How do I become an Asian Studies Major?

Once you have determined that Asian Studies will be your major work with your advisor to complete the major declaration for Asian Studies. Take that form along with the completed field of study declaration form to the Asian Studies department chair to sign. AS Program Coordinator, Becky Duckett, will make a copy of your forms and take your picture for our bulletin board. You should then take both completed and signed forms to the Office of the Assistant Academic Dean, ADM 204

Major Requirements

About the Major

A student can arrange an interdisciplinary major in Asian Studies comprised of eight to eleven courses from those listed below. Students will focus on South Asia, China, or Japan, but their studies will also include the other two areas. They are expected to maintain a disciplinary balance including one course from each of the following four disciplinary fields: history, the social sciences, philosophy or religion and arts or literature.

An Asian Studies Colloquium and Advanced Seminar are required of all majors. The Colloquium should be completed within two semesters of declaring the major.

Majors focusing on China or Japan are required to enroll through the 201 level in the appropriate language. This course will be included in the major requirements. Majors focusing on India are encouraged, though not required, to study Hindi.

Majors may elect to focus on Chinese or Japanese language within the major by completing six semesters of either language. Majors focusing on language may opt to select courses from three rather than four disciplinary fields, though they must fulfill the regional distribution requirement by completing at least one course each on South Asia, China, and Japan.

Students may also combine their interests in Asian studies and another subject to form a double major. For example, a business student might find the study of Chinese or Japanese culture beneficial in preparation for a career in international business; the same might be said of students in history or political science who are interested in intercultural studies. As an interdisciplinary program, the Asian studies major offers a high level of flexibility in terms of intellectual interest and practical application.

Language Courses
CHN 110 Elementary Chinese I
CHN 120  Elementary Chinese II
CHN 201  Intermediate Chinese I
CHN 202  Intermediate Chinese II
CHN 301  Intermediate Chinese III
CHN 302  Intermediate Chinese IV
CHN 401  Advanced Chinese I
CHN 402  Advanced Chinese II
CHN 065  Chinese Language House I
CHN 266  Chinese Language House II
JPN 111  Elementary Japanese I
JPN 120   Elementary Japanese II
JPN 201   Intermediate Japanese I
JPN 202   Intermediate Japanese II
JPN 301   Intermediate Japanese III
JPN 302   Intermediate Japanese IV
JPN 065   Japanese Language House  I
JPN 266   Japanese Language House II
HND 101  Beginning Hindi

Foundations in Asian Studies
ANT-204 Modern Japanese Society through Films
ART-263 Arts of Japan
ART-264 ) Arts of China
HST-155 Ancient and Early South Asia
HST-156 Modern South Asia
HST-161 Ancient and Early Japan
HST-162 Modern China
HST-165 Ancient and Imperial China
HST-166 Modern China
CHN-220 Survey of Chinese Culture
CHN-230 Survey of Chinese Literature
CHN-235 Classic Chinese Fiction
CHN-245 Twentieth Century Chinese

Literature
JPN-235 Classical Japanese Literature
JPN-245 Modern Japanese Literature
PHL-230 Indian Philosophy
PHL-240 Chinese Philosophy
PHL-250 Japanese Philosophy
PSC-226 Politics of China
PSC-229 Politics of Asia
REL-223 Introduction to Hinduism
REL-224 Introduction to Buddhism
REL-227 Religions of South Asia

Advanced Course Offerings
AS-300 Asian Studies Colloquium
ECN-243 Economic Growth and Development
ECN-249 Asian Economics
ECN-251 Economics of China
CHN-320 Travel Study in Chinese Culture
ENG-471 South Asian Cultural Studies: Literature and Film
ENG-473 Gender in South Asian Literature and Film
HST-256 Gender History of South Asia
HST-260 Courtiers& Warriors in Japan
HST-263 The Atomic Bomb
HST-264 Gender and Technology in East Asia
PSC-243 Issues in Chinese Politics
REL-325 Women and Power in Hinduism

Asian Studies (AST) Courses
280  Ramayana GER: WC (World Cultures) and UQ (Ultimate Questions)
470  Seminar in Asian Studies
504  Directed Independent Study