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:
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.
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:
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
Total language credits: 12
ASIA or Language Option credits: 6
Total R (Research Intensive) credits: 3
*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.
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:
ASIA credits: 18*
*At least 9 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to China.
Classical Chinese credits:
Language (CHIN) credits: 24
R (Research Intensive) credits:
+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.
ASIA credits: 24-27*
*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:
Language (CHIN) credits: 12-15
R (Research Intensive) credits:
+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.
ASIA credits: 18-24*
*At least 9 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to Japan.
Language (JAPN) credits: 21-27
R (Research Intensive) credits:
+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.
ASIA credits: 21-30*
*At least 9 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to Korea.
Language credits: 15-24
R (Research Intensive) credits:
+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.
South Asian Languages: PERS (Persian), PUNJ (Punjabi), HINU (Hindi-Urdu), SANS (Sanskrit)
ASIA credits: 21-30*
*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:
If language is SANS:
R (Research Intensive) credits:
+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.
The Minor in Asian Area Studies requires a total of 30 credits of coursework, as follows:
ASIA/CLCH credits:
Language credits:
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:
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*
*At least 12 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to China.
Language credits:
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*
*At least 12 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to Japan.
Language credits:
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*
*At least 12 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to Korea.
Language credits:
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*
*At least 12 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to South Asia.
Language credits:
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.
ASIA credits:
Language credits:
ASIA or Language Option credits:
R (Research Intensive) credits:
+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:
ASIA credits: 24*
*at least 9 upper-level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to China.
Classical Chinese credits:
Language (CHIN) credits: 24
R (Research Intensive) credits:
+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:
ASIA credits: 30-33*
*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:
Language (CHIN) credits: 12-15
R (Research Intensive) credits:
+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:
ASIA credits: 24-30*
*at least 9 upper level (300+) credits must be related to Japan.
Language (JAPN) credits: 21-27
R (Research Intensive) credits:
+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:
ASIA credits: 27-36*
*at least 9 upper level (300+) ASIA credits must be related to Korea.
Language credits: 15-24
R (Research Intensive) credits:
+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:
South Asian Languages: PERS (Persian), PUNJ (Punjabi), HINU (Hindi), SANS (Sanskrit)
ASIA credits: 27-36*
*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
R (Research Intensive) credits:
+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: