Asian Studies Major, BA

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The Asian Studies Program is an interdisciplinary program focusing on a region currently undergoing a dramatic economic, political, and social transformation. The program provides students with a grasp of the region’s diversity while emphasizing the interactive nature of an overarching community of nations and their global connections. Careers in international business, government service, and education can be augmented by preparation in Asian Studies. The program also serves as an excellent preparation for graduate study in various academic and professional fields.

Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Explain the Asian region’s diversity;
Articulate the values of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the Asian region;
Recognize and relate the interactive nature of the Asian region and its global connections;
Analyze and assess regional and international issues from multiple perspectives other than their own;
Develop a working familiarity with one Asian language and articulate the importance of language in shaping culture and society.

Required Courses Credits: 23

AST 102 - Introduction to Asian Studies Credits: (5)
AST 401 - Asian Studies Capstone Credits: (3)

First-year Chinese

CHIN 151 - First-year Chinese Credits: (5)
CHIN 152 - First-year Chinese Credits: (5)
CHIN 153 - First-year Chinese Credits: (5)

OR

First-year Japanese

JAPN 151 - First-year Japanese Credits: (5)
JAPN 152 - First-year Japanese Credits: (5)
JAPN 153 - First-year Japanese Credits: (5)

OR

Elementary Korean

KRN 151 - Elementary Korean I Credits: (5)
KRN 152 - Elementary Korean II Credits: (5)
KRN 153 - Elementary Korean III Credits: (5)

Department-Approved Electives Credits: 39-42

Choose a total of nine courses from the following list with a minimum of one course from each of the three groups. For students with second majors, elective courses may not be chosen from that major.

(Note: Other courses may be included with advisor’s approval)

Group 1 (Social Sciences)

ANTH 344 - Cultures of Asia Credits: (4)
ANTH 345 - Cultures of Southeast Asia and Oceania Credits: (4)
AST 310 - Japan Today Credits: (3)
AST 333 - Southeast Asia and Its Diasporas Credits: (5)
AST 348 - Contemporary China Credits: (4)
AST 350 - Korea Now Credits: (5)
AST 378 - Islam and Asia Credits: (5)
GEOG 375 - Geography of Asia Credits: (4)

Group 2 (Aesthetic Experience)

In the case of second year languages, students may choose only one language.

AST 301 - Chinese Literature in Translation Credits: (5)
CHIN 251 - Second-year Chinese Credits: (5)
CHIN 252 - Second-year Chinese Credits: (5)
CHIN 253 - Second-year Chinese Credits: (5)
ENG 333 - Asian American Literature and Cultures Credits: (5)
JAPN 251 - Second-year Japanese Credits: (5)
JAPN 252 - Second-year Japanese Credits: (5)
JAPN 253 - Second-year Japanese Credits: (5)
KRN 251 - Intermediate Korean I Credits: (5)
KRN 252 - Intermediate Korean II Credits: (5)
KRN 253 - Intermediate Korean III Credits: (5)
KRN 311 - Korean Cinema and Visual Culture Credits: (5)

Group 3 (Humanities)

HIST 380 - Modern East Asia Credits: (5)
HIST 383 - East Asian Civilization Credits: (5)
HIST 468 - Modern Japanese History: Tradition and Change Credits: (5)
HIST 477 - Vietnam: Revolution in Full Circle Credits: (5)
HIST 479 - History of Korea Credits: (5)
HIST 483 - Modern China Credits: (5)
HIST 485 - Trauma, History, and Memory in East Asia Credits: (5)
PHIL 345 - Philosophies of China and Japan Credits: (5)
PHIL 346 - Philosophies of India Credits: (5)
RELS 301 - The Daoist Tradition Credits: (5)
RELS 303 - Buddhist Thought and Practice Credits: (5)
RELS 350 - Korean Religion and Philosophy Credits: (5)
RELS 351 - Religions of China and Japan Credits: (5)

Total Credits: 62-65

College and Department Information

Asian Studies Program
College of Arts and Humanities

Online Availability
The program does not have a designated online only option.

Program Codes
ASST, ASSTP