Message from the Director of Asian Studies

As the director of Asian Studies, I would like to take the opportunity to welcome you to the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Asian Studies Web site. We encompass four sub-regional programs: China Studies; Japan Studies; South Asian Studies; and Southeast Asian Studies. We also have a specialization in the International Relations of Asia and a focus on Korea.

At SAIS, we follow an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Asia; domestic politics, social issues, culture and history, economics and business, and international relations are all equally important in understanding the region and effectively dealing with it. It is vital that students of the region understand and be able to communicate effectively in local languages, making language study a core part of the SAIS program.

We also believe that students must not limit themselves to their particular sub-region of interest, but should have an understanding of the region as a whole. Therefore, students must take courses not only from their area concentration, but must also take Asian Studies courses from outside their own sub-regional program.

In addition to their studies in the classroom, we strongly encourage MA degree candidates to increase their real-world experience by doing summer internships in Asia. The summer internship is an invaluable opportunity to be exposed to the economic and political climate of the region in preparation for post-SAIS professional careers. Hundreds of SAIS Asian Studies students have done internships in a number of settings including government, business, journalism, research, nongovernmental, and multilateral organizations. Asian Studies students receive priority consideration for funded summer internships in the region of their concentration.

Asia is perhaps the most diverse region in the world, with a wealth of cultures, religions, and languages. This diversity is reflected in Asian Studies at SAIS. We have students from almost every country in the region, as well as the United States, Canada, and Europe. This diversity extends to our students pre-SAIS experience, which ranges from academia, government, business, development, and the military. The SAIS faculty is no less diverse and possesses a vast array of academic and practical experience in Asia that is perhaps unique to any Asian Studies department in the United States.

Karl D. Jackson
Director, Asian Studies