Asian Studies

Department Overview

Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary major and minor that encourages, facilitates, and recognizes the study of Asia, broadly defined as the region from the Persian Gulf to the Philippines, including the present states of China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Burma, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and the Central Asian Republics of the former Soviet Union.

Asian Studies students prepare themselves for graduate study or professional work by studying the language, history, culture, and politics of the region. Currently, departments including Fine and Performing Arts, History, Political Science, Theology and Religious Studies, Non-Native Languages, and Economics offer Asian Studies courses. Students are encouraged to study abroad in the region as part of their university program. The program offers a limited number of scholarships in support of such study.

Students are required to register and consult with the Director of the Asian Studies program, and may earn a major or minor in Asian Studies.

The program emphasizes understanding of Asian cultures through an emphasis on the study of core cultural values. Currently, participating departments include Economics, English, Fine and Performing Arts, Foreign Languages, History, Political Science, and Theology.

Asian Studies Program Faculty

Undergraduate Majors

Undergraduate Minors