Global Asia Studies is a new area-focused, inter-disciplinary
undergraduate program at UTSC, which is proposed to begin from the
academic session of Fall 2009. It is committed to cutting-edge Humanities scholarship that places Asia within a global context. The last few decades have witnessed the growing importance of China, India, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and other parts of Asia in the world’s geopolitical and economic spheres. Contacts and cultural exchanges between North America and Asia are increasing in scope in every sphere. The commencement of The Global Asia Studies Program at UTSC aims to meet the rising demand for knowledge about Asian societies, cultures, and contemporary politics. This program works closely with other Humanities disciplines and faculty to meet the distinct needs and experiences of UTSC students. It is a minor, major, and specialist program being developed in close correspondence with other disciplines in Humanities and beyond.

Global Asia Studies is a program that speaks to the uniqueness of UTSC as a campus and Scarborough as a community. It aims to offer a cohesive and constantly renewed curriculum that presents an open and accessible interpretation of Asia in the World. Faculty expertise extends into the fields of history, law, languages, literature, media, politics, religion, and visual culture.

Global Asia Studies Full-time Humanities Faculty:

Ruoyun Bai, M.A. (Beijing Foreign Studies University), Ph.D (Illinois), Assistant Professor: Area of Expertise: East Asia, Media and Culture

Li Chen, M.A. (SUNY Buffalo), M.A., M.Ph., Ph.D Candidate (Columbia), J.D. (Illinois), Assistant Professor: Area of Expertise: East Asia, History

Jayeeta Sharma, M.A. (Delhi), M. Phil. (Delhi), Ph.D. (Cantab), Assistant Professor: Area of Expertise: South Asia, History

Henry Shiu, M.A., Ph.D. (Toronto), Assistant Professor: Area of Expertise: South and East Asia, Religion

Helen Wu, M.A., Ph.D. (Toronto), Senior Lecturer: Area of Expertise: East Asia, Language

Global Asia Studies Languages Teaching Faculty:

N. Hermes, B.A. (Tunis), M.A. (Northern Iowa), Lecturer: Area of Expertise: Arabic

L. Mills, B.Sc. (London), B.A. (Oxford), D.Litt Candidate (Oxford), Lecturer: Area of Expertise: Sanskrit

N. Sajid, B.A., M.A., M. Phil. (JNU), Ph.D Candidate (Western Ontario), Lecturer: Area of Expertise: Hindi

S. Wang, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., (Hawai'i), Lecturer: Area of Expertise: Chinese