Contemporary Asian Studies

• The CAS program trains you to comprehend Asia’s roles in new global dynamics
• You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the region and localities within it, while exploring the complex webs that connect local sites to contemporary global issues
• Choose from a variety of courses that examine colonialism, modernity, youth cultures, cities, nationalism and revolution, research methodologies and more, through a pan-Asian, multidisciplinary lens
• Design and carry out your own research in Asia with opportunities like the Richard Charles Lee Insights through Asia Challenge 
• Our grads have gone on to careers in every field imaginable – the pan-Asian expertise and critical perspective you gain through CAS have universal value

The Contemporary Asian Studies program (CAS) offers a thematically driven approach to understanding the complexity of issues facing today’s Asia. It examines the linkages between Asia’s history and culture, its emergence on the global stage, and its future in the global arena. CAS courses are distinctly pan-Asian in geographic scope, providing empirical and critical coverage of South, Southeast, and East Asia through multiple disciplinary approaches, including anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, religion, and sociology.

By exposing students to current issues and debates in Asia, the CAS program is designed to prepare students for careers in or about Asia. In addition, the Asian Institute is committed to facilitating overseas experiential learning opportunities, including field schools, international course modules, professional internships, and study abroad opportunities. Upper-level CAS courses are designed to be research-intensive. There is no language requirement for the CAS major or minor. However, students are strongly encouraged to study an Asian language. 1.0 credit in an approved Asian language can be credited towards the major or minor degree.

The Contemporary Asian Studies offers Minor (4.0 Full Course Equivalents [FCEs]), Major (7.0 FCEs) programs. Please visit the Academic Calendar for full program requirements, and email Rebecca Bi, Program Administrator and Communications Officer, at ai.asianstudies@utoronto.ca for details regarding course syllabi. 

Contemporary Asian Studies Programs are open enrolment programs. A student who has completed 4.0 credits may enrol in the major or minor program.

Course Nomenclature:

• H indicates a half credit course
• F indicates a half year course in the first term (Sept – Dec)
• S indicates a half year course in the second term (Jan – Apr)
• Y indicates a full year course (Sept – Apr)
• M, T, W, R, F = days of the week

2024-25 Course Offerings

Fall term courses

Please visit the Timetable Builder for course descriptions.

• CAS200H-F: Introduction to Contemporary Asian Studies (Dylan Clark)
• CAS201H-F: Global Asian Studies: Insights and Concepts (Francis Cody)
• CAS310H-F: Comparative Colonialisms in Asia (TBA)
• CAS350H-F: Asian Youth Cultures (Dylan Clark)
• CAS400H-F: Interdisciplinary Research in Methods in Contemporary Asian Studies (Dylan Clark)
• CAS420H-F: Asia and the New Global Economy (TBA)
• CAS490H-F: Special Topics in Contemporary Asian Studies: Politics of China and Emerging Democracies in Asia (Lynette Ong)
• JPA453H-F: Authoritarianism in Comparative Perspective (Lynette Ong)

Winter term courses

Please visit the Timetable Builder for course descriptions.

• CAS100H-S: Introduction to Contemporary Asian Studies (TBA)
• CAS202H-S: Global Asian Studies: Sites and Practices (Dylan Clark)
• CAS320H-S: Comparative Modernities in Asia (TBA)
• CAS360H-S: Asian Genders (Dylan Clark)
• CAS370H-S: Asian Cities (TBA)
• CAS413H-S: Asia and Canada (TBA)
• CAS414H-S: The Public Event in Asia (Christoph Emmrich)
• CAS490H-S: Special Topics in Contemporary Asian Studies: Digital Futures of Asia (Irene Poetranto)
• JPA331H-S: Rise of China as a Global Power (Lynette Ong)

• The Richard Charles Lee Insights through Asia Challenge awards funding for students to participate in faculty-led research projects.
• Big Ideas Competition: Exploring Global Taiwan provides funding for research projects in Taiwan. The application is closed for the 2024-25 academic year.
• Dr. David Chu Scholarships in Asia-Pacific Studies award undergraduate and graduate students with funding to travel to the Asia-Pacific region (East and Southeast Asia) for study and research purposes.
• The Daisy Ho Contemporary China Undergraduate Fund provides 4 awards annually of up to $5,000 for third year undergraduate students who are undertaking a special research project on contemporary China. The award is used to help defray the project costs associated with the travel and research of student participants.
• The Joseph Wong Student Experience Fund provides undergraduate students with financial assistance for learning experiences, such as studying an Asian language abroad, undertaking field research or special projects, or participating in an international field school. 
• Mark Gayn Scholarship for Chinese Studies is offered to students upon admission and enrolment in a program in the Department of East Asian Studies or Contemporary Asian Studies and who are focusing on the study of China. Eligible students will be contacted in November based on awards availability.