese Literature in Translation

CHIN 6112 Chinese Literature in Translation

CHIN 6123 Structure of Chinese

CHIN 6125 History of the Chinese Language

CHIN 6126 Chinese Phonology

CHIN 6128 Chinese Semantics

CHIN 6171 Poetry of the Tang and Song Periods I

CHIN 6172 Poetry of the Tang and Song Periods II

CHIN 6173 Traditional Chinese Theatre and Drama

CHIN 6179 Twentieth-Century Chinese Literature I

CHIN 6180 Twentieth-Century Chinese Literature II

CHIN 6201 Second Language Acquisition of Mandarin Chinese

CHIN 6841 Religion and Politics in China

EALL 3881/6881 Women, Gender, and Religion in China

ECON 6269 Economy of China I

ECON 6270 Economy of China II

HIST 6001 Special Topics (China-Japan Relations in History)

HIST 6601 Topics: Asian History (China-Japan Relations in History)

HIST 6610 Readings Seminar: Late Imperial China

HIST 6611 Readings Seminar: Twentieth-Century China

IAFF 6186 Special Topics in Security Policy Students (The Chinese Military)

IAFF 6302 Taiwan: Internal Development and Foreign Policy

IAFF 6318 Special Topics in Asian Studies

Chinese Business Law
Chinese Law and Legal Institutions
Law of the People's Republic of China

MBAD 6290 Special Topics (Chinese Economy and Business Environment)

PSC 6336 The Political Economy of China, India, and Beyond

PSC 6370 Politics of China I

PSC 6371 Politics of China II

PSC 6372 Foreign Policy of China

PSC 6489 Topics in International Relations (US-China Relations)

Korea

HIST 3001/6001 Special Topics (History of North Korea)

HIST 6625 Japan's Empire and Its Legacies

HIST 6630 Special Topics in Korean History

IAFF 3186/6318 Special Topics in Asian Studies (Politics of the Past in Korea)

KOR 3111 Korean Literature in Translation

KOR 3162 Korean Culture through Film

PSC 6374 Korean Politics

PSC 6375 States and Societies in East Asia

Japan

HIST 3621 History of Modern Japan

HIST6001 Japan/China: Past & Present

HIST 6601 Topics: Asian History (China-Japan Relations in History)

HIST 6625 Japan's Empire and Its Legacies

JAPN 3111 Japanese Literature in Translation I

JAPN 3112 Japanese Literature in Translation II

JAPN 3162 Japanese Culture Through Film

PSC 6268 Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy

PSC 6375 States and Societies in East Asia

Professional Specializations

You must choose one professional specialization field, selecting two courses listed under that field. Students may design their own field with the approval of the Program Director, or select one of the following fields. You can find specific course listings for your chosen Professional Specialization in the GW Bulletin.

Conflict and Conflict Resolution

Choose at least two:

GEOG 6224 Political Geography

IAFF 6171 Introduction to Conflict Resolution

IAFF 6186 Special Topics in Security Policy Studies

Conflict Early Warning and Prevention
Countering Violent Extremism
Insurgency and Counterinsurgency
International Peacekeeping
Political Violence and Terrorism
Responses to Terrorism
Stabilization and Peacebuilding

MGT 6215 Conflict Management and Negotiations

PSC 6476 The Arab-Israeli Conflict

Global Communication and Public Diplomacy

Choose at least two:

EDUC 6620 Strategies and Analysis in International Education

EDUC 6640 Special Topics in International Education

PUBH 6571 Social Marketing: Theory and Practice

SMPA 6204 Strategic Political Communication

SMPA 6205 Media, Development, and Globalization

SMPA 6270 Special Topics in Media and Public Affairs (Development, Governance, and Digital Technology)

SMPA 6274 Media and War

SMPA 6275/IAFF 6208 Public Diplomacy/Special Topics in Global Communication

International Development

Choose at least two:

Required

IAFF 6108 International Development Policy

Supporting Courses:

A. Anthropology

ANTH 6301 The Anthropology of Development

ANTH 6302 Issues in Development

ANTH 6331 Research Methods in Development Anthropology

ANTH 6391 Anthropology and Contemporary Problems

ANTH 6505 Medical Anthropology

ANTH 6508 Ethics and Cultural Property

ANTH 6591 Topics in Sociocultural Anthropology

PPPA 6006 Policy Analysis

B. Environment

ECON 6237 Economics of Environment and Natural Resources

EMSE 6200 Policy Factors in Environmental and Energy Management

EMSE 6290 Climate Change: Policy and Impacts

GEOG 6223 Population and Health

GEOG 6244 Urban Sustainability

GEOG 6250 Geographical Perspectives on Development

IAFF 6138 Special Topics in International Development Studies

Agriculture and Sustainable Development
Climate Change and Sustainable Development

IAFF 6151 Environmental Policy

IAFF 6158 Special Topics in International Development Studies

Energy Policy
Renewable Energy in a Decarbonizing World

PHIL 6281 Environmental Philosophy and Policy

PPPA 6066 US Environmental Policy

PUBH 6130 Sustainable Energy and Environment

C. Humanitarian Assistance

EMSE 6305 Crisis and Emergency Management

EMSE 6320 International Disaster Management

GEOG 6224 Seminar: Political Geography

IAFF 6138 Special Topics in International Development Studies

Human Trafficking
M&E for Foreign Assistance Programs
Violence, Gender and Humanitarian Assistance
Care of Children in Complex Emergencies

PUBH 6430 Theories for Global Health Communication Interventions

PUBH 6442 Comparative Global Health Systems

PUBH 6503 Introduction to Public Health Communication and Marketing

D. International Development Management

ECON 6250 Survey of Economic Development

EMSE 6820 Program and Project Management

IAFF 6108 International Development Policy

IAFF 6118 Special Topics in International Affairs (Managing the World's Waters)

IAFF 6138 Special Topics in International Development Studies

Private Sector Development
Poverty and Bottom-Up Development
Local Government, Decentralization and Development

IBUS 6402 Managing in Developing Countries

PPPA 6049 Urban and Regional Policy Analysis

PPPA 6057 International Development Administration

PPPA 6058 International Development NGO Management

PPPA 6059 International Development Management Processes and Tools

PPPA 6062 Community Development Policy and Management

PPPA 6081 Poverty and Social Policy

SMPA 6250 Topics in Media Processes and Institutions

E. International Education

EDUC 6100 Special Topics

EDUC 6601 International and Comparative Education

EDUC 6602 Regional Studies in International Education

EDUC 6610 Programs and Policies in International Education

EDUC 6620 Strategies and Analysis in International Education

EDUC 6640 Special Topics in International Education

EDUC 6650 Education and National Development

F. Global Health

ANTH 6505 Medical Anthropology

PUBH 6430 Theories for Global Health Communication Interventions

PUBH 6442 Comparative Global Health Systems

PUBH 6503 Introduction to Public Health Communication and Marketing

G. Women and Development

ANTH 6501 Gender and Sexuality

GEOG 6223 Population and Health

IAFF 6102 Global Gender Policy

IAFF 6118 Special Topics in International Affairs (Gender, War and Peace)

IAFF 6138 Special Topics in International Development Studies

Gender and Development
Violence, Gender and Humanitarian Assistance
Gender and Economic Development

MGT 6290 Special Topics (Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership)

SOC 6273 The Sex Industry

WGSS 6230 Global Feminisms

WGSS 6270 Seminar: Selected Topics (Global Islamic Feminisms)

International Economics, Political Economy, and Business

Choose at least two:

ECON 6217 Survey of Economics: Intermediate-level Macroeconomic Theory

ECON 6250 Survey of Economic Development

ECON 6269 Economy of China

ECON 6271 Economy of Japan

ECON 6283 Survey of International Trade Theory and Policy

ECON 6284 Survey of International Macroeconomics and Finance Theory and Policy

ECON 6293 Topics in International Finance

ECON 6295 Special Topics

FINA 6274 Corporate Financial Management

FINA 6275 Investment Analysis and Global Portfolio Management

FINA 6277 Comparative Financial Market Regulation and Development

IAFF 6118 Special Topics in International Affairs

Strategy, Global Markets and Politics

IBUS 6201 International Marketing

IBUS 6202 Regional Strategy for Multinationals

IBUS 6301 International Business Finance

IBUS 6302 Seminar: International Banking

IBUS 6310 International Financial Reporting Standards

IBUS 6401 International Business Strategy

MBAD 6233 Financial Markets

MBAD Financial Management

MBAD 6242 Microeconomics for the Global Economy

MBAD 6246 Global Economy

PPPA 6003 Economics for Public Decision Making

PSC 6336 Political Economy of Developing Areas

PSC 6439 International Political Economy

International Health Policy and Programs

Choose at least two:

Overview

PUBH 6002 Biostatistical Applications for PubH

PUBH 6003 Principles and Practice of Epidemiology

PUBH 6004 Environmental and Occupational Health in a Sustainable World

PUBH 6007 Social & Behavior Approaches - Public Health

A. Advanced Public Health Courses (non-global issues)

PUBH 6121 Environmental & Occupational Epidemiology

PUBH 6122 Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Policies, Politics, and Programs

PUBH 6126 Assessment & Control/Env Hazards

PUBH 6130 Sustainable Energy & Environment

PUBH 6249 Stat Packages/Data Mgt & Data Analysis

PUBH 6250 Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS

PUBH 6252 Advanced Epidemiology Methods

PUBH 6253 Issues in HIV Care & Treatment

PUBH 6255 Organizational Responses to HIV/AIDs Epidemic

PUBH 6262 Intro - Geographical Information Systems

PUBH 6263 Advanced GIS

PUBH 6571 Social Marketing: Theory & Practice

PUBH 6572 Marketing Research for Public Health

PUBH 6573 Media Advocacy for Public Health

B. Research Methods and Theory in Global Health

PUBH 6410 GH Study Design

PUBH 6411 GH Qualitative Methods

PUBH 6412 GH Quantitative Methods

PUBH 6416 Ethical and Cultural Issues in Global Health Research and Programs

PUBH 6430 Theories for Global Health Communication Interventions

PUBH 6435 GH Program Design and Implementation

PUBH 6436 Global Health Program Management

C. Global Health

PUBH 6400 Global Health Frameworks

PUBH 6128 Global Environmental & Occupational Health

PUBH 6132 WASH Programs in Low-Income Countries

PUBH 6441 International Health Organizations and Regulations

PUBH 6442 Comparative Global Health Systems

PUBH 6480 Public Health in Humanitarian Settings

PUBH 6481 Global Mental Health

PUBH 6487 Emerging Zoonotic Diseases & Global Food Production

PUBH 6563 Global Child Health

International Security Policy

Choose at least two:

PSC 6349 International Security Politics

PSC 6467 Asian Security

IAFF 6118 Special Topics in International Affairs

Issues in Contemporary Diplomacy and National Security
Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear Security Policy

IAFF 6160 Defense Policy and Program Analysis

IAFF 6163 Transnational Security

IAFF 6165 Fundamentals of Intelligence

IAFF 6173 Security and Development

IAFF 6186 Special Topics in Security Policy Studies

International Peacekeeping
Environmental Security
International Organized Crime
Stabilization and Peacebuilding
Cyber Threats, Policy & Strategy
Methods for Defense Analysis
Insurgency & Counterinsurgency
Political Risk Analysis
Conflict Early Warning and Prevention
US Grand Strategy
Illicit Finance and Security
The Chinese Military
Strategic Planning for the 21st Century
Nuclear Strategy

IAFF 6148 Space and National Security

IAFF 6338 Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies

Transatlantic Relations in the 21st Century
Security in Russia and Eurasia
Ukraine & Georgia between Russia & the West
Nationalism in Russia and Eurasia

IAFF 6501 Quantitative Analysis for International Affairs Practitioners

PSC 6348 Politics of U.S. National Security Policy

PSC 8452 Theories of International Security

Research Methods

Choose at least two:

Note: The required research methods course cannot overlap with the methods professional specialization. Students who choose to specialize in research methods will need to take a total of three methods courses: one to satisfy the methods requirement and two for the specialization.

ANTH 6331 Research Methods in Development Anthropology

EDUC 6112 Quantitative Methods I: Introduction to Measurement and Data Analysis

EDUC 6114 Intro to Quantitative Research

EDUC 8122 Qualitative Research Methods

EDUC 8130 Survey Research Methods

EDUC 8131 Case Study Research Methods

GEOG 6304 Geographical Information Systems I

HIST 6030 Uses of History in International Affairs

IAFF 6118 Special Topics in International Affairs

Qualitative Methods

PPPA 6002 Research Methods and Applied Statistics

PPPA 6013 Research Methods in Policy Analysis

PPPA 6014 Economics in Policy Analysis

PSC 8101 Introduction to Empirical Political Analysis

PUBH 6249 Use of Statistical Packages: Data Management and Data Analysis

PUBH 6260 Advanced Data Analysis for Public Health

PUBH 6264 Quantitative Methods

PUBH 6410 Global Health Study Design & Ethics

PUBH 6411 Global Health Data Collection

PUBH 6412 Global Health Quantitative Research Methods

SOC 6230 Sociological Research Methods

SOC 6231 Data Analysis

SOC 6232 Qualitative Methodology: Field Research

Science, Technology, and International Affairs

Choose at least two:

ANTH 6806 Technology

ECON 6255 Economics of Technological Change

EMSE 6030 Technological Forecasting and Management

EMSE 6992 Special Topics

International Technology
International Technology Commercialization

IAFF 6118 Special Topics in International Affairs

The Science of Nuclear Materials

IAFF 6142 Technology Creation and Diffusion

IAFF 6145 US Space Policy

IAFF 6146 Space Law

IAFF 6148 Space and National Security

IAFF 6151 Environmental Policy

IAFF 6153 Science, Technology and National Security

IAFF 6158 Special Topics in International Science and Technology Policy

Science, Technology and Policy Analysis
Cybersecurity
Renewable Energy in a Decarbonizing World
Energy Policy
Geospatial Law and Policy
Issues in US Space Policy