International Affairs is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary subject which covers political science, geography, economics and history. It explores international cooperation and conflict, poverty and development, the nature and causes of war, nationalism and social change, and other issues. Focusing especially upon Japan and its place in Asia and the world, it requires students to study regions besides East Asia and the United States. Students must undertake an internship and study an East Asian language.
Advisor and Coordinator of International Affairs major
On one level, international affairs is the study of relations between states, but it is also about the relations between cultures. While rooted in political science, international affairs encompasses the study of history, geography and society as a means of understanding the complexity of the world we live in. TUJ’s diverse and international student body brings different experiences and information from various cultures into the classroom. This spurs wide-ranging and extremely valuable discussions.
Another wonderful thing about TUJ as a place to study international affairs is our access to practitioners. We’re located in a part of Tokyo that is home to most of the major embassies, so we can easily visit these embassies, and also persuade embassy staff to come talk to us. In addition, we have good relations with various think tanks and members of the government and the bureaucracy. We believe our ability to interact with practitioners and nongovernmental organizations is probably unrivaled anywhere else in Asia.
Studying at TUJ is interesting and compelling, but it’s also demanding and challenging. TUJ will give you an educational experience you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Future Careers
With regard to future careers, the international affairs major is specifically designed to prepare students for work with globally oriented employers. Equipped with the combination of broad understanding of the global system as a whole, as well as particularly detailed knowledge of East Asia, our graduates are of particular interest to large international companies with a presence in Asia, as well as to government agencies and transnational nongovernmental organizations. The emphasis that our upper-level courses place on independent research and intensive debate of contemporary political controversies is also ideal preparation for postgraduate research in the field of international politics.
Coordinator Interview
Understanding InternationalAffairs in East Asia and the world
Student Interviews
Student Voice
Marie-Claire Bagazonzya
Ugandan
Transferred from Temple Main Campus in Philadelphia
Internship with Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
At the end of my sophomore year, I decided on International Affairs as my major, but Temple Main Campus did not have it. Fortunately, TUJ did, so here I am. Coming to Tokyo was scary and exciting. TUJ is a lot smaller than Main Campus so it is easier to get to know people and find your way around. Also, people at TUJ are friendly and eager to help. I like the class sizes as well. It allows for easier discussions between students and the professor. For my internship, I worked in Public Relations at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. I collected stories about Afghanistan for the embassy’s website as well as their newsletter. I also helped write speeches and press releases. It was a very rewarding experience. I learned it takes all staff working together for an embassy to function smoothly. I also had the opportunity to learn more about Afghanistan – its food, its culture and the language. After TUJ, I would like to go to graduate school for human rights and development, or work with an international non-profit organization.