Asian Studies Major

Asian studies offers students a flexible set of course options to explore Asia widely while focusing upon one subregion.

For more information about the program, honors/high honors, transfer credit, etc., visit the Asian studies program page.

Major Requirements

Nine courses are required for the major, of which four courses must be at the 300 or 400 level.

The introductory course may count toward the five courses focused on a single subregion of Asia. Three other courses should be chosen from the list of Governed Electives (below) and may address any region of Asia. Other courses may also serve as electives for this major if they are at the 300 or 400 level and if at least 40 percent of the course and of the student’s work concerns Asia. Students must gain approval from the director of Asian Studies prior to taking these courses for them to count toward the major.

Majors are strongly encouraged to acquire proficiency in one or more Asian languages, although no more than three language courses at any level may count toward the nine courses required for the major. Normally, the nine courses will include courses from at least two of these three divisions: arts and humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and mathematics.

Students completing two majors (i.e. double-majors) may only count two courses toward both of those majors.

Major credit will be awarded for no more than two courses taken at another institution.

Introductory Course

One introductory course drawn from the following Liberal Arts Core Curriculum courses:

Electives

Five courses to be drawn from the list of electives, which must focus on one of the following subregions:

China,
Japan, or
South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka).

Alternatively, students may construct, in close consultation with an adviser, a program of five courses that compares two or more subregions. Comparative programs like this may also integrate courses that focus on

Korea;
Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam); and
Asian American, Pan-Asian, and Inter-Asian studies.

Governed Electives

GPA Requirement

Majors must achieve at least a 2.00 GPA in the nine courses required for the major.