Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Smee]

Hi, has anyone ever pursued or completed (or thought about) an advanced degree in Asian Studies? A former teacher was talking to me about it, and in a way it sounds interesting, but right now it seems a little superfluous since I live in East Asia (and wouldn't need to travel back to the US to study it.)

Just curious about what people do with it and what sorts of jobs might be opened to a person with it.

[Hater Depot]

I've decided to go for a master's in international relations with an East Asian concentration. It's unofficially required if you want to be a State Department foreign service officer.

Not the East Asian concentration will prevent them from shipping me to Timbuktu.

[buster brown]

From the Asian Studies homepage at Baylor University: "Through its major, minor, and concentration curricula, the Asian Studies program is designed to provide students with a solid foundation to pursue careers in government service, business, and nongovernmental organizations, as well as for further study."

http://www3.baylor.edu/Asian_Studies/

So there you have it: Gov't work, business or NGO. Following a two-year stint in China, I took a year's worth of post-bac Asian Studies classes in history, religion, politics, language, and linguistics. I didn't really have any interest in pursuing a Master's, but the courses helped me understand and digest alot of the stuff I'd experienced.

Baylor being a Baptist school and all...I believe the program was originally intended to prepare students for mission work in Asia. Because the current director is a professor of Political Science, the major has shifted in that direction. If you have some idea of a career path you'd like to follow and you're intending to do it in Asia, look around at different programs. One of them will likely have the emphasis you want.

[Homer]

It may be worth it to do a PHD in E-Asian studies if you want to be a professor.

It would be advised in that case to focus on more than one field of studies/country.

The demand for East Asian experts is growing in certain universities but you will need contacts and a long list of publications to get a teaching position or chair.

[Mashimaro]

I've definitely thought about it, but I just came to the realisation that I didn't really want to become a professor in a university, and I not so young that I would do it just for fun.

People have mentioned other types of jobs with the government etc. like foreign affairs depts I guess. Though they are extremely competitive to break into but not impossible of course.

[Tiger Beer]

personally i think it would have little 'financial' purpose to have a masters like that. there aren't going to be any jobs going your way for it.

recently i took on a masters which was 'international relations'-ish.. mostly they say its good for a possible foreign service related job.. but those jobs are so hard to get anyways.. i've taken the exam twice already.. never get past the first round. to really get those jobs its critical you either know another language or had military service and you'll get major bonus points.. if you have both of those.. i don't have either.

as to my own MA.. it essentially got me a 'university job' back in Seoul again.. back home.. there is a small remote possibility of extremely competitive low-paying NGO jobs.. or if i had the incentive enough.. could start my own NGO of some type..

honestly though..if u have a 'MA in Asian Studies'.. it'll just essentially make your resume look more interesting.. and have more 'oh that makes sense why you taught in Korea' kind of thing for whenever you go back and look for other jobs in most likely unrelated areas.

for how little value the MA in Asian Studies might be for a job.. you could probably do them just about anywhere you want.. and Asia to me looks even better.. most Asian Studies students in the West would be craving to take a semester abroad and such anyways.. taking the entire course just sounds better in general (and easy to do while here)