Official Master's Degree in Global East Asian Studies
Master description
This Master’s Degree in East Asian Studies carried 60 ECTS credits and is made up of eight modules worth 6, 9, 10 and 15 ECTS credits divided into two semesters (30 ECTS credits in each). Of these 39 ECTS credits are obligatory (module 1: 10 ECTS credits; module 2: 10 ECTS credits; module 3: 9 ECTS credits; module 4: 10 ECTS credits), 6 ECTS credits are optional (module 5: 6 ECTS credits; module 6: 6 ECTS credits; module 7: 6 ECTS credits), and 15 ECTS credits for the Master’s degree dissertation (module 8: 15 ECTS credits).First semester subjects
Module 1. Cultural Products, Representational Discourses and Transnational Identities (10 ECTS credits) (OB)
This modules centres on the global circulation of cultural products and the creative industries, transnational identity trends, and the representational images and discourses related to East Asia (China, Japan, Korea), understood as a node of sociocultural influences, political-identity processes and discursive-representational formations which transcend regional limits. The module content is divided into three parts: 1) cultural production and creative industries; 2) images, discourses and representations; and 3) transnational identities.
Module 2. Geopolitics, Economics and Environment (10 ECTS credits) (OB)
This module centres on the geopolitical and environmental dynamics that are characteristic of East Asia and its relationship with the rest of the world. The study of these dynamics takes an integrative approach to highlight the global importance of East Asia in social, political, economic and environmental terms. The module content is divided into three parts: 1) geopolitical 2) socioeconomic structure and flows; and 3) environmental challenges.
Second semester subjects
Module 4. Politics and Society in East Asia (10 ECTS credits) (OB)
This module offers a detailed approach to different aspects of political, economic and social thinking in East Asia to understand their relationship with Europe and America in the construction of modernity. To do so a series of critical approaches are used which go from colonialism and post-colonialism to modernity and post-modernity, post-capitalism and post-communism, introducing the perspective of gender and its relation to politics and society. Module 5. Mobility, Transport and Territory (6 ECTS credits) (OPT)
This module deals with the key concepts of mobility and sustainable mobility, the social structure of mobility, social equality, social inclusion and exclusion, paradigms in the planning and management of daily journeys and the costs deriving from mobility (in terms of the environment, society and the city).
Module 6. Tourism and Territory (6 ECTS credits) (OPT)
This module deals with the key concepts related to tourism, rural space and local development, the expansion of new tourisms, planning and management of tourism spaces and an introduction to the perspective of gender in tourism.
Module 7. Comparative Media Systems (6 ECTS credits) (OPT)
This module looks at national media in a context of growing economic globalisation and a proliferation of supranational political bodies. It deals with the study and evaluation of existing types of media systems, using comparative methodology and with special emphasis on the European and American continents.
Annual subjects
Module 3. Case studies (9 ECTS credits) (OB)
This module offer a fundamentally practical view to develop the theoretical content in Modules 1 and 2 using specific case studies. Different case studies show the cultural, social, communicative, political and economic dynamics which, with East Asia as the main actor, are being developed on a worldwide scale. The module content is divided into three parts: 1) case study methodology; 2) products, identities and transnational discourses; 3) geopolitics, socioeconomics and environment.
Module 8. Master’s degree dissertation (15 ECTS credits) (OB)
This is the final project of the Master’s degree and is carried out individually and autonomously by the student with the supervision of a tutor. Through the dissertation students must demonstrate that they can use the appropriate theoretical and methodological instruments to carry out their own in-depth analysis of a topic of their choice in relation to the content of the Master’s degree course. This topic may be theory-, methodology- or practical-based and based on research or professionalisation. In the latter case students will carry out a work placement in a collaborating company to gain experience of a professional environment. In two initial tutorials, students will also work on the methodological steps they need to take in the preparation of the dissertation.
Study plan structure
| Type | Credits |
| Compulsory | 39 |
| Optional | 6 |
| Master Thesis | 15 |
| TOTAL | 60 |
| Module | Credits | Type |
| Case Studies | 9 | OB |
| Cultural Products, Representational Discourses and Transnational Identities | 10 | OB |
| Geopolitics, Economy and Environment | 10 | OB |
| Master's Degree Dissertation | 15 | OB |
| Politics and Society in Eastern Asia | 10 | OB |
| Comparative Media Systems | 6 | OT |
| Mobility, Transport and Territory | 6 | OT |
| Tourism and Territory | 6 | OT |
OB: Compulsory
OT: Optional