Contemporary Asian Studies


Faculty List

Professors Emeriti 
Victor Falkenheim (East Asian Studies/Political Science) 
Hy Van Luong (Anthropology) 

University Professor 
Tania Li (Anthropology) 

Professors 
Zaheer Baber (Sociology, University of Toronto Scarborough) 
Jacques Bertrand (Political Science) 
Loren Brandt (Economics) 
Eric Cazdyn (East Asian Studies) 
Amrita Daniere (Geography/Planning) 
Takashi Fujitani (History) 
Ping-Chun Hsiung (Social Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough) 
Yoonjung Kang (French and Linguistics) 
Bonnie McElhinny (Anthropology) 
Ito Peng (Sociology) 
Katharine Rankin (Geography) 
Atsuko Sakaki (East Asian Studies) 
Rachel Silvey (Geography) 
Jesook Song (Anthropology) 
Andre Sorensen (Social Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough) 
Ka Tat Tsang (Social Work) 
Joseph Wong (Political Science) 
Jia-Lin Xie (Rotman School of Management) 
Lisa Yoneyama (East Asian Studies) 
Xiaodong Zhu (Economics) 

Associate Professors 
Aisha Ahmad (Political Science) 
Ruoyun Bai (Global Asia Studies, University of Toronto Scarborough) 
Joshua Barker (Anthropology) 
Ritu Birla (History) 
Alana Boland (Geography) 
Li Chen (Global Asia Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga) 
Carol Chin (History) 
Hae Yeon Choo (Sociology) 
Francis Cody (Anthropology/Asian Institute) 
Naisargi Dave (Anthropology) 
Arti Dhand (Religion) 
Christoph Emmrich (Religion) 
Xing Fan (Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies) 
Diana Fu (Political Science, University of Toronto Scarborough) 
Frances Garrett (Religion) 
Kanishka Goonewardena (Geography) 
Yi Gu (Art History, University of Toronto Scarborough) 
Kajri Jain (Visual Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga) 
Beatrice Jauregui (Criminology and Sociolegal Studies) 
Raji Jayaraman (Economics and Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy) 
Malavika Kasturi (Historical Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga) 
Ken Kawashima (East Asian Studies) 
Tong Lam (Historical Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga) 
Yoonkyung Lee (Sociology) 
Phillip Lipscy (Political Science, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy) 
Sida Liu (Sociology) 
Ken MacDonald (Social Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough) 
Mark Manger (Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy) 
Lisa Mar (History, University College) 
Heather Miller (Anthropology) 
Kanta Murali (Political Science) 
Rajashree Narayanareddy (Geography) 
Lynette Ong (Political Science/Asian Institute) 
Joshua Pilzer (Music) 
Janet Poole (East Asian Studies) 
Jennifer Purtle (Art History) 
Bhavani Raman (Historical and Cultural Studies, University of Toronto Scarborough) 
Srilata Raman (Religion) 
Ajay Rao (Religion) 
Karen Ruffle (Religion) 
Izumi Sakamoto (Social Work) 
Shiho Satsuka (Anthropology) 
Andre Schmid (East Asian Studies) 
J. Barton Scott (Religion) 
Jayeeta Sharma (History, University of Toronto Scarborough) 
Neera Singh (Geography) 
Shafique Virani (Historical Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga) 
Yvon Wang (History)
Yiching Wu (East Asian Studies/Asian Institute) 
Sherry Yu (Arts, Culture and Media, University of Toronto Scarborough) 
Meng Yue (East Asian Studies) 
Jun Zhang (Geography) 
Weiguo Zhang (Sociology, University of Toronto Mississauga) 
Yurou Zhong (East Asian Studies) 

Assistant Professors 
Michelle Cho (East Asian Studies) 
Yujeong Choi (East Asian Studies) 
Cindy Ewing (History) 
Elisa Freschi (Philosophy) 
Alessandro Graheli (Historical Studies, University of Toronto Mississauga) 
Anup Grewal (Cultural and Historical Studies, University of Toronto Scarborough) 
Rijuta Mehta (English) 
Libby Mills (Religion) 
Shivaji Mukherjee (Political Science, University of Toronto Mississauga) 
Tahseen Shams (Sociology) 
Nidhi Subramanyam (Geography) 
Wen-Ching Sung (Anthropology) 
Julie Vig (Religion) 
Matthew Walton (Political Science) 
Elizabeth Wijaya (Visual Studies and Cinema Studies) 
Shana Ye (Women and Gender Studies, University of Toronto Scarborough) 

Adjunct Professors 
Deepali Dewan (Royal Ontario Museum) 
Wendy Dobson (Rotman School of Management) 

Introduction

Asia is home to more than half the world’s population. Its cultural and historical complexity is endless, its economic growth unprecedented, and its global influence unmatched.

The Contemporary Asian Studies program (CAS) offers a thematically driven approach to understanding the complexity of issues facing today’s Asia. It examines the linkages between Asia’s history and culture, its emergence on the global stage, and its future in the global arena. CAS courses are distinctly pan-Asian in geographic scope, providing empirical and critical coverage of South, Southeast, and East Asia through multiple disciplinary approaches, including anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, religion, and sociology.

By exposing students to current issues and debates in Asia, the CAS program is designed to prepare students for careers in or about Asia. In addition, the Asian Institute is committed to facilitating overseas experiential learning opportunities, including field schools, international course modules, professional internships, and study abroad opportunities. Upper-level CAS courses are designed to be research-intensive. There is no language requirement for the CAS major or minor. However, students are strongly encouraged to study an Asian language. 1.0 credit in an approved Asian language can be credited towards the major or minor degree.

Students may also be interested in the South Asian Studies minor, which is closely connected with the Contemporary Asian Studies program.

NOTE: Students who wish to count courses towards the CAS major or minor that are not listed as CAS courses or in Group A, B, or C of the program completion requirements (including U of T courses and transfer credits) must seek pre-approval from the program advisor prior to taking the course. Asian content does not guarantee that the course will be approved for CAS program credit.

Contact Information

Rebecca (Jiaying) Bi, Program Advisor
Asian Institute, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy
1 Devonshire Place, room 228N
https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/ai/cas
ai.asianstudies@utoronto.ca  
416-946-8832