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.