College of Arts & Sciences

The interdisciplinary major in Asian studies offers students an opportunity to study various facets of Asian societies and cultures (South Asia, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia/Middle East as well as East Asia). Students primarily interested in China, Japan and Korea are encouraged to major in East Asian Studies. While the East Asian Studies Major has language requirements, language courses are not required of majors in Asian Studies.

Careers

A good background in Asian Studies is invaluable for work in journalism, government service, intercultural activities, business abroad, and academic professions.

Degree Requirements for the Major in Asian Studies

General Program B.A.: A minimum of 36 credits distributed as follows:

Core Curriculum (9 credits) Six credits from A Ant 172; A Cas 150; A Gog 160 or 160Z; A His 158 or 158Z, A His 176, A His 177 or 177Z and the completion of a senior essay (3 credits) taken either through a seminar or topics course sponsored by the program, or through an independent research or reading course in a department.

Area Studies (15 credits) A minimum of 3 credits must be completed in two of the following areas and a minimum of 9 credits must be completed in the third area: South Asia, Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia (Middle East). Language study may not be used to satisfy the area studies requirement.

Electives (12 credits) An additional 12 credits must be completed in appropriate course work related to Asian studies from the following listed courses.

South Asian Area Courses

A Ant 351 or 351Z Ethnicity in North America
A Eco 480 or 480Z Economic Development of South Asia
A His 378 History of South Asian Civilization II
A His 384Z Social Science Approaches to History
A His 485 or 485Z Colloquium in Comparative and Cross-Cultural History
A Phi 340 Topics in Philosophy (depending on topic)
R Pos 358 Politics of India and Pakistan

South East Asian Area Courses

A Eco 330 or 330Z Economics of Development
A Eco 364 or 364Z Comparative Economic Systems
A His 312 History of American Foreign Policy II
A His 384 or 384Z History of Japan
Southwest Asian (Middle East) Area Courses
A Ant 243 Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East
A Clc 133 History of Ancient Greece
A His 381 or 381Zand 382 or 382Z History of the Middle East I & II
A His 383 or 383Z The Arab-Israeli Conflict in Historical Perspective
A Jst 243 Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East
A Jst 341Z Issues in Biblical Civilization
A Jst 342Z Issues in Hellenistic-Rabbinic Judaism
R Pos 359 Israeli Politics

Other Courses

East Asia

A Eac 170 China: Its Culture and Heritage
A Eac 210 Survey of Chinese Classical Literature in Translation I
A Eac 211 Survey of Chinese Classical Literature in Translation II
A Eac 212 Modern Chinese Literature in Translation
A Eac 389 Topics in Chinese Literature, History and Culture
A Eco 362/A Eas 362 The Political Economy of Japan & Korea
A Eco 363 Economic Development of Modern China
A Gog 160 or 160Z China: People & Places in the Land of One Billion
A Gog 470Z China after Deng Xiaoping
A His 387 or 387Z Islam in the Middle East: Religion and Culture I
A His 388 or 388Z Islam in the Middle East: Religion and Culture II
A His 379 or 379Z History of China I
A His 380 or 380Z History of China II
A His 385 History of Japan
A His 485 Colloquium in Comparative and Cross-Cultural History
A Jst 351 or 351Z Jewish American Ethnic Groups
A Pln 570 Urbanization in China
R Pos 373 Government and Politics in the People�s Republic of China
R Pos 376 The Foreign Policy of the People�s Republic of China

Additional Non-Area Courses

A Ant 172 Community and Self
A Ant 331 Early Civilization of the Old World
A Ant 351 or 351Z Ethnicity in North America
A Eco 330 or 330Z Economics of Development
A Eco 364 or 364Z Comparative Economic Systems
A Phi 214 World Religions
A Phi 340 Topics in Philosophy (depending upon topic)
A Phy 201 & 201 Physics and Buddhism
A Rel 100 Introduction to the Study of Religion
A Soc 282 Race and Ethnicity
R Crj 414Z Order and Disorder in Society
R Pos 353 Developing Political Systems
R Pos 361 Comparative Ethnicity

Additional Course Opportunities

Independent study and topical courses offered in various departments may be considered for the major when the topics are appropriate; e.g., courses in economics or sociology. Other courses may be approved for the major when their content is predominantly Asian. Appropriate Asian studies courses at neighboring institutions also may be applied to the major.

Opportunities for Study Abroad

Several opportunities to study abroad are available through various exchange programs. The exchange programs in China and Japan are administered through the East Asian Studies Department. However, the exchange program through Singapore is available to majors in Asian Studies. Students interested primarily in South East Asia are encouraged to apply for the Singapore Program. Also, there is a Consortium of Colleges in New York State that arranges studies in India for a semester�s credit.