Asian Studies students are required to complete two years of language training in addition to a rigorous program of classes covering several disciplines and national traditions. Chinese and Japanese are taught through the fifth year and Korean through the fourth year through the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures (EALL). Language acquisition and instruction are facilitated by the extensive collection of audio, video, and computer software media available to faculty members and students at the university’s Yamada Language Center.

Regional Focus

Pick a regional focus where a language you want to study is spoken, because the language requirement for the major encourages you to take two years of a language related to your chosen regional focus. Click each option to see a list of currently approved courses for each regional focus:

• China
• Japan
• Korea
• Southeast Asia
• South Asia

Thematic Focus

We’ve compiled course lists for the following options:

• Art
• Economics & Business
• Film
• Linguistics
• Literature
• Pop Culture
• Religion
• War & International Relations

If you have another idea for a thematic focus not listed here, prepare a list of Asian Studies-related courses also related to the theme you’re considering and take that to your next advising meeting for consideration.

Course Requirements

Students must fulfill the following credit requirements:

• 48 credits total are required for the Asian studies major.
• 40 of the 48 credits must be upper-division (300- or 400-level).
• 40 of the 48 credits must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C- or better. (Up to 8 credits may be taken pass/no pass.)

ASIA 350 What is Asia? (4 credits): Required course for all Asian studies majors. This course is an interdisciplinary seminar designed to introduce students to current theoretical debates about Asia, modernization, and area studies.

Regional focus coursework: Up to 15 credits of upper-division (300- or 400-level) Asian language courses related to the regional focus may be used toward either the social sciences or humanities requirement.

• History (8 credits): Two courses related to chosen regional focus, usually with “HIST” prefix.
• Social sciences (8 credits): Two social sciences courses related to chosen regional focus.
• Humanities (8 credits): Two humanities courses related to chosen regional focus.

Thematic focus courses (12 credits): Three courses related to Asian Studies in one discipline or theme. Thematic focus courses do not need to be in the chosen regional focus.

Regional breadth course (4 credits): One course in Asian studies outside of the chosen regional focus; may include lower-division language courses of a second Asian language.

Language requirement: Two years of a language related to the chosen regional focus.

Other elective courses: At least 4 credits.