#  Committee on Regional Studies East Asia 

 



##  RSEA Master's Degree Program 

[Our History](https://rsea.fas.harvard.edu/history-rsea)



 

 

 

       ![Classroom scene](/sites/g/files/omnuum8766/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2026-03/Classroom%20scene.png?itok=rVW-g-OX) 

 

 



 

 



 

The Regional Studies East Asia (RSEA) Program is a vibrant interdisciplinary area studies master's degree program designed to accommodate a wide range of interests and needs for graduate training in the languages, societies and cultures of East Asia. The program affords students interested in a professional career of engagement with Asia an opportunity to pursue a flexible and varied course of instruction related to their career interests; it also serves the needs of students who wish to enter a Ph.D. program but require further background training in the field of East Asian studies. A Master's degree in Regional Studies East Asia prepares students for careers in higher education, politics, the military, journalism, international organizations and the business and financial sectors.

The RSEA program dates back to 1946, when renowned China scholar John King Fairbank launched a full-time seminar leading to a master’s degree known as Regional Studies China; the seminar was later expanded to include Japan, Korea and Vietnam, and became the A.M. program known as Regional Studies East Asia.

For more than three quarters of a century, the RSEA program has had a transformative effect on the field of East Asian Studies and produced over a thousand alumni. Many of RSEA's alumni have achieved distinction in the academic world or in the world of public service.



 

  [### Mission and Vision

 ](/mission-and-vision) 

   ![walden pond water](/sites/g/files/omnuum8766/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/6BD27AD9-246F-4D88-B157-699B850AF29B_1_105_c.jpeg?itok=jK1ApTg1) 

 

 

 

  [### Admissions

 ](/admissions) 

   ![GSAS Flag outside of Lehman Hall](/sites/g/files/omnuum8766/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/042823_Lehman3%201.jpg?h=5ded97e9&itok=94w8EOkk) 

 

 

 

  [### Academics

 ](/program-degree-requirements) 

   ![audience members of 75th symposium](/sites/g/files/omnuum8766/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/75th%20Symposium_Rebecca%20Choong%20Wilkins.jpg?itok=DoD62Vof) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  [### Concurrent Degree in RSEA

 ](https://rsea.fas.harvard.edu/harvard-college-concurrent-degree)The Griffin School of Arts and Sciences offers Harvard College students the opportunity to pursue an RSEA master's degree concurrently with their bachelor's degree.



 

   ![Harvard gate in Fall](/sites/g/files/omnuum8766/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/Harvard%20Gate%20-%20Fall_vertical%20card.jpeg?h=73e8bef6&itok=aNJZHnO9) 

 

 

 

  [### Donate to support RSEA Students!

 ](https://community.alumni.harvard.edu/give/51694660)Your gift will directly support the academic and professional growth of our students.



 

   ![forget-me-nots](/sites/g/files/omnuum8766/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/3274afc3-714c-4507-a400-152ae4ba5e67.jpg?itok=PJMZLku7) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

##  Latest News 

 



  [### 29th Harvard East Asia Society (HEAS) Conference

 ](/news/2026/03/29th-harvard-east-asia-society-heas-conference) March 31, 2026 

 

   ![Collage of HEAS speakers and attendees 2026](/sites/g/files/omnuum8766/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/HEAS%202026%20Photo%20Collage%202.png?h=2fb92a48&itok=upetFrFQ) 

 



 

 

   [### Harvard Art Museum exhibit highlights Wendy Wu's ('25) contribution

 ](/news/2026/03/harvard-art-museum-exhibit-highlights-wendy-wus-25-contribution) March 04, 2026 

 

   ![Wendy Wu's Sackler exhibit](/sites/g/files/omnuum8766/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/Wendy%20Wu_Sackler%20exhibit_thumbnail.jpeg?h=e7b83e68&itok=Kcse83Jl) 

 



 

 

   [### Congratulations to our February Graduate - Yuehan Yin!

 ](/news/2026/03/congratulations-our-february-graduate-yuehan-yin) March 02, 2026 

 

   ![Yuehan Yin Graduate Announcement](/sites/g/files/omnuum8766/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/Feb%202026%20Yuehan%20Yin%20Graduate%20Announcement.png?h=5a6a0578&itok=S5vDXmQm) 

 



 

 

   [### Congratulations to our May 2026 Graduates!

 ](/news/2026/03/congratulations-our-may-2026-graduates) March 02, 2026 

 

   ![Yuehan Yin Graduate Announcement](/sites/g/files/omnuum8766/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-03/Feb%202026%20Yuehan%20Yin%20Graduate%20Announcement.png?h=5a6a0578&itok=S5vDXmQm) 

 



 

 

  

 

 [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/news) 

 

 

 

       ![RSEA students in Beijing_2025_QUI,Ziyu](/sites/g/files/omnuum8766/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2025-07/RSEA%20students%20in%20Beijing_2025_QUI%2CZiyu.jpeg?h=5171a2e1&itok=nwz25Nlm)