Asian Studies
You are reading the 2022/23 Academic Calendar. The 2021/22 version remains in effect until 31 August 2022 and is available here
The Department of Asian Studies offers programs of study that lead to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Arts, and Bachelor of Arts.
Please visit the Department for current offerings.
For information on advanced degrees see graduate Asian Studies.
The courses offered at the undergraduate level fall into two categories:
- Category 1: Courses on the contemporary and historical cultures of South, Southeast, and East Asia, that do not require knowledge of an Asian language (these are listed under the heading Asian Studies); and
- Category 2: Courses in language, including advanced reading courses, which introduce the student to literary, philosophical, and historical works in their original language (these courses are listed under the specific language headings).
Study of the necessary languages should begin as early as possible in a student's academic career. A good foundation in language studies is a prerequisite for admission to graduate studies. Those who do not have the necessary preparation when they apply will be asked to make up this deficiency.
Combining Areas of Study
Students interested in broadening their understanding of Asia are permitted to pursue up to two specializations in Asian Studies. See Department website. The following rules apply:
- At least one of the specializations must be a Major or Honours.
- Students may not combine two specializations that focus on the same area of Asia, such as two specializations focused on South Asia or two specializations focused on China.
- The Minor in Asian Area Studies may not be combined with any other specialization in Asian Studies.
Major in Asian Area Studies
The Major in Asian Area Studies requires 48 total credits of coursework, of which at least 30 must be upper-level credits.
Total ASIA credits: 27
- 6 credits: ASIA 200-level (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 12 credits: ASIA 300-level or higher (this may include up to 6 credits of CLCH, CHIN 388/389/449, or JAPN 422/423)
- 9 credits: ASIA 400-level
Total language credits: 12
- 12 credits: any ONE language offered in the department
ASIA or Language Option credits: 6
- 6 credits: ASIA 300-level or higher and/or 300-level or higher in the SAME language of study
Total R (Research Intensive) credits: 3
- 3 credits: ASIA Research Intensive Course+
*Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement. A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Major in Asian Language and Culture
The Major in Asian Language and Culture requires 48 total credits of prescribed coursework focused on a specific area of Asian language/culture.
The areas of focus available are:
- China
- Chinese Literature
- Japan
- Korea
- South Asia (focusing on one of Hindi-Urdu, Persian, Punjabi, Sanskrit)
Major in Asian Language and Culture - Area of Focus: China
ASIA credits: 18*
- 6 credits: ASIA 200-level (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 9 credits: ASIA 300-level or higher*
- 3 credits: ASIA 400-level*
*At least 9 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to China.
Classical Chinese credits:
- 3 credits: any CLCH course, CHIN 388/389/449, or CHIN 491/493
Language (CHIN) credits: 24
- 12 credits: 300-level
- 12 credits: 400-level (excluding CHIN 449/491/493)
R (Research Intensive) credits:
- 3 credits: ASIA Research Intensive Course+
+Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement. A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Major in Asian Language and Culture - Area of Focus: Chinese Literature
ASIA credits: 24-27*
- 6 credits: ASIA 200-level (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 12-15 credits: ASIA 300-level or higher*
- 6 credits: ASIA 400-level*
*At least 9 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to China, and at least 6 upper-level ASIA credits must be in a different cultural area.
Classical Chinese credits:
- 6 credits: any CLCH course, CHIN 388/389/449, or CHIN 491/493
Language (CHIN) credits: 12-15
- 12-15 credits: 400-level (excluding 491/493)
R (Research Intensive) credits:
- 3 credits: ASIA or CHIN Research Intensive Courses+
+Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement (for ASIA R courses) or upper-level language requirement (for CHIN R courses). A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Major in Asian Language and Culture - Area of Focus: Japan
ASIA credits: 18-24*
- 6 credits: ASIA 200-level (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 9-15 credits: ASIA 300-level or higher* (this may include up to 3 credits of CLCH)
- 3 credits: ASIA 400-level*
*At least 9 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to Japan.
Language (JAPN) credits: 21-27
- 12 credits: 300-level
- 6 credits: JAPN 400 and JAPN 401
- 3-9 credits: 400-level
R (Research Intensive) credits:
- 3 credits: ASIA or JAPN Research Intensive Course+
+Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement (for ASIA R courses) or upper-level language requirement (for JAPN R courses). A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Major in Asian Language and Culture - Area of Focus: Korea
ASIA credits: 21-30*
- 6 credits: ASIA 200-level (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 12-21 credits: ASIA 300-level or higher*
- 3 credits: ASIA 400-level*
*At least 9 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to Korea.
Language credits: 15-24
- 6 credits: any East Asian language (CLCH, CHIN, JAPN, CNTO)
- 6-15 credits: KORN 300-level or higher
- 3 credits: KORN 400-level
R (Research Intensive) credits:
- 3 credits: ASIA or KORN Research Intensive Course+
+Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement (for ASIA R courses) or upper-level language requirement (for KORN R courses). A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Major in Asian Language and Culture - Area of Focus: South Asian Languages
South Asian Languages: PERS (Persian), PUNJ (Punjabi), HINU (Hindi-Urdu), SANS (Sanskrit)
ASIA credits: 21-30*
- 6 credits: ASIA 200-level (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 9-18 credits: ASIA 300-level or higher*
- 6 credits: ASIA 400-level*
*At least 12 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to South Asia, and at least 3 upper-level ASIA credits must be in a different cultural area.
Language credits (300 or above): 15-24
If language is HINU, PERS or PUNJ:
- 6 credits: SANS 300-level (first year)
- 9-18 credits: 300-level or above, any other South Asian Language (PERS, PUNJ, HINU)
If language is SANS:
- 12 credits: SANS 300-level or above
- 3-12 credits: other South Asian Language (PERS, PUNJ, HINU) 200-level or above
R (Research Intensive) credits:
- 3 credits: ASIA Research Intensive Course+
+Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement. A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Minor in Asian Area Studies
The Minor in Asian Area Studies requires a total of 30 credits of coursework, as follows:
ASIA/CLCH credits:
- 6 credits: ASIA/CLCH 100-level or above (this may include ASTU 201/202 or CHIN 388/389/449)
- 18 credits: ASIA/CLCH 300-level or above (this may include CHIN 388/389/449)
Language credits:
- 6 credits: one Asian language
Minor in Asian Language and Culture
The Minor in Asian Language and Culture requires 30 total credits of coursework focused on a specific area of Asian language/culture.
The areas of focus available are:
- China
- Japan
- Korea
- South Asia (focusing on one of Hindi, Persian, Punjabi, or Sanskrit)
Below each area of focus is highlighted.
The Minor in Asian Language and Culture with a focus on China requires the completion of a total of 30 credits of coursework, as follows:
ASIA/CLCH credits: 12-18*
- 0-6 credits: ASIA/CLCH 100-level or above (this may include ASTU 201/202 or CHIN 388/389/449)
- 12-18 credits: ASIA/CLCH 300-level or above* (this may include CHIN 388/389/449)
*At least 12 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to China.
Language credits:
- 12-18 credits of CHIN and/or CNTO, of which 6 credits must be at or above the 300-level
The Minor in Asian Language and Culture with a focus on Japan requires the completion of a total of 30 credits of coursework, as follows:
ASIA/CLCH credits: 12-18*
- 0-6 credits of ASIA/CLCH 100-level or above (this may include ASTU 201/202 or CHIN 388/389/449)
- 12 -18 credits: ASIA/CLCH 300-level or above* (this may include CHIN 388/389/449)
*At least 12 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to Japan.
Language credits:
- 12 -18 credits of JAPN, of which 6 credits must be at or above the 300-level
The Minor in Asian Language and Culture with a focus on Korea requires the completion of a total of 30 credits of coursework, as follows:
ASIA/CLCH credits: 12-18*
- 0-6 credits of ASIA/CLCH 100-level or above (this may include ASTU 201/202 or CHIN 388/389/449)
- 12-18 credits: ASIA/CLCH 300-level or above* (this may include CHIN 388/389/449)
*At least 12 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to Korea.
Language credits:
- 12 -18 credits of KORN, of which 6 credits must be at or above the 300-level
The Minor in Asian Language and Culture with a focus on South Asia requires the completion of a total of 30 credits of coursework, as follows:
ASIA credits: 12-18*
- 0-6 credits of ASIA 100-level or above (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 12-18 credits: ASIA 300-level or above*
*At least 12 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to South Asia.
Language credits:
- 12 -18 credits of any SANS, HINU, PERS, or PUNJ, of which 6 credits must be at or above the 300-level
Honours Program in Asian Studies
The Honours program is designed to provide preparation for outstanding students who intend to pursue graduate studies. Admission to the Honours program is by permission of the Department and requires that students demonstrate a strong overall performance in recently completed departmental courses with a particular focus on either cultural content courses (ASIA) or language-based courses (ASLA, CHIN, CLCH, CNTO, HINU, INDO, JAPN, KORN, NEPL, PERS, PUNJ, SANS, SOAL, and TIBT) depending on program of study.
Honours in Asian Area Studies
ASIA credits:
- 6 credits: ASIA 200 level (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 12 credits: ASIA 300 level or higher (this may include up to 6 credits of CLCH, CHIN 388/389/449, or JAPN 422/423)
- 12 credits: ASIA 400 level
- ASIA 499 - Honours Thesis
Language credits:
- 12 credits: Of any ONE language offered in the department
ASIA or Language Option credits:
- 6 credits: ASIA 300 level or higher AND/OR 300 level or higher in the SAME language of study
R (Research Intensive) credits:
- 3 credits: ASIA Research Intensive course+
+Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement. A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Additional credits in Asian Studies:
- 12 credits of upper-level courses taught in the department, such as ASIA, ASLA, CHIN, CLCH, CNTO, HINU, INDO, JAPN, KORN, NEPL, PERS, PUNJ, SANS, SOAL, and TIBT.
Honours in Asian Language and Culture - Area of Focus: China
ASIA credits: 24*
- 6 credits: ASIA 200 level (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 9 credits: ASIA 300 level or higher*
- 6 credits: ASIA 400 level*
- ASIA 499 - Honours Thesis
*at least 9 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to China.
Classical Chinese credits:
- 3 credits: any CLCH course, CHIN 388/389/449, or CHIN 491/493
Language (CHIN) credits: 24
- 12 credits: 300 level
- 12 credits: 400 level (excluding CHIN 449/491/493)
R (Research Intensive) credits:
- 3 credits: ASIA Research Intensive course+
+Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement. A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Additional credits in Asian Studies:
- 6 credits of upper level courses taught in the department, such as ASIA, ASLA, CHIN, CLCH, CNTO, HINU, INDO, JAPN, KORN, NEPL, PERS, PUNJ, SANS, SOAL, and TIBT.
Honours in Asian Language and Culture - Area of Focus: Chinese Literature
ASIA credits: 30-33*
- 6 credits: ASIA 200 level (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 12-15 credits: ASIA 300 level or higher*
- 9 credits: ASIA 400 level*
- ASIA 499 - Honours Thesis
*at least 9 upper level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to China, and at least 6 upper-level ASIA credits must be in a different cultural area.
Classical Chinese credits:
- 6 credits: any CLCH course, CHIN 388/389/449, or CHIN 491/493
Language (CHIN) credits: 12-15
- 12-15 credits: 400-level (excluding CHIN 449/491/493)
R (Research Intensive) credits:
- 3 credits: ASIA or CHIN Research Intensive courses+
+Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement (for ASIA R courses) or upper-level language requirement (for CHIN R courses). A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Additional credits in Asian Studies:
- 6 credits of upper level courses taught in the department, such as ASIA, ASLA, CHIN, CLCH, CNTO, HINU, INDO, JAPN, KORN, NEPL, PERS, PUNJ, SANS, SOAL, and TIBT.
Honours in Asian Language and Culture - Area of Focus: Japan
ASIA credits: 24-30*
- 6 credits: ASIA 200 level (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 9-15 credits: ASIA 300 level or higher* (this may include up to 3 credits of CLCH or CHIN 388/389/449)
- 6 credits: ASIA 400 level*
- ASIA 499 - Honours Thesis
*at least 9 upper level (300+) credits must be related to Japan.
Language (JAPN) credits: 21-27
- 12 credits: 300 level
- 6 credits: JAPN 400 and JAPN 401
- 3-9 credits: 400 level
R (Research Intensive) credits:
- 3 credits: ASIA or JAPN Research Intensive course+
+Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement (for ASIA R courses) or upper-level language requirement (for JAPN R courses). A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Additional credits in Asian Studies:
- 6 credits of upper level courses taught in the department, such as ASIA, ASLA, CHIN, CLCH, CNTO, HINU, INDO, JAPN, KORN, NEPL, PERS, PUNJ, SANS, SOAL, and TIBT.
Honours in Asian Language and Culture - Area of Focus: Korea
ASIA credits: 27-36*
- 6 credits: ASIA 200 level (this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 12-21 credits: ASIA 300 level or higher*
- 6 credits: ASIA 400 level*
- ASIA 499 - Honours Thesis
*at least 9 upper level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to Korea.
Language credits: 15-24
- 6 credits: Any East Asian language (CHIN, CLCH, CNTO, JAPN)
- 6-15 credits: KORN 300 level or higher
- 3 credits: KORN 400 level
R (Research Intensive) credits:
- 3 credits: ASIA or KORN Research Intensive course+
+Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement (for ASIA R courses) or upper-level language requirement (for KORN R courses). A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Additional credits in Asian Studies:
- 6 credits of upper level courses taught in the department, such as ASIA, ASLA, CHIN, CLCH, CNTO, HINU, INDO, JAPN, KORN, NEPL, PERS, PUNJ, SANS, SOAL, and TIBT.
Honours in Asian Language and Culture - Area of Focus: South Asian Languages
South Asian Languages: PERS (Persian), PUNJ (Punjabi), HINU (Hindi), SANS (Sanskrit)
ASIA credits: 27-36*
- 6 credits: ASIA 200 level(this may include ASTU 201/202)
- 9-18 credits: ASIA 300 level or higher*
- 9 credits: ASIA 400 level*
- ASIA 499 - Honours Thesis
*at least 12 upper level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to South Asia, and at least 3 upper-level ASIA credits must be in a different cultural area.
Language credits (300 or above): 15-24
- If language is HINU, PERS or PUNJ:
- 6 credits: SANS 300 level (first year)
- 9-18 credits: 300 level or above, any other South Asian Language (HINU, PERS, PUNJ)
- If language is SANS:
- 12 credits: SANS 300-level or above
- 3-12 credits: Other South Asian Language (HINU, PERS, PUNJ) 200 level or above
R (Research Intensive) credits:
- 3 credits: ASIA Research Intensive course+
+Credits taken to satisfy the Research-Intensive requirement may not also be applied towards the upper-level ASIA requirement. A maximum of 3 credits of ASIA R courses is permitted in the degree.
Additional credits in Asian Studies:
- 6 credits of upper level courses taught in the department, such as ASIA, ASLA, CHIN, CLCH, CNTO, HINU, INDO, JAPN, KORN, NEPL, PERS, PUNJ, SANS, SOAL, and TIBT.
