Graduate School of
Asia Pacific Studies (Doctoral)
DOCTORAL PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The developing world is in great need of internationally-minded individuals possessing specialized knowledge and skills. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly common for international aid organizations to enlist the professional guidance of doctoral graduates. The doctoral program aims to produce independent individuals capable of conducting high-level research. This involves gaining expertise in theoretical and empirical approaches for investigation, acquiring in-depth knowledge of the Asia Pacific region, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing practical solutions for complicated issues in a comprehensive and integrative manner. Alumni of this program become distinguished leaders and take on prominent roles in advanced institutions for research and higher education around the world.
Asia Pacific Studies
| Degree | Doctor of Philosophy in Asia Pacific Studies |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Semesters | April, September |
| Program Duration | 3 years* |
| Yearly Intake | 10 students |
*Accelerated completion in 2 years may be possible upon further examination after enrollment. The total tuition for the program will not change even if you complete your degree before the standard period of completion
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
*Current as of the 2022 academic year.
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24
Students
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109
Alumni
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15
Countries and Regions
Represented by GSAD
Students -
35
Average Age
FACULTY AND THEIR RESEARCH FIELDS
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BUI Thanh Huong
Tourism, Sustainability, and Resilience, Resource Management, Environmental Economics
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CHEN Ching-Chang
area studies (East Asia); comparative politics; conflict resolution; international relations theory; security studies (critical); sociology of knowledge
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GHOTBI Nader
Cross-Cultural Bioethics, Ethics of Technology (AI, EAI, etc.), Inclusive Education (Higher Education, HE)
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HAN Ji
Urban Ecology, Material Metabolism, Low-carbon City/Transport, Livable City, Circular Economy, Ecosystem Services, GIS and Remote Sensing
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HU Feiyu
Public Health, Information System, Geographic Information, Big Data, Large Language Model, Mathematical Modeling, AI agent
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IGUCHI Yufu
Gender Studies, Cultural Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, Malaysian Studies
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JONES Thomas Edward
Human Geography, Conservation, Protected Area Management
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KASEDA Yoshinori
Japanese Foreign Policy, International Politics with a regional focus on East Asia
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KIKKAWA Takuro
Comparative Politics (Inc. Political System, Policy Analysis, Foreign and Security Policies)), IR, History, and Area Studies (the Middle East)
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KIMURA Rikio
NGO, Social Enterprise, Community Development, Adult Learning, Pedagogy, Organizational Development and Leadership
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MAHICHI Faezeh
Inclusive Environmental Citizenship Education, Circular Bioeconomy, Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Food Systems, Regenerative Agriculture, Decrease of Humanity’s Ecological Footprint, Community-based Environmental Actions
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MANTELLO Peter A.
Artificial Intelligence, Social Media, Media and Politics, Videogame Theory, Political Communication, Political Visual Communication, Technology and Culture
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MEIRMANOV Serik
General Life Science, Social Psychology, Human Genetics, Human Pathology, Public Hygiene Studies/Health Science, International Education
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NATSUDA Kaoru
International Development, International Political Economy, Policy Studies
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NISHIZAKI Yoshinori
Comparative politics, Southeast Asia
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OHASHI Hiroaki
Urban and Regional Planning, Spatial Planning and Policy, Urban (Re)development and Design, Sustainable and Resilient Development
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OTSUKA Kozo
Productivity, Innovations, Economic Growth
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PISHVA Davar
Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs), Simulation and Modeling (SaM), Decision Science (DS)
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ROTHMAN Steven B.
International Relations Theory, International Cooperation, Regime Theory, Soft Power, Pedagogy
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SATO Yoichiro
Foreign Policy Analysis, Security, International Political Economy, Fishery Policy, Comparative Politics
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SHIMOMURA Ken-Ichi
Economic Theory, Industrial Organization
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SUZUKI Yasushi
Political Economy; Law and Economics; Comparative Economic and Financial Systems; Financial Development; History of Political Economy Thought; Theories of Rent and Rent-Seeking; Institutional Change; Philosophy of Economics.
Doctoral supervision available only for students that have completed their master's thesis under the professor's supervision
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TODOROKI Hiroshi
Tourism Geography, Area Studies
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VAFADARI M. Kazem
Tourism Policy and Planning Food Tourism Agritourism Rural Tourism and Development Heritage Tourism Ecotourism
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YAMAGATA Tatsufumi
Development Economics, Development Studies
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YAMASHITA Hiromi
Environmental Sociology, Environmental Communication, Risk Study, Public Perceptions on Nature Restoration Projects (Green Infrastructures, Nature Based Solutions), Costal Wetlands Management and Conservation (including tidal flats, mangroves, beaches), Community Participation in Decision Making, Consensus Building on Infrastructure Building in Coastal Communities
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YAMAURA Koichi
Disaster-induced preference changes and their dynamic economy-wide Impacts, in the fields of agricultural and environmental economics
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YOSHIDA Kaori
Media studies, Cultural Studies (Gender, Ethnicity, Nation), Popular Culture, Dark Tourism, Memory Studies, Identity Politics and Media
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YOSHIMATSU Hidetaka
International Relations, International Political Economy, Regional Studies (East Asia)
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YOTSUMOTO Yukio
Community Based Tourism, Sociology of Tourism
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GOMEZ Oscar A.
International Cooperation, Human Security, Global Governance
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KOJIMA Shinji
Social inequality, Class, Sociology of Work, Labor Issues, Migration, Multiculturalism, Globalization and Transnationalism, Sociology of Culture, Ethnographic and Qualitative research methods
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LE Hoang Anh Thu
Anthropology, Southeast Asian Studies, Vietnamese Studies, Ageing and Lifecourse, Rreligion and Society, Urban Subcultures, Philanthropy
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MATSUO Yuji
Energy System Modeling, Energy Policy Analysis, Renewable Energies, Nuclear Power
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SUN Yiyang
Hospitality, Tourism, Information and Communications Technology, Mobile Payment, and Consumer Behavior
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VYAS Utpal
International Relations, International political Economy, Comparative Politics, Area studies and Regionalism (Asia and Europe)
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YOUN Seung Ho
Tourist Behaviour, Experience, Community-Based Tourism, Hospitality Management, Local Tourism Content and Identity Construction
COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT
Completion of the doctoral program requires fulfillment of doctoral coursework in addition to submission and approval of a final dissertation. The dissertation should integrate the results of in-depth investigation into Asia Pacific issues and incorporate individual findings that outline strategic, policy-oriented, and practical solutions to issues arising from current developments in the region. APU provides support for doctoral students conducting field research for their dissertations. Research supervision can be provided in areas such as diversity and integration, environment and development, international political economy, and tourism development.
PH.D. CURRICULUM STRUCTURE
| Lecture Subjects | |
| 1st Year | Seminars, Research Paper (arranged by supervisor) |
| 2nd Year | Seminars, Presentations, Tutorials, Research Paper (arranged by supervisor) |
| 3rd Year | Seminars, Tutorials (arranged by supervisor) |
Dr. Cindy Lyn Banyai (USA, Graduated in 2010)
US Congressional Candidate, Founder and Principal of Banyai Evaluation & Consulting, LLC, and Adjunct Faculty, Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Florida Gulf Coast University, USA
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“Getting my doctorate at APU allowed me to conduct field work both within Japan and throughout Southeast Asia. This research that culminated in my dissertation also lead to additional peer-reviewed publications and my own book. I was fortunate to also work with my supervisor on JICA international development projects, which gave me practical skills in training, evaluation, and program design needed for my career. This experience helped me learn about emergent leadership and gain the global perspective necessary to start my own evaluation and organization development consultancy and contribute to the global community as the representative to the UN for the International Association for Community Development.”