Requirements for the Major in Asian Studies
The Asian Studies Major requires the student to select both an area emphasis (e.g., a country— China, Japan, Korea, India, etc.—or region—East, Southeast or South Asia) and a disciplinary emphasis (e.g., art history, economics, history, literature, politics, religious studies, theatre). All courses must be taken for a letter grade to count toward the Asian Studies Major.
Ten courses are required, including Asian Studies ASIA 190 PO - Senior Thesis Seminar and ASIA 191 PO - Senior Thesis , distributed as follows.
- Six courses must be on Asia or have substantive content on Asia. At least one course must be from each of the following groups: (a) art/music/theatre/dance; (b) advanced language/literature; (c) philosophy/religion; and (d) social sciences (anthropology, economics, history, politics, sociology). Three of these courses must be in the selected country or region.
- Two additional courses must be in both the selected geographical area (country or region) and the chosen discipline. At least one of these courses must be a seminar or a discussion-based class other than the Senior Thesis.
- The Senior Seminar and Thesis (ASIA 190 PO and ASIA 191 PO ) must be taken in the senior year. Majors conduct research and complete a thesis in their respective disciplines or multidisciplinary fields and on their chosen country or region
In addition, at least two years’ (or equivalent) study of Chinese, Japanese or Korean is required of students emphasizing East Asia, China, Japan or Korea; others are encouraged to study the relevant Asian language when such courses are appropriate (and available) to their overall plan.
A period of residence in China, Japan or another Asian country is normally required. A semester of study abroad should normally follow the fourth semester (or equivalent) of language instruction in an Asian language.
Asian studies majors are asked to submit a proposed program of study to the Asian studies coordinator no later than the fall semester of their junior year.
In conjunction with the Gender & Women’s Studies Program, a joint major in gender & women’s studies (GWS)/Asian studies is offered that allows students to develop a gender studies perspective in the Asian context. See the Gender & Women’s Studies Program for details.
