Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (Doctoral Program) | APU Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

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.

24 Students
109 Alumni
15 Countries and Regions
Represented by GSAD
Students
35 Average Age

FACULTY AND THEIR RESEARCH FIELDS

BUI Thanh Huong

Human Geography, Social Psychology, Tourism Management and Development, Sustainability and Resilience
GHOTBI Nader

Public Health and Epidemiology, Health Economics, Environmental Economics, Ethics and Philosophy, Bioethics
HAN Ji

Urban Ecology, Material Metabolism, Low-carbon City/Transport, Livable City, Circular Economy, Ecosystem Services, GIS and Remote Sensing
IGUCHI Yufu

Gender Studies, Cultural Studies, Southeast Asian Studies (Malaysian Studies), Intellectual History
JONES Thomas Edward

Environmental Policy, Nature-Based Tourism, Protected Areas, Regional Development
KASEDA Yoshinori

Politics, International Relations
KIKKAWA Takuro

Politics, Area Studies, International Relations
KIM Sangho

Theoretical Economics, Econometrics, Applied Economics, Economic Policy
KIMURA Rikio

Social Welfare and Social Work Studies, Area Studies, Sociology of Education, Education
LI Yan

Environmental Policy, City Planning, Regional Planning, Traffic Engineering, Social System Engineering
MANTELLO Peter A.

Artificial Intelligence, Chatbots, Human-Machine Relations, Emotional AI, Malicious AI, Surveillance Systems, Predictive Policing, Videogame Theory, Conflict Media
MEIRMANOV Serik

General Life Science, Social Psychology, Human Genetics, Human Pathology, Public Hygiene Studies/Health Science
NATSUDA Kaoru

International Development Studies, International Political Economy, Economic Policy, Industrial Development, Rural and Community Development, Automotive Industry, Apparel Industry
OTSUKA Kozo

Applied Economics
PISHVA Davar

Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs), Simulation and Modeling (SaM), Decision Science (DS)
SATO Yoichiro

Politics, International Relations
SUZUKI Yasushi

Fiscal Studies/Finance Theory, Theoretical Economics, Institutional Economics, Political Economy
Doctoral supervision available only for students that have completed their master's thesis under the professor's supervision
TODOROKI Hiroshi

Geography, Area Studies, Human Geography
VAFADARI M. Kazem

Cultural Heritage Management, Ecotourism, Agriculture Heritage Tourism, Community Based Tourism and Rural Tourism
YAMAGATA Tatsufumi

Development Economics, Textile Industry, Bangladeshi Economy, Health and Development, Disability and Development
YAMASHITA Hiromi

Environmental Sociology, Environmental Communication, Public Participation in Decision Making, Coastal Wetlands Restoration Projects, Ramsar Convention and Local Implementation
YOSHIDA Kaori

Media Studies (Representation Politics: Gender, Ethnicity, Nation), Cultural Studies, Popular Culture, Comparative Culture Studies
YOSHIMATSU Hidetaka

International Relations, International Political Economy, Regional Studies (East Asia)
YOTSUMOTO Yukio

Sociology, Tourism
LE Hoang Anh Thu

Cultural Anthropology, Folklore Studies
ROTHMAN Steven B.

International Relations Theory, International Policy Making, International Environmental Policy, Subject Pedagogy
SUN Yiyang

Information Network, Web Informatics, Service Informatics, Management, Commerce
VYAS Utpal

Area Studies (East Asia), Area Studies (European Union), Politics, International Relations, Political Economy
YAMAURA Koichi

Food and Agricultural Economics, Environmental Economics
YOUN Seung Ho

Tourism Studies, Social Psychology

Faculty Supervision Request Form

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

“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.”