Japanese Studies BA

Core modules:

Japanese Language 1B

This module is focusing on interactive activities in Japanese. It aims to enable students to acquire basic competence in speaking and listening skills. Every week carefully designed grammar structures and vocabulary will be introduced so that students will be able to communicate in Japanese through a variety of daily activities. 

10 credits

Japanese Language 1A

This module is focusing on receptive activities and written productive activities in Japanese language. It aims to enable students to acquire basic competence in grammar, reading, writing and translation both from and into Japanese. Every week carefully designed grammar structures and vocabulary will be introduced so that students will be able to do something practical in Japanese. Kanji (Chinese characters) as well as Japanese characters (hiragana and katakana) are introduced from the earliest stages. 

20 credits

Japanese Language 2B

This module is focusing on interactive activities in Japanese. This module is built on the achievement of LAS148 and develop speaking and listening skills further to provide the grounding necessary for intermediate study. Every week carefully designed grammar structures and vocabulary will be introduced so that students will be able to communicate in Japanese through a variety of activities. At the end of this level students should complete the beginner's level which is roughly equivalent to JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4 or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) A2.

10 credits

Japanese Language 2A

This module is focusing on receptive activities and written productive activities in Japanese language. This module builds on the achievement of Japanese Language 1A and introduces further grammatical structures of the Japanese language with a view to further developing reading, writing and translation skills. Every week carefully designed grammar structures and vocabulary will be introduced so that students will be able to do something practical in Japanese. At the end of this level students should complete the beginner's level which is roughly equivalent to JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4 or CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) A2. 

20 credits

Exploring East Asia

This module introduces students to the study of modern East Asia. Beginning by encouraging consideration of what the subject of East Asian Studies is, it then introduces the following key topics: East Asian Geography and Environment, History, Culture and Media, Economics and Business, and Political Relations. In parallel with this content, the module also introduces core academic skills as follows: independent, lecture and seminar study; reflective practice; critical information, digital and visual literacy; evidence and argument in academic writing, and appropriate examination techniques. These two elements provide a firm foundation of knowledge and abilities for higher level study. 

20 credits

Approved modules:
You will take one of the following modules. Each module has a humanities or social sciences focus and will look at a core text, which has played a significant role in developing an intricate, understanding of Japan. The content of these modules change regularly to ensure they are topical and make the best use of our staff expertise.

History and Culture in Japan

This module explores what it means to study Japan at university level and considers how 'area studies' research on Japan fits within disciplines such as history, comparative literature and cultural studies. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic. We will consider how studies of Japan are built, how researchers use primary evidence in text and/or images to understand change, how to navigate key debates in a field and evaluate competing arguments. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

20 credits

Politics, Economy and Society in Japan

This module explores what it means to study Japan at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on Japan fits within disciplines such as political economy, international relations, anthropology, sociology and geography. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore core topics in contemporary Japan: including how Japanese society has changed; how researchers use different conceptual frameworks and types of primary evidence to understand change and its wider impact; and, how to use the different types of work published in the field and evaluate competing arguments in key debates. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

20 credits

Guided modules
You will take 20 credits from the following East Asian Studies modules and a list of guided modules available from departments across the university. A final guided module list is made available to new students when you select your modules as part of registration.

History and Culture in China

This module explores what it means to study China at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on China fits within disciplines such as history and cultural studies. We will consider how histories and cultural understandings of China are built with the following in mind: how researchers use primary evidence such as texts, documents and/or images to understand social change; and how to navigate key debates in a field and evaluate competing arguments. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic: In 2022-2023 we will explore the history of twentieth-century Shanghai as seen from the grassroots.

20 credits

History and Culture in Korea

This module explores what it means to study Korea at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on Korea fits within disciplines such as history and cultural studies. We will consider how histories and cultural understandings of Korea are built with the following in mind: how researchers use primary evidence such as texts, documents and/or images to understand social change; and how to navigate key debates in a field and evaluate competing arguments. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study. You will develop a range of ways to express this understanding via short discussion board posts and video format, plus a written essay. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic.

20 credits

History and Culture in Japan

This module explores what it means to study Japan at university level and considers how 'area studies' research on Japan fits within disciplines such as history, comparative literature and cultural studies. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic. We will consider how studies of Japan are built, how researchers use primary evidence in text and/or images to understand change, how to navigate key debates in a field and evaluate competing arguments. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

20 credits

Politics, Economy and Society in China

This module explores what it means to study China at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on China fits within disciplines such as political economy, international relations, anthropology, sociology and geography. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore core topics in contemporary China: including how Chinese society has changed; how researchers use different conceptual frameworks and types of primary evidence to understand change and its wider impact; and, how to use the different types of work published in the field and evaluate competing arguments in key debates. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

20 credits

Politics, Economy and Society in Japan

This module explores what it means to study Japan at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on Japan fits within disciplines such as political economy, international relations, anthropology, sociology and geography. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore core topics in contemporary Japan: including how Japanese society has changed; how researchers use different conceptual frameworks and types of primary evidence to understand change and its wider impact; and, how to use the different types of work published in the field and evaluate competing arguments in key debates. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study.

20 credits

Politics, Economy and Society in Korea

.This module explores what it means to study Korea at university level, and considers how 'area studies' research on Korea fits within disciplines such as political economy, international relations, anthropology, sociology and geography. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore core topics in contemporary Korea: including how Korean society has changed; how researchers use different conceptual frameworks and types of primary evidence to understand change and its wider impact; and, how to use the different types of work published in the field and evaluate competing arguments in key debates. You will finish this module with a deeper understanding of our core topic and the disciplinary approaches that frame it, and a foundation in critical research and writing skills that you can apply and develop in further study. We will work on a combination of new and established research to explore one core topic

20 credits

Death

This module is mainly about death itself . What is death? What happens to us when we die? Could there be an afterlife? Would it be a good thing if there were? What is it about death that we dislike so much, or that makes it bad? Is it rational, or even possible to fear death? What is the right attitude towards our own death? Do we have moral duties towards the dead? The course will clarify these questions and attempt to answer them. Readings will be taken from both historical and contemporary sources.

10 credits

LGBTQ [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer] Studies

This module introduces students to study of genders and sexualities, and LGBTQ scholarship, both historical and contemporary. It examines genders and sexualities in society, culture, media, and their academic study, as well as contemporary issues of inequality affecting sexual minorities in different global contexts. The module is team taught by experts in different departments at the University of Sheffield, who will introduce students to a wide range of theoretical and methodological perspectives, such as philosophy, history, social sciences, psychology, evolutionary biology, education, cultural studies, and critical study of religion. The module is assessed by a coursework portfolio, where students answer a number of short questions on different topics in the syllabus. 

10 credits

Data Visualisation

This module consists of three key elements. The first is principles of good graphic design, combined with how figures can be used to lie and mislead. The second is learning how to make a wide range of graphs, maps, and figures, for a wide range of different audiences, using the latest and most powerful software. The third is interpreting visual representations of data, whether from other sources or by students on the module themselves, and using them to answer substantive research questions. Fundamentally, this is a hands-on module that allows students to make and understand data visualisations.

10 credits

Contemporary urban challenges

This module will address the range of challenges contained within the Sustainable Development Goals for cities attempting to transition towards sustainable urban development. You will be introduced to sustainability challenges and the planning and urban professional response to these in a range of specific cities. You will then conduct your own research on one of these case study cities to evaluate its response, and the wider lessons to be learned from it about transitions towards sustainable development.



The first half of the module will consist of lectures that will introduce students to a set of global urban challenges. Within these sessions, each challenge will be addressed through a mix of lecturer input and discussion and exercises. Lectures will cover  the scope and nature of challenges, a critical look at appropriate policy responses, and how these are interacting within the context of particular case-study cities. In the second half of the module, students will work in groups, each of which will work together on a single case study. The workshops will lead them through a process of research on their case study. Students will identify and critically engage with academic, policy and media sources covering: the nature of the challenge, how it relates to the SDGs, and proposed policy responses in the chosen city.  In the final workshop students will be introduced to issues about communicating with policy makers and other officials, and draw insights from the previous weeks' work together to produce a very brief policy proposal.

This module aims to develop:

1. an understanding of the challenges of sustainable urban development

2. an understanding of the role of planning and wider urban professions in meeting these challenges

3. skills in critical reading and evaluation of research materials.

10 credits

Cities, Places and People

The aim of this module is to provide you with an introduction to the central concept of place through a focus on the city of Sheffield, its communities and its people. In developing this understanding of place, you will be introduced to some of the theories, techniques and data  that planners use in their efforts to understand and create better places and the module will develop your skills of analysis for assessing the social, economic and environmental qualities of urban places. Through lectures, site visits and computer-based workshops, you will gain an understanding of several different areas in Sheffield so that you develop a broader appreciation of the city's strengths and some of the contemporary challenges that it faces.

10 credits

Housing and Home

Issues relating to housing, homes, streets and neighbourhoods that we live in are in the news every day. Whether this is over concerns about housing shortages, affordability, 'generation rent', social housing, evictions, Covid lockdowns, housing condition, domestic violence, flooding, or informal housing, housing is often at the centre of social science research.  In this module, we will develop a critical appreciation for housing and home, questioning some of the taken for granted assumptions that are often prominent in public debates. The module aims to introduce students to this broad and diverse subject by drawing on the expertise of staff who research across these multiple themes. The module focuses on contemporary concerns, while maintaining an appreciation of the impact of historical trends. The module will make use of cases from the UK and internationally to illustrate trends and challenges, making connections which span diverse global contexts. The module introduces students to a range of concepts and debates relating to housing, as well as indicating the linkages to housing and urban policy, developing a more nuanced understanding of this diverse topic.

10 credits

Philosophy of Religion

Religious teachings and practices raise many philosophical questions. For example, how should we understand the nature of God for purposes of evaluating evidence for and against God's existence? Are there persuasive arguments for believing God does exist, or for believing God doesn't? Could the universe itself in some sense be divine? Is there any evidence for thinking that people can survive the death of their physical bodies? Does the pervasiveness of religious disagreement provide support for suspending judgment about religious claims in general? Does it make any sense to follow a religion without believing what it teaches? This module will interrogate philosophical work bearing on questions such as these.

10 credits

LGBTQ [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer] Studies

This module introduces students to study of genders and sexualities, and LGBTQ scholarship, both historical and contemporary. It examines genders and sexualities in society, culture, media, and their academic study, as well as contemporary issues of inequality affecting sexual minorities in different global contexts. The module is team taught by experts in different departments at the University of Sheffield, who will introduce students to a wide range of theoretical and methodological perspectives, such as philosophy, history, social sciences, psychology, evolutionary biology, education, cultural studies, and critical study of religion. The module is assessed by a coursework portfolio, where students answer a number of short questions on different topics in the syllabus. 

10 credits

The Soviet Union 1917-1991

Overview of the formation, development and collapse of the USSR, beginning from c.1900. Covers historiographic problems in analysing primary materials, ideological problems in dealing with the revolutionary movement and subsequent developments, debates over the nature and trajectory of the USSR and its place in the wider world.

20 credits

Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics

Whether you're a journalist writing stories for the public, or a social research analyst working in government, you need to be able to understand, use and present data. This 10 credit module aims to demystify data and encourage critical thinking on statistics; often wrongly used, and sometimes in very misleading ways. The module will equip you with the knowledge and skills you'll need to become a discerning data user, through engaging teaching, active learning and examples from the news media. The module is comprised of a mix of lectures and computer workshops and is assessed through a multiple choice exam.

10 credits

Linguistic Theory

This module explores how language is structured by examining central issues in linguistic theory, building upon the concepts introduced in EGH105 Sounds of English and EGH106 Structures of English. Students will be instructed in (1) foundational theories and concepts in areas such as phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics, (2) the linguistic evidence that informs these approaches, (3) the analytical techniques required to apply these theories to language data, and (4) the relevance of such theoretical models for the wider study of language. This inclusive module will develop analytical tools and problem-solving skills in using linguistic theory, training students to think critically to interpret data from any language within theoretical frameworks.

20 credits

Cities and Inequality

Cities are the primary living spaces of more than half of humanity and are therefore at the centre of debates about growing forms of material and social inequality. Urban studies today is at the forefront of research efforts addressing multiple forms of inequality that include ecological, housing, wealth, gender, and other forms.

Cities and Inequality  will introduce you to many of the problems and divisions that are present across much of our global urban condition. The course pays particular attention to the multiple forms of inequality that pervade urban life and brings students into discussions about the kind of responses that might be developed to challenge conditions that hold back large sections of urban populations.

The course focuses on a broad set of forms of inequality and uses diverse case examples from around the globe to bring these issues to life politically, socially, economically and in terms of debates around geography, planning and urban studies more broadly. 

The course will develop your critical thinking around the reasons for inequality, its multiple forms and interconnections and bring-in cutting-edge assessments of the scale of these issues in diverse urban contexts around the world. Today inequality is linked to the economic, social and political conditions of urban life itself, this course will help you make sense of these issues and questions of social injustice. The aims of the module are to:

1. Introduce students to the diverse forms of inequality that exist in cities around the world today;

2. Describe and analyse the range of political and economic factors that give rise to forms of inequality that are, in many cases, worsening in many cities around the world;

3. To make sense of the roots of these challenges and to identify methods for alleviating and reducing forms of inequality, and;

4. To develop awareness of inequality as a significant source of social injustice that is animating many political and social debates in nations and cities around the world today.

10 credits

History of Philosophical Ideas

The history of philosophy is made up of a series of debates between competing philosophical traditions and schools: for example, idealists argue with realists, rationalists with empiricists. And at different times, distinctive philosophical movements have dominated the discussion, such as pragmatism, existentialism, phenomenology, analytic philosophy, and critical theory. This module will introduce you to some of these central movements and traditions in the history of philosophy from Plato onwards, and the key philosophical concepts and issues that they have brought in to western thought.

10 credits

Truth, Reality and Virtual Reality

This module examines the idea that there is an objective reality to which the things we say and believe are answerable, which makes some claims true and others false. The emphasis is not so much on the question of whether and how we know things, but on metaphysical questions concerning truth and reality. 'What is Truth?' is one of these questions. Different attempts to define truth - including the Correspondence Theory of truth and the Pragmatic Theory of truth will be examined. Another question the course will tackle is the question of whether relativism about reality can be successfully refuted. And the module will address arguments relating to virtual reality, including arguments to the conclusion that what we think of as the real world is in fact a simulation, and arguments that call into question the supposed difference between reality and virtual reality. There are political and moral questions that hinge on answers to our metaphysical questions. The aim of the module is to introduce theories, concepts and frameworks that will be helpful to attempts to grapple with the metaphysical questions and further questions that hinge on them.

10 credits

Death

This module is mainly about death itself . What is death? What happens to us when we die? Could there be an afterlife? Would it be a good thing if there were? What is it about death that we dislike so much, or that makes it bad? Is it rational, or even possible to fear death? What is the right attitude towards our own death? Do we have moral duties towards the dead? The course will clarify these questions and attempt to answer them. Readings will be taken from both historical and contemporary sources.

10 credits

Ethics in Antiquity: East and West

How should we live? What are the right values and principles by which we should guide our lives? What weight should we give to considerations of morality and justice? Are there fixed truths about these matters or are they just determined by choice or convention? Ethics is concerned with questions such as these. This course will engage with such questions by examining some important and influential texts from the ancient world, both Western and Eastern, including key writings by the Greek philosopher Plato and the Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi.

10 credits

Introduction to Media and Communication in Society

This module examines the relationship between media and society. It examines the nature of influence and persuasion, representation, ownership, and identity in contemporary media environments.

10 credits

Understanding Modern France

This core content module will introduce students to key aspects of France's history, society, politics and culture through the study of a range of important texts and media. It will focus on key historical events, the values and ideas that inform French and francophone society today, giving an historical overview of their development from Louise XIV to Emmanuel Macron. It will thus enable students to learn the interpretative methodologies specific to a range of cultural forms. It will provide them with a sound understanding of disciplinary studies, both within the language(s)/culture(s) they have chosen to study and, more broadly, within the discipline of Languages and Cultures today. It aims to facilitate the students' transition to University study, to complement the core language modules (which also cover some aspects of culture) studied at Level 1, in addition to serving as the solid foundation for more advanced study and specialisation at Level 2 and onwards. There will be opportunities for synoptic assessment in connection with the relevant language module.

20 credits

Intersections: Text, Image, Thought in the French-speaking world

This module will focus on two important French or Francophone texts per semester (with 'text' taken in its largest sense of book, film, art work, piece of music, cultural product, etc.). Each text will form the basis for a close reading, followed by analyses using French cultural, historical, literary and critical theory approaches as well as adaptations into other media (such as film, art and music) where appropriate. The module will be taught and assessed in English, but the materials will be made available in both French and English, with French students required to use and cite the French materials. The aim of the module is to introduce students to significant French texts and to illustrate and explore a range of possible critical approaches to them, including cross-media or intermedial reinterpretations.

20 credits

Resist! The Art of Protest in Berlin and Amsterdam

Berlin and Amsterdam: two capitals at the forefront of protest and alternative lifestyles from the early 20th century right up to the present. Where did their radical traditions spring from? What do these protests say about how the cities and nations see themselves? How did they become so dominant in the  national story? This module explores the culture of resistance and protest from the first women's march for the vote and posters and activism against war and fascism, to the creative resistance of the Amsterdam PROVO movement and more recently Pride Canal Parade and Black Lives Matter.

20 credits

Understanding Spanish and Latin American Culture

Why has the gypsy culture of Andalucía been so crucial to ideas about Spanish identity and how and why has this changed? How did gender politics and the role of women change after the Franco dictatorship in Spain? How and why was modernity experienced as a crisis in Latin America? How does class struggle shape Latin America? What does Revolution really mean in the context of Latin America? These are just some of the questions that will be explored in this module. This course examines the literature and culture of modern Spain and modern Spanish-speaking Latin America. In each semester, three cultural products from one of these two areas are studied, and may include poetry, theatre, narrative fiction, film, painting or music. We will build up a picture of the cultural history of Spain and Latin America, as well as looking at key themes to emerge from selected literary, dramatic and/or cinematic or artistic outputs. By focussing on different genres in each semester, students will be able to explore different types of cultural product and to develop analytical skills gradually by moving from shorter pieces to a larger body of writing. Students taking post-A Level or equivalent will study primary texts in their original Spanish version. Beginners will study primary texts in English translation. This module is strongly recommended as a foundational core course for further study in Spanish and Latin American Studies.

20 credits

Understanding German History and Culture

This core German content module will introduce students to the history, society, politics, and culture of the German-speaking world. You will focus on the major historical events (such as the building of the Berlin Wall, and the importance of the Greens to contemporary Germany) and key texts and visual material. You will also acquire a theoretical toolkit that will enable you to analyse these major events and cultural forms. The module complements the core German language modules (which also cover some aspects of culture) studied at Level 1, in addition to serving as the solid foundation for more advanced study and specialisation at Level 2 and onwards.

20 credits

An Introduction to the Social and Political History of Iberia and Latin America

This module examines the historical trajectory of Spain, its emergence as a state in the Iberian Peninsula, its imperial expansion overseas into Latin America, the eventual independence of the colonies and their development and consolidation into the various modern-day states we know today. The module will explore the social, political and cultural characteristics of these states and its peoples and highlight the importance of understanding their complex history in the formation of their identities and their cultural and political values.

20 credits

Russian and Czech Cultures in the Age of Empire and beyond

This module gives an overview of Russian and Czech cultures with a focus on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It will critically examine the concepts of statehood, empire, nationalism, totalitarianism and democracy by studying the two nations' different experiences through visual sources, literature and language usage. It thus introduces students to topics dealt with in greater depth in optional modules at Levels 2 and 3, and helps them to learn how to analyse cultural artefacts and sources of different kinds.

20 credits

Core modules:

Japanese Language 3B

This module is focusing on interactive activities in Japanese language at lower intermediate level working towards JLPT N3 and CEFRB1. Every week students are made aware of and given the opportunity to practise spoken applications of specific themes, which is shared with the grammar and writing components. Students develop skills needed to make best use of the Year Abroad programme.

10 credits

Japanese Language 3A

This module is focusing on receptive activities and written productive activities in Japanese language at lower intermediate level. This module acts as a transition between the teacher-centred learning required for the acquisition of basic language skills, and the autonomous and self-directed learning required to progress at intermediate and advanced levels. Translation and functional reading skills are extended, with texts including annotated topical materials. Techniques for tackling unseen materials are developed and grammar knowledge is consolidated and expanded. Practical knowledge of kanji is raised to roughly 800 characters. Students develop skills needed to make best use of the Year Abroad programme.

20 credits

Japanese Language 4B

This module is focusing on oral and aural activities in Japanese language at intermediate level. This module is designed in the light of the year abroad in Japan. Students are made aware of and given the opportunity to practice spoken applications of specific situations. There will be two main themes: giving a presentation and settling-in in Japan. The target level at the end of this level is roughly equivalent to JLPT N3 and CEFR B2.

10 credits

Japanese Language 4A

This module is focusing on receptive and written productive activities in Japanese language at mid-intermediate level. This module continues to act as a transition towards the autonomous and self-directed learning required to progress at intermediate and advanced levels. Grammar knowledge is consolidated and expanded and practical knowledge of kanji is expanded. Further functional reading skills and precise Japanese-English translation skills are introduced. The use of written Japanese appropriate to a variety of social contexts (i.e. life in Japan) is developed. The target level at the end of the level is roughly equivalent to JLPT N3 and CEFR B2.

20 credits

Approved modules
You will take one of the following modules

Contemporary Japanese Society

This module discusses key factors shaping contemporary Japanese society. Our particular focus will be on the last twenty years as post-Bubble Japan has entered a period of economic decline, prompting a series of debates about the effects of this change on society. Weekly lectures provide analysis and explanation of each week's theme, with a focus on cutting-edge scholarship from the fields of history, anthropology, media studies, gender studies, and cultural studies.

20 credits

Modern Japanese History

This module will explore key themes in the modern history of Japan from the mid-nineteenth to the late twentieth century, while developing core skills in reading primary sources and historical analysis. Broad themes include identity and nation-building, social and economic change, war and its practical and cultural legacies. Key sub-disciplinary approaches will be based in social and cultural history, with some excursions into other historiographical approaches. It will be delivered through weekly lectures, and seminars structured around developing primary source analysis skills and relating these to appropriate secondary literature. 

20 credits

Experiencing 'Japan' through Literary Texts

This module enables students to understand the key debates and issues in Japanese culture and society as related in literature, from pre-modern to contemporary times. Taking a chronological and thematic perspective, the module engages with critical approaches to literature and its interpretation, and through these encourages students to develop and acquire critical thinking about concepts of Japan and Japaneseness.

20 credits

Approved modules:
Plus one of the modules listed below

East Asia through International Relations Theory

In this module you will explore the complex International Relations of North East Asia through the lens of International Relations theory. This module will explore topics and theories on a week to week basis, with each two weeks addressing a new theoretical perspective and a concomitant topic. Over the course of the module you will become familiar with both the politics of the region of East Asia, and common theories applied to understand these phenomena. You will be introduced to the politics of security, economic cooperation and conflict, national identity and memory, the politics of international status, as well as transnational environmental issues. You will also be introduced to the utility of limitation of realist, liberal, constructivist, critical, and environmentalist approaches to International relations theory

20 credits

Mass Culture in East Asia

This module takes a transcultural approach to the study of mass culture in East Asia over the twentieth century. We will examine how mass culture, from radio and literature to art and entertainment have continuously reshaped 'national' identities and communities across East Asia

20 credits

Gender and Identities in East Asia

This module offers an overview of the study of gender and its connection to social, cultural, political and economic discourses across East Asia. Covering key issues related to the structures and dynamics of gender in East Asia, we learn to situate these dynamics in their historical and cultural context using case studies drawn from across the region.

20 credits

East Asian Cinema

We will examine key film directors, cinematic movements and industry developments since 1945 from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China. This module will introduce you to some of the key cinematic theoretical frameworks such as national and global cinemas, gender, spectatorship and will examine the ways in which selected East Asian films and directors interact with the history and culture of their respective nations. This module is designed to encourage students to critically examine both the text (the films themselves) and the context (the national environment, film festival circuit, film finance) that surrounds any film work.

20 credits

Digital East Asia

This module introduces students to how digital technologies are re-shaping the way 'East Asia' is imagined and lived. From media that connect major cities in East Asia to the world, to digital Asian cultures outside of the region, we will investigate how East Asia circulates in digital form around the globe. Students will examine social media and online practices, streaming sites, games, and other digital technologies, with a focus on how Chinese-speaking, Japanese-speaking, and Korean-speaking cultures are circulated and produced in the digital era. In doing so, we will examine how new identities, communities and economies form out of the circulation and re-production of digital media. Students will learn about these issues through the application of media research methodologies with an East Asia focus.

20 credits

Guided modules
You will take 20 credits from the following East Asian Studies modules and a list of guided modules available from departments across the university.

Contemporary Japanese Society

This module discusses key factors shaping contemporary Japanese society. Our particular focus will be on the last twenty years as post-Bubble Japan has entered a period of economic decline, prompting a series of debates about the effects of this change on society. Weekly lectures provide analysis and explanation of each week's theme, with a focus on cutting-edge scholarship from the fields of history, anthropology, media studies, gender studies, and cultural studies.

20 credits

Understanding Contemporary North Korea

What does it mean to 'understand' North Korea, and what are the potential implications of this understanding, academically and professionally? This module explores these questions through the disciplines of international relations, history, media studies and anthropology, as we cover a range of topics in the field of contemporary North Korea. These topics include post-colonialism, founding myths, nationalism, identity, ideology, human rights, international relations, and security, and covers key events and trends from the mid-1900s to the present day. The module provides a foundation for students to critically analyse how the North Korean state and society are presented to us via a variety of voices, as well as how we might respond in any capacity to engage with North Korean affairs. Lectures, instructional videos and assigned readings will provide background, case studies and theoretical approaches helpful for developing a nuanced understanding of the topics covered. Seminar classwork and the assessed portfolio will be used to learn and practice skills integral to both academic and professional activities commonly associated with studies of contemporary politics and society.

20 credits

East Asia through International Relations Theory

In this module you will explore the complex International Relations of North East Asia through the lens of International Relations theory. This module will explore topics and theories on a week to week basis, with each two weeks addressing a new theoretical perspective and a concomitant topic. Over the course of the module you will become familiar with both the politics of the region of East Asia, and common theories applied to understand these phenomena. You will be introduced to the politics of security, economic cooperation and conflict, national identity and memory, the politics of international status, as well as transnational environmental issues. You will also be introduced to the utility of limitation of realist, liberal, constructivist, critical, and environmentalist approaches to International relations theory

20 credits

History of Korean Popular Music

This module examines the social history of (South) Korea from the 1930s to the dawn of the millennium through the lens of popular music. The module starts with songs on gramophone records made during the Japanese colonial period and ends with Psy's 'Gangnam Style,' which achieved global popularity while satirising urban lifestyle in Seoul. Each week, students and the module lead perform a close analysis of the selected song(s), informed by relevant socio-historical contexts such as Japanese colonialism, national division, the Cold War, urban migration, state censorship, democratisation, and globalization. Secondarily, the module introduces students to issues that are relevant to the study of popular music in any national or transnational context.

20 credits

Mass Culture in East Asia

This module takes a transcultural approach to the study of mass culture in East Asia over the twentieth century. We will examine how mass culture, from radio and literature to art and entertainment have continuously reshaped 'national' identities and communities across East Asia

20 credits

Gender and Identities in East Asia

This module offers an overview of the study of gender and its connection to social, cultural, political and economic discourses across East Asia. Covering key issues related to the structures and dynamics of gender in East Asia, we learn to situate these dynamics in their historical and cultural context using case studies drawn from across the region.

20 credits

Chinese Business and Management

The objective of this module is to provide students an understanding of China's economic reform and open door policies, and the new free market orientation. While module content is academic rather than practical, this unit is designed to acquaint students with Chinese business environment and practice, and to inform them of issues and problems encountered by international businesses operating in China or doing business with the Chinese. Emphasis is on the Chinese business culture, the state-owned enterprise reform, development of the private sector and management issues of Chinese family firms, foreign direct investment and operating foreign businesses in China, human resource management, Chinese consumer behaviour, and the financial markets. An understanding of these topics is highly relevant to companies targeting the China market and essential background for graduates seeking a career in Far Eastern Business. Students are thus encouraged to develop business-related skills.

20 credits

Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture

This module introduces students to different ways of thinking about Chinese society and culture. In particular, we focus on sociological, anthropological and geographical approaches to contemporary Chinese society and culture, showing why and how China is important to current theoretical debates in these disciplines.

20 credits

Population and Environment in China

This module examines the interdependent relationship between population and environment in China. These are vitally important questions, in China and globally, that have attracted research by scholars of contemporary China, and in the wider academic disciplines of human geography and development studies. Through your work in lectures and seminars, you will gain a deep understanding of China's population and environment and its relation to social and economic change and to local and national institutions; and you will develop transferable skills of research, writing and critical analysis.

20 credits

Contemporary Korean Society

Since the end of World War II, South Korea has undergone rapid modernisation and radical social transformations that have created both opportunities and challenges. Through the disciplines of history, political science, social science and anthropology, this module examines major social, political, and cultural events and issues in contemporary Korea, including the developmental state, democratisation, gender, migration and modernity, contemporary social movements and Korea's place in the global community. This module aims to contribute to the development of students' capacity to go beyond observing and describing phenomena they may encounter when engaging with Korea, towards exercising an informed and nuanced understanding of the underlying forces that shape Korean politics, culture, business and society today. Classes are in the format of lectures, instructional videos and readings, followed by a series of seminars during which students will engage in research sessions and skills-focused tasks to discuss the experiences of one of Asia's most dynamic nations. The module is assessed with a portfolio of tasks designed to practice skills and deploy knowledge developed through engagement with the module's content and activities.

20 credits

Modern Japanese History

This module will explore key themes in the modern history of Japan from the mid-nineteenth to the late twentieth century, while developing core skills in reading primary sources and historical analysis. Broad themes include identity and nation-building, social and economic change, war and its practical and cultural legacies. Key sub-disciplinary approaches will be based in social and cultural history, with some excursions into other historiographical approaches. It will be delivered through weekly lectures, and seminars structured around developing primary source analysis skills and relating these to appropriate secondary literature. 

20 credits

Experiencing 'Japan' through Literary Texts

This module enables students to understand the key debates and issues in Japanese culture and society as related in literature, from pre-modern to contemporary times. Taking a chronological and thematic perspective, the module engages with critical approaches to literature and its interpretation, and through these encourages students to develop and acquire critical thinking about concepts of Japan and Japaneseness.

20 credits

East Asian Cinema

We will examine key film directors, cinematic movements and industry developments since 1945 from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China. This module will introduce you to some of the key cinematic theoretical frameworks such as national and global cinemas, gender, spectatorship and will examine the ways in which selected East Asian films and directors interact with the history and culture of their respective nations. This module is designed to encourage students to critically examine both the text (the films themselves) and the context (the national environment, film festival circuit, film finance) that surrounds any film work.

20 credits

Modern Chinese History: Beyond Revolution

This module will examine key themes in the histories of China's short twentieth century, with a primary focus on interpretations of 'modernity' and 'progress', explanations of revolution, and the ways in which new approaches in scholarship have influenced our understanding of China's recent past. While the structure of the module is loosely chronological, the emphasis is not on the detail of events but on the critical analysis of broad social and political changes, and we will examine these through recent historical writing on China and a range of primary textual and visual sources.

20 credits

Digital East Asia

This module introduces students to how digital technologies are re-shaping the way 'East Asia' is imagined and lived. From media that connect major cities in East Asia to the world, to digital Asian cultures outside of the region, we will investigate how East Asia circulates in digital form around the globe. Students will examine social media and online practices, streaming sites, games, and other digital technologies, with a focus on how Chinese-speaking, Japanese-speaking, and Korean-speaking cultures are circulated and produced in the digital era. In doing so, we will examine how new identities, communities and economies form out of the circulation and re-production of digital media. Students will learn about these issues through the application of media research methodologies with an East Asia focus.

20 credits

Urban Theory

At the heart of every discipline lie the ideas, concepts and frameworks that help its students and researchers to make sense of its object of study. In planning, geography and urban studies there are numerous perspectives, concepts and key thinkers who have shaped the development of these disciplines. This course introduces you to a series of key concepts and thinkers and helps them to make sense of urban life as a result.

Urban Theory aims to develop your imaginative engagement with the nature of urban life and human settlement. Urban theory refers to writing and thinking devoted to 'seeing' and understanding urban life. Concepts and ideas are critical to how we engage with the key features and problems of the urban world, shape the process of conducting research and help us to make sense of and understand many of the key challenges in cities today. Theory is therefore critical to our understanding of how cities work in practice and how we understand and view urban life subsequently informs the development of cities and efforts to make them more socially just, sustainable and better places to live. Urban Theory introduces a range of ideas and key concepts in urban studies with a view to understanding how cities have developed and how they 'work' in broad terms. The module considers a range of thinkers, concepts and perspectives. The aims of the module are:

1. To introduce and extend your knowledge of different ways of seeing city life. This includes a wide range of perspectives, thinkers and concepts relating to urban social and political life, the economies of cities, the range of communities and groups living in cities and, their built and natural environments

2. To provide you with an armoury of critical ideas and concepts that will deepen their understanding of the fundamental power relations, inequalities and divisions that characterise cities and which structure localities, particularly in relation to questions of class, race and gender.

20 credits

History and Historians

How has History developed as a subject of inquiry? Why do historians view the same issues and sources in different ways? What forces internal and external to our profession have shaped the way the past has been written? And who has had the power to write history and for what ends? This module, building on the foundational work students have done at Level 1, poses these questions. It is designed to encourage greater methodological reflection on the part of students. What kind of historian are they? And why? It also sets them up for more advanced interrogation of 'historiography' elsewhere in the programme.

20 credits

Dynamics of Social Change and Policy

This module will present you with a 'sociological perspective on social policy' to provide a macro perspective on contemporary social and economic transformations in the UK and globally. Particular emphasis will be placed on the challenges posed for social policy theory and practice, as well as the potential to imagine alternative social policy scenarios.

Some of the issues you will consider include: globalisation, neoliberalism, falling fertility and ageing societies, precarious labour markets and migration, and mobility. You will be encouraged to take a comparative and international/global perspective, emphasising not only the perspectives of International Organisations, but also the challenges faced by other types of welfare regimes. 

The module will equip you with a deep understanding of key socio economic challenges faced by postindustrial societies while also reflecting on how these challenges are received and responded to by Global South countries. You will also develop your skills in policy report writing, an essential tool most will use in their professional careers.

20 credits

Children and Digital Cultures

Digital technology has transformed the lives of many, impacting on culture and society. Many young people have quickly seen ways of extending and deepening social networks through their uses of technology, and immersed themselves in Virtual Worlds, Facebook etc and enjoyed browsing on shopping sites. This module examines new technologies and associated social practices impacting on children's lives, considering the nature of new digital practices and how these affect identity, society and culture. Educational implications of new technologies is a developing field of research and students will engage critically with debates within the field alongside examining websites and new practices.

20 credits

History and the Public

This module explores the theory and practice of public history by providing students with the opportunity to communicate their scholarly work to an audience beyond the boundaries of our discipline. Students will work collaboratively in writing a critique of a piece of public history as part of a broader evaluation of the use of history outside academic settings. The course will engage in debate about important questions facing historians in the present, and consider ideas about the role and purposes of History as an academic subject.

20 credits

Digital Storytelling

The use of digital media to enhance the effectiveness of a narrative is common in the fields of business, entertainment, cultural heritage, education and journalism. The module provides an introduction to the area of digital storytelling including key concepts and technologies involved in creating/using digital content and how to use digital media to tell a story. Students will be taught practical skills such as how to create and use digital media such as images, videos, and sounds, and how to design and create complex multimedia applications using Adobe Animate CC (an industry recognised platform, using HTML and CSS).

20 credits

Solidarity: Politics, Law, and Society across the Globe

In this interdisciplinary module, we explore how solidarity has been understood, practised, and contested across the globe. From Cuban solidarity for African liberation struggles to cross-species solidarity in climate activism today, we explore the possibilities of solidarity in action. In doing so, we will look at the wide-ranging impact that solidarity has had from individual survival to regime change. Taking a critical approach to the topic, we will also explore situations in which acts of solidarity can amplify forms of exclusion and injustice.

20 credits

Sociology of the Body

In the social world, we are understood first through our bodies. This can have an impact on everything from our opportunities for employment to our access to medical care. During this module, you will examine the cultural and societal impact we have on bodies and they have on us by exploring the social contribution of the body and the ways it is controlled and experienced in contemporary society.

Throughout, you will be introduced to key theoretical approaches to the sociology of the body and develop understanding of the social construction of the body. You will have the opportunity to critically explore the range of social factors that can impact the body and identity and discuss how our bodies intersect with our multiple social identities. 

Overall, you will develop an understanding of some of the social factors that can shape bodily experience and identity, such as racialisation, gender, ageing, weight, medicalisation, and representation. You will also be encouraged to develop a social justice focused framework for understanding the marginalised body in contemporary society.

20 credits

In Sickness and in Health: The Sociology of Medicine

Covid conspiracies and care home crises. AIDS activism and autism advocacy. Questions relating to health and illness are amongst the most crucial facing society today. From before people are born until the moment they die, everyone is profoundly shaped by their engagements with medicine. 

In this module, you will examine the ways in which bodies, minds and societies are formed through engagements with and understandings of health, illness and medicine. You will explore topics such as: intersecting inequalities in healthcare provisions, patient experiences of ill health, activism and the fight for recognition, contemporary health crises, and the COVID pandemic. 

By critically examining these examples, you will develop a nuanced understanding of the role of health, illness and medicine within contemporary society.

20 credits

Social Problems: Policy and Practice

Drawing on current examples and comparative references, you will explore social and ideological constructions of social problems and the role of the state and other agencies in responses to them. This module is team taught which means sessions are delivered by a range of leading experts on different social problems.

Some of the key concepts and themes in social policy and practice that you will cover include inequality, justice and fairness, individual versus collective responsibility, and welfare versus social control. The content of this module mainly focuses on major contemporary issues, including welfare and work, housing and homelessness, and community participation.

By the end, you will be equipped with the necessary critical perspective and skills to understand and explore social problems.

20 credits

Core module:

Japanese Year Abroad

During the Japan Year Abroad students take the intensive Japanese language classes provided by our partner universities with the aim of developing their Japanese competency to approximately level N2 as measured by the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, supplemented by familiarity with the 2136 Chinese characters in general use. In addition, students will have the opportunity to take a wide variety of Japanese Studies subjects, taught in English and Japanese, and take part in a range of structured and informal learning experiences to develop their familiarity with the Japanese social, cultural and physical environments.

Where extenuating circumstances prevent a cohort, or a large portion of a cohort, from completing a complete academic year abroad, the School of East Asian Studies will provide alternative arrangements for students to meet the language learning outcomes.

Core modules:

Researching Japan 1

This module, subtitled “Stardom, Celebrity, and Politics in Japan”, investigates the operations of persona in the Japanese social and political sphere. Star, celebrity, and political persona is understood as a shifting object, informed by the socio-political circumstances of the historical period in which the transmitting persona operates.The goal of this research module is to establish a method for tracing and accounting for the operations of constructed public persona on our understanding of Japan.

20 credits

Japanese Language 5

This module builds on skills acquired at Levels 1 and 2 and during the year in Japan at upper intermediate to lower advanced level. It is divided into four sections, each one focussing on a key linguistic skill which is demanded of adult foreign users of the language. These skills are: translation in English; reading comprehension of sophisticated non-literary texts; writing in Japanese with a focus on formal correspondence; and speaking, with a focus on job interviews and presentations. Group work, with students selecting their own materials for study, is a key element of the module, enabling students to develop as independent learners.

20 credits

Japanese Language 6

This module builds on skills acquired at Levels 1 and 2 and during the year in Japan at upper intermediate to lower advanced level. It is divided into four sections, each one focussing on a key linguistic skill which is demanded of adult foreign users of the language. These skills are: translation in English; reading comprehension of sophisticated non-literary texts; writing in Japanese with a focus on formal correspondence; and speaking, with a focus on job interviews and presentations. Group work, with students selecting their own materials for study, is a key element of the module, enabling students to develop as independent learners. 

20 credits

East Asian Dissertation

The East Asian dissertation requires that students produce an extended and focused study of a subject of their own choice, within the scope of their degree programme, and allows students to refine and extend their independent research, analytical and writing skills. The unit is delivered through a combination of group meetings in lecture or seminar format and through individual supervision.

40 credits

Guided modules:
You will take 20 credits of guided modules. This could be one of the following East Asian Studies modules or you chose from a list of guided modules available from departments across the university.

The content of these modules change regularly to ensure they are topical and make the best use of our staff expertise

you can take up to 20 credits in guided modules from across the University.

Music in East Asia from Traditional to Popular

East Asia - including China, Korea, Japan and neighbouring areas - has long caught the eye of the world with its unique traditional performing arts and, more recently, its prominence in Western-style classical and popular musics. This module traces the journey of East Asian musical life from the social and political settings that moulded traditional genres to the changing circumstances that have encouraged East Asian people to engage with the international popular music world, not just as followers but increasingly as leaders. You'll learn to recognise various forms of East Asian music and explain how they use sound in pursuit of particular cultural goals. You'll also carry out a guided research project on a cultural, historical and/or analytical topic in the music of East Asia. Meanwhile, we'll reflect on how our identities and tastes affect our interaction with East Asian musical culture.

20 credits

Education@Sheffield

In Education@Sheffield students are invited to explore and evaluate the rich and diverse research taking place within the School of Education. Through a series of seminars presented by active researchers, students are encouraged to critically engage with research - and the researchers themselves - in the fields of educational and childhood studies. The Education@Sheffield module enables students to acquire a critical understanding of various themes, settings and methodologies which shape contemporary educational research.

20 credits

Globalising Education

This module considers the extent to which education might be viewed as a global context with a shared meaning. Moving outwards from the dominant concepts, principles and practices which frame 'our own' national, or regional responses to education, the module explores other possible ways of understanding difference. By examining 'other ways of seeing difference', in unfamiliar contexts, students are able to examine the implications of globalisation for education and explore the opportunities and obstacles for the social justice agendas within a range of cultural settings.

20 credits

Japan Research Project 1

In this semester, we will apply the understanding developed in LAS330 Researching Japan 1 to a research project on stardom, celebrity, and politics in Japan. You will answer a research question of your own choice by choosing an appropriate methodology, organising your time and reflecting on the research process both individually and collectively. At the end of the module you will produce a research output and display it as part of a programme-wide and School-wide event to specialised/non-specialised audiences. The research outputs and bibliographies will be published in an online exhibition space dedicated to Level 3 Researching Projects at SEAS.

20 credits