Asian Studies comprises the interdisciplinary study of the region referred
to as 'Asia'. Asia is usually regarded as starting to the west of Pakistan and
extending to the western rim of the Pacific, including those countries in
south, south-east and east Asia. The region contains two-thirds of the world's
population and many hundreds of distinct cultures and languages. It is home to
the world's two largest countries and to the world's biggest democracy. It
embraces some of the world's most sophisticated and developed economies, and
some of the world's most impoverished and least developed countries.
East Asia in particular has been the engine for global economic growth over the
last two decades of the 20th century. Many of the region's
political, strategic and diplomatic issues have dominated world attention at
the beginning of the 21st century.
Research on Asia is undertaken across a wide range of disciplines at Monash.
Much of it is interdisciplinary. Aspects of Asia which are researched include
society, language and culture, politics and government, economics and business,
health and nutrition, education and law.
Monash's graduate in Asian studies programs range from the Graduate Certificate
of Arts in Asian Studies through the Master of Asian Studies by coursework to
the Master of Asian Studies by research. These programs offer students with a
relatively narrow, discipline-based background the opportunity to develop a
broader, multidisciplinary approach to a range of complex issues in Asia. The
research programs are for advanced students, those with an ongoing professional
interest in Asia and in Australia-Asia relations, and others who wish to return
to study after some time in the workforce. Research on Asia and Australia --
Asia relations requires that students develop cross-cultural sensitivities and
skills. Through research they have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with
recent debates and changes concerning the specific issues and countries they
are addressing.
The school offers the research Master of Arts in Asian Studies in two formats.
One is with a thesis of 20,000 to 25,000 words being submitted after a
full-time semester of coursework. The other is structured solely around the
submission of a thesis of 30,000 to 40,000 words.
For further information, contact the graduate administrator, Mrs Sally Riley,
on (03) 9905 5409, or the Asian studies course coordinator, Professor Bruce
Jacobs, on (03) 9905 2233.
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