The East and Southeast Asia Program
The East and Southeast Asia Program equips students with the skills, knowledge, and cultural fluency to shape strategy and drive innovation in some of the world’s fastest-growing, most technologically advanced markets. Through intensive language study in Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean, interdisciplinary coursework, and international immersions, students gain a deep understanding of the cultural norms, business practices, and geopolitical dynamics shaping commerce and innovation across the region.
Choose from
JAPANESE – KOREAN – MANDARIN
MANDARIN
In addition to language, what do I study in the Mandarin Track?
Topics of study are highlighted below in relation to the Lauder Institute’s four geopolitical themes. This is not a complete list, nor is this how the courses are structured. These topics will be covered during the 2-year degree, and in the target language of Mandarin. Syllabi are subject to change.
Strategic Decision-Making in a Multipolar World
Examine China’s evolving role in a shifting global order, analyzing political tensions and trade disputes with the U.S. and Africa alongside complex regional relationships with India and Japan. Investigate how Chinese corporations navigate the complex strategic challenges of global expansion, balancing market competition, regulation, and national priorities.
Data-Driven Societies and Economies
Learn about the widespread adoption of mobile payment systems and digital access, examining the impact on commerce, financial inclusion, and daily life. Analyze how artificial intelligence has created new ecosystems of innovation, reshaping industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and public services.
Economic Inclusion and Development
Examine the systemic risks of China’s aging population and the challenges faced by urban, college-educated youth in a competitive labor market. Explore how large-scale poverty-reduction initiatives have transformed rural-urban dynamics, and their broader impact on development policies.
Resource Management and Interdependencies
Learn how China integrates environmental sustainability with economic development. Study the country’s renewable energy revolution, including the adoption of solar and wind technologies, and investigate how digital platforms encourage citizens to participate in climate-mitigation efforts.
JAPANESE
In addition to language, what do I study in the Japanese Track?
Topics of study are highlighted below in relation to the Lauder Institute’s four geopolitical themes. This is not a complete list, nor is this how the courses are structured. These topics will be covered during the 2-year degree, and in the target language of Japanese. Syllabi are subject to change.
Strategic Decision-Making in a Multipolar World
Examine how free trade frameworks highlight Japan’s influence in multilateral cooperation and underscore Japan’s role in managing regional market stability. Assess how constitutional debates and evolving security policies affect Japan’s geopolitical positioning. Explore how agencies like JETRO and JICA leverage sustainability initiatives, from fair trade to women’s empowerment, to advance Japan’s influence in emerging markets.
Data-Driven Societies and Economies
Learn how Japan integrates artificial intelligence in mobility and security while navigating cultural attitudes toward privacy and trust. Analyze the country’s media landscape, from the challenges of misinformation to the global reach of anime and gaming as carriers of Japanese values and social narratives. Investigate Japan’s digital transformation (DX), focusing on adoption hurdles and their implications for innovation, governance, and competitiveness.
Economic Inclusion and Development
Examine how Zen principles of balance and resilience translate into sustainable leadership and organizational practices. Examine Sanpo Yoshi, a centuries-old model of stakeholder capitalism that prioritizes shared value across companies and communities, and assess the economic impact of Japan’s aging population alongside strategies to sustain workforce participation and social well-being.
Resource Management and Interdependencies
Explore how Japan balances cultural heritage, environmental stewardship, and resource security. Discover how the tradition of Japanese gardens and water landscapes reflects a long-standing ethic of harmony with nature and informs modern conservation efforts. Examine the country’s approach to nuclear energy alongside broader energy-policy concerns, and assess national strategies to address low food self-sufficiency and high food waste.
KOREAN
In addition to language, what do I study in the Korean Track?
Topics of study are highlighted below in relation to the Lauder Institute’s four geopolitical themes. This is not a complete list, nor is this how the courses are structured. These topics will be covered during the 2-year degree, and in the target language of Korean. Syllabi are subject to change.
Strategic Decision-Making in a Multipolar World
Examine how South Korea’s party politics influence policymaking and economic priorities. Assess Seoul’s diplomatic strategies with the U.S. and North Korea—including debates on security cooperation and prospects for unification—and consider how these dynamics affect regional stability, market access, and trade relations.
Data-Driven Societies and Economies
Explore the rise of one-person media and the influence of YouTube algorithms on Korean media consumption. Analyze how digital governance efforts—such as regulations on mukbang culture—reflect tensions between free speech and public health.
Economic Inclusion and Development
Delve into Korea’s approach to balancing growth with equity. Study educational inequality and elitism, private-tutoring reforms, and their impact on access to opportunity. Learn how working-hour reduction policies affect productivity, corporate culture, and labor rights, and how immigration and multiculturalism policies influence workforce dynamics and identity.
Resource Management and Interdependencies
Analyze how Korea is advancing carbon neutrality and tackling plastic waste as it moves toward cleaner energy. Examine the economic effects of real-estate market polarization, including housing shortages and regional rent disparities. Explore the globalization of K-food industries as an example of culture as commodity.
Tiffany Yuan
Mandarin Track
“The Mandarin Program has made me a stronger communicator in both formal and informal settings. This past year, I conducted research in Mandarin in China—something I could not have done before. Classes have deepened my understanding of Chinese history and culture, from economic policies to demographic shifts, giving me greater insight into the region and helping me feel more connected to my own culture.”
Revant Ranjan
Japanese Track
“My experience in the Japanese program has been transformative. The summer immersion brought classroom learning to life—from performing taki-gyō under the guidance of a Shinto priest at Mount Mitake to engaging with entrepreneurs and policymakers driving innovation in Tokyo. The program fosters linguistic and cultural fluency, and provides the analytical toolkit necessary to uncover business opportunities in Japan.”
Emily Kim
Korean Track
“I chose Lauder to build the confidence needed to operate in complex international settings. The Korean program has delivered, providing not only the language skills but also the deep cultural context behind current events and business trends. I’m leaving not just with a degree, but with the practical tools and credibility needed for a successful international career.”
Language Requirements
For admission, applicants must test at the Advanced-Low level or above on the OPI in their Target Language. Those who attain Superior level during their degree may take School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) electives in lieu of Lauder Institute (INTS-Language and Culture) courses.
Degree Requirements
Lauder Institute students need 14 credit units (CUs) to graduate with a Masters in International Studies. Program of Concentration courses account for 5 CUs. Learn more about our curriculum structure and the specific requirements for degree completion.
Are You Ready?
Are you ready to take your career to the next level with the Lauder Institute joint-degree? Get in touch with our admissions team or click below to sign up for an admissions info session.
